This article of 101 Essential Things To Do In Whitby is based on suggestions of our site and social media members. Some of the ideas are seasonal or weather dependent, but please read right through the list for some awesome ideas for all visitors to Whitby. Please leave your suggestions and comments at the bottom of the page.
View Other Whitby “Best Of” Lists here.
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- Fly Fishing at Lockwood Beck.
- Visit The Whitby Museum in Pannett Park (Highly Under-rated)
- An evening meal At Romero – Jo’s, its the place to be.
- The Farndale Daffodil Walk. Two miles of non stop daffodils in spring.
- Climb the 199 steps and watch the sun set in the sea (May to July only).
- Take in the free ‘movie’ in Sutcliffe Gallery’s window.
- A beach walk from Whitby to Sandsend (Consult the tide book). Lunch at The Hart in then bus it back. (3 mile walk).
- Take the kids crabbing at Kiddies corner (side of swing bridge). Crabbing kits from Whitby Angling Supplies next to Mr Chips.
- Fish and Chips at The Magpie.
- Summer sunrise at Saltwick Bay (May to July) This is a must see event.
A walk up the 199 steps for a Mid Summer Sunset At Whitby Piers. One of only 2 places on the entire east coast where the sun sets in the sea. yes Whitby is very special.
- A Visit to Whitby Abbey (Check out our events page from main menu).
- Watching the Goths (Goth Weekend Only)
- Take a boat fishing trip (www.whitbyseaanglers.co.uk)
- Read our Facebook Suggestions list.
- Go on one of the Ghost walks (Most evenings in summer from the whale bones).
- East Side Ghost Walks On Church Street.
- Fossil hunting (Saltwick Bay is excellent).
- Take in a midsummer Saltwick Sunset off Saltwick Nab (consult tide table and go equipped).
- A walk along Whitby scaurs taking in the Crete Block and Admiral Von tromp wrecks ( A personal favourite).
- Eskbelle sunset cruise opposite the Jolly sailors pub.
Essential viewing. The Goths during The Whitby Goth Weekend.
- A walk along the old railway lines from Sandsend to Kettleness and back. A pint In the Hart Inn afterwards.
- A visit to The Humble Pie And Mash shop on Church Street (The black pudding and sausage pie takes some beating).
- Morning coffee at Java Cafe (It wont be beat).
- Buy kippers from Billy Fortunes.
- Avoid Weatherspoons, its taking business away from local shops.
- Visit St Mary’s Church, its stuffed with History and amazing stories.
- Mackerel fishing on The West Pier (www.whitbyseaanglers.co.uk)
- A round of Golf at The Whitby Golf Club (Sandsend rd)
- Visit the old foghorn and lighthouse at Hawsker Highlights.
- Hire a rowing boat at Ruswarp Boats (A nice way to see the esk)
Whitby Foghorn Near Saltwick Bay. A nice walk on The Cleveland way.
- Take the steam train to Pickering
- A late evening walk on cobbled Church Street (highly recommended).
- Lunch on The Balcony At Abbey Wharfe.
- A day exploring the Whitby Yards (Don’t be put off, they are not private. Just be respectful).
- A bar meal at The Lion inn Blakey Ridge (transport needed, but its the best bar meal in the area).
- Visit the Whitby Regatta
- Beach combing At Runswick Bay.
- Looking for jet at Robin Hoods Bay Beach.
- A day on Whitby Beach.
- Sanders Yard for eats.
A Ride On the Whitby steam Bus. Great For The Kids.
- Staithes Captain Cook Museum. It has to be seen to be believed.
- Fudge from Justins on Church street.
- Pannett Park play park for the younger kids.
- Take away Fish and Chips from Mr Chips then sit overlooking the charter pontoon near The Fleece public house.
- Cliff top walk to Robin Hoods Bay, then return along the Cinder Path Railway Line.
- Marie Antoinette coffee is amazing (Cobbled Church Street).
- Jet works on Church Street
- A walk at Falling Foss
- Picnic at Red Gates.
- Barbecue in Dalby Forest.
Dalby Forest For Pic-Nics And Berbecues Its An Awesome Day For All the Family.
- Duke of York and get window seat and enjoy the views whilst having a pint. Children welcome in daytime.
- Claras West Cliff Cafe. The summer Sunsets wont be beat.
- Spring in Pannett Park, The Flowers are lovely.
- Visit The RNLI museum on Pier Road.
- A West Pier Walk. Awesome at all times, summer or winter, but get wrapped up if its cold.
- A proper fry up at The Singing Kettle, where the locals go.
- Take some photos and submit them to our photography group.
- The Gallon Walk – Ask for details on our Facebook Group.
- The Booze Train (Friday evenings up and down The Esk valley).
- Morning Coffee at The Tides cafe in Sandsend (the views on a nice morning will blow you away).
Teas, Coffee And Soft Drinks At Clara’s On the West Cliff. Then Watch the Sun Set In The Sea
- In search of Dracula (Check the board at The whale Bones).
- Visit Beggars Bridge at Glaisdale. The riverside walk is beautiful.
- A days Salmon Fishing on The Esk. (Look up Simon Foster, Egton estates).
- Karaoke Kris @ The George (Weds & Sun). Not to be missed.
- A half day exploring at Staithes. An amazing little village which was home to captain Cook.
- Afternoon tea and a game of lawn putting at Perry’s River Garden’s in Sleights.
- Soak up the Atmosphere around the Harbour.
- An evening pint on The Fleece Balcony, its a very different sunset from here but as the light fades you get awesome silhouettes over the west side buildings. Add it to your list its amazing.
- Crazy Golf on West Cliff with the kids.
- Afternoon tea in La Rosa Hotel. An experience you will never forget. Set to the Theme of Lewis Caroll.
Whitby Harbour Just A Very special Place To Be. Soak Up The Atmosphere.
- Visit The Whitby Pubs
- Shop Till You Drop – Whitby Shops
- Take a trip to sea on Whitby’s old lifeboat.
- A pint with the fishermen at The Ship Inn.
- Visit Heartbeat country at Goathland
- Walk along the beach from Robin Hoods Bay to Ravenscar (Consult tide tables at local knowledge).
- Cycle the cindar path from Whitby to Scarborough. Bike for hire at Trailways in Hawsker.
- A days walking in Dalby Forest
- Bring your camera the photography opportunities are numerous.
- Attend the Whitby Folk Week.
Robin Hoods Bay, A Walk To Ravensacar Is Highly recommended.
- Visit the North York Moors
- See an Exhibition at The Danby Moors Center.
- Cycling in Dalby Forest
- Attend one of The Whitby Angling Festivals.
- Visit The Totally Locally Whitby Christmas Market.
- Take in The Victorian weekend at Robin Hoods Bay.
- Walk to Ruswarp along The Esk following the railway line.
- A late evening walk along The East Pier.
- See The Illuminated Abbey (Goth Weekend only)
- Badger Spotting In Dalby Forest
Danby Moors Centre Exhibitions Are Amazing
- Spend a day exploring The Esk Valley Villages. On my list would be : Glaisdale, Egton Bridge, Beck Hole, Lealholme, Aislaby, Danby (Make sure to go to The Stonehouse Bakery) and Castleton.
- Runswick Bay Kayak Fishing Festival
- Climb The West Pier Lighthouse (If its open)
- See the waterfall at Falling Foss
- A pint in The Fishermans Club
- A walk in The Hole Of Horecombe
- A summers evening at Kettleness and enjoy the view of Runswick Bay.
- An autumn stroll in Mulgrave woods. the colours are exceptional in a good year.
- A day at The football – Whitby Town FC
- Watch the crab and Lobster boats land their catch at the fish quay.
Kettleness By Matty Lamb
101. Perhaps the most important thing to do whilst in Whitby. Buy me a pint for helping you enjoy your week. Donations here.
Dont forget the Whale Watching trips on The Esk Belle.
Humble Pie ‘n Mash the best food in town especially when you’re enormously hungry, and on a cold, rainy or windy day, it’s unsurpassable! The place is always teaming with people who are delighted with their food, and the ambiance is unique and cosy.
Also a performance of WADS at The Pavillion
Proper breakfast at Betty Bothams in Skinner Street. Best ever.
Visit the Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Grape Lane.
How about a visit to bobbins to stock up on yarn and maybe knit a real gansey
Me and the wife got married at whitby last year.caught steam train from Pickering, arrived at whitby, caught the charabanc up to register office to be married, charabanc back down to station, fish and chip wedding meal in trenchers as they provided enough room and a can cater for coeliacs ( wheat and gluten free), photos all over whitby, open top bus tour to the abbey, tea in cafe, back down to station for ride home on steam train! Small wedding party of 12 all had a wonderful time. Children loved every second of the day!We love holidays in whitby, that’s why we decided to get married there.
Have lunch or afternoon tea at Elizabeth Bothams
Great addition to the site m8
Information on The Gallon Walk at the link below :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/realwhitby/permalink/1385689288336464/
Oh, I forgot to mention, A lovely stroll in The Valley at Sandsend. Bottom of Lythe bank opposite Witts End cafe.
Sheesh! Some of these bring childhood memories for me…
The kids love the Dracula & Whitby museums, long before Twilight was made!
This list seems a bit skewiff, seeing as most of the suggestions seem to be taking the person concerned *out of* Whitby. I can really only see 54 things to actually do in Whitby and some of those are repeated with slightly different wording. I think a lot of people reading this would also feel quite insulted at being downgraded to something for other people to stare at (Goth-spotting) – it’s bad enough trying to escape the Togs and shop on Church Street during Goth Weekend without getting a lens shoved in your face if you’re wearing something different to jeans and a t-shirt.
Also La Rosa is done out in the style of Lewis Carroll (the author of the “Through the Looking Glass” books), NOT C.S. Lewis (author of the “Chronicles of Narnia”). Their tea shop is called Mad Hatter’s (another Lewis Carroll reference). Their glittery buns are ace and they can cater for people with specific dietary needs too.
There’s a lot of actual Whitby suggestions that aren’t on here, that commenters are posting. Maybe it needs updating a little with some of them and a little of the repetition removing? 🙂
Thankyou for taking the time to write this. I think the inclusion of things to do in the surrounding area is also worthy of its inclusion. As a family we have enjoyed many great days in The Esk Valley and on the coast at Staithes and Robin Hoods Bay.
La Rosa does sound very interesting. Can you supply directions please Jean.
Surely u mean beach walk RHB to ravenscar (3 miles) good luck getting the tide right to get all the way from whitby to ravenscar.
Don’t forget The Whitby Pub Crawl, find us on Facebook. All 31 Whitby pubs every Easter Saturday since 1999.
Becketts! Skinner Street…..fabulous cafe and owners and dog friendly and so many books to look through and buy..and the homemade cake…enormous slices…
The Magpie is an overrated, overpriced tourist trap.
Mr. Chips is much much better.
There are many great Fish And Chip Restaurants in Whitby, The Magpie is one of them, as is Mr Chips, I would also add The MArine and especially the Moon And Sixpence to that list and they come in at a fairer price too.
“Cycle the cinder path from Whitby to Scarborough”
I’m planning on doing that, but after 20+ miles of cycling I think I’ll be too knackered to come back again, and they won’t let me come back on the bus with my bike, so I’m working my way up to it. Whitby to Ravenscar and back again first.
That was our plan. The cinder track needs two trips to complete. it would pay also to consider the (gentle ) slope towards the halfway mark, it’s nice to come downhill on the return trip, no? Well, it is when you’re 69….
Hi Did you know you can take your bike on the train? I’m a cyclist myself, thought not so much now as time is plodding on. (I’m 70) You may have to ‘book’ your bike as some trains don’t have much room. I remember cycling from Billingham to Staithes about 12 years ago – surprised myself going that far… I cycled back too – no station at Staithes. I loved every minute of it – including whizzing down Birk Brow – aah memories! It was fun cycling past all the cars stuck in a traffic jam coming out along the single lane road. Mandy
Wetherspoons is amazing and such a lovely family place to be in! We went for a meal and the food is amazing you get so much for the price you pay and the staff are wonderful but also the atmosphere is so welcoming!
I can’t help but feel the comment ‘Avoid Weatherspoons’ is abit petty , firstly its Wetherspoon’s , secondly by telling people to avoid it you are also sabotaging peoples jobs, if the trade of Wetherspoons drops, my hours drop and many other employees preventing us from paying rent, bills, and being able to feed ourselves. Fair enough people may have an opinion on it taking away trade from local shops but every company deserves a chance aswell as Wetherspoon’s providing plenty of jobs for the local area. As well as Whitby doesn’t exactly have a restaurant that holds the capacity of people that Witherspoon’s does to be able to have Christmas parties, birthday parties ect.