Welcome to Whitby
Explore the seaside town of Whitby.
From the ruined abbey on top of the hill to the harbour and the 199 steps down to quaint shops and cafes, Whitby is a picturesque seaside town in Yorkshire.
YHA hostels in Whitby
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Things to do in Whitby
Five free things to do in Whitby
St Hilda's Abbey
The most famous of Whitby's landmarks, the ruins of St Hilda's Abbey sit at the top of a mammoth 199-step staircase. If you can't face the climb, the abbey can be spotted from most streets in the town itself.
North York Moors National Park
Located just a few miles south east of Whitby itself, the North York Moors National Park is a must visit. The moors vibrant landscape is rich in heritage and wildlife, and is not to be missed.
Visit the beach
Recreate the classic British seaside holiday with a trip to Whitby's beautiful beaches. Complete with traditional primary-coloured beach huts, Whitby beach is the perfect family day out - don't forget the bucket and spade!
Fishing on the pier
Whether you are a keen angler or taking your son out with his first rod, fishing from Whitby pier is a must. Dependent on the season, mackerel, whiting and billet can all be caught, and no licence is needed to unreel.
The whale bone arch
One of Whitby's most visited attractions, the whale jaw bone arch on West Cliff was presented to the town by Norway in 1963, and is located close to the monument to famous explorer Captain James Cook.
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside in Whitby
Famous as being the home of Bram Stoker's Dracula, the famous St Hilda's Abbey ruins and the classic seaside favourite of fish and chips, the picturesque seaside town of Whitby welcomes millions of visitors a year. Despite the hilly terrain, it is a town best explored on foot, with the promenade and pier as particular highlights on a clear day, giving unrivalled views of the North Sea and the whole North East coastline to Teesside in the north and Scarborough in the south.
Full to the brim with history, Whitby has something for everyone from ramblers to seafood lovers and everyone in between.
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Captain Cook Memorial Museum
The museum is in a 17th century house on Whitby's harbour where Captain Cook trained as a seaman, leading to his epic voyages of discovery. Visit the Museum website
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Cycling around Boggle Hole
Take a leisurely cycle along the National Cycle Route 1 or the North Sea trail which starts 10 minutes away from the hostel.
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Dracula Experience
A unique tour through the Dracula story and the connection to Whitby. Using animation, special effects and live actors. Visit the website
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Mountain biking around Boggle Hole
The disused railway line (National cycle route 1 - North Sea trail) offers easy, family friendly and car free cycling, all within 10 minutes of the hostel.
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North York Moors Steam Railway
Step back in time with magnificent steam engines and beautiful rural stations. The railway is lovingly preserved and charmingly authentic.
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Robin Hood's Bay
Robin Hood's Bay is a picturesque old fishing village with delightful streets and old fisher-folk running cafes. The village is rife with tall tales of old smugglers.
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Rock pooling and fossil hunting
Try rock pooling, fossil hunting and playing on the beach making sandcastles, all a stone's throw from the hostel.
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Sea Fishing at Boggle Hole
Cast from the window of your room (almost!) and spend the whole day staring wistfully out to sea.
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Walking and Rambling around Boggle Hole
If you're planning on staying at YHA Boggle Hole, why not download a free map and get out exploring? All our self-guided walks start and end at a YHA hostel and are graded so that you can explore t
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Watersports in Boggle Hole
Step out of your room and into the sea and more importantly, you can then step out of the sea into a lovely hot shower!
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Whitby
Whitby is a lovely, seaside town dominated by the abbey ruins high on the hill. 199 steps lead to the churchyard that inspired Bram Stoker to write 'Dracula'.
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Whitby Abbey
See the splendour of our next door attraction! Discover its history, hear voices from the past on the audio guide and catch unique events Visit the website
View some of our popular Whitby blog posts
Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside
The smell of the salt in the air and the splash of the waves on your bare feet. Fish and chips on the pier, epic sandcastles built with bright plastic buckets, whole worlds swirling in the waters of a rockpool, arcade games, deckchairs...
Fascinating heritage sites in the UK
From the ancient ruins of Whitby Abbey to the 73-mile-long Hadrian’s Wall, Britain has plenty heritage hotspots full of beauty and historic importance. We are proud to be part of the Heritage Alliance and with many of our hostels located nearby...
Discovering National Parks – North York Moors
Amazing wildlife and dazzling night skies make the National Parks in the UK very special places. We’re lucky enough to have more than 60 properties in UK National Parks. What’s more, we know the best places...