So much to do, so little time to do it (Whitby in general)

Member Name: dee778

Product:	Whitby in general
Date:	07/10/09 (90 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A pretty place with lots of historical interest

Disadvantages: Crowded

Whitby is a small seaside resort on the east Yorkshire coast. Unexpectedly popular, it holds an enormous variety of attractions and experiences, combining chic café culture with traditional seaside fun. The words that spring to mind when trying to describe Whitby are "pretty" and "quaint", but there is much more to Whitby than just a pretty face. Bisected by the river Esk, Whitby has a working harbour, narrow cobbled streets, picturesque cottages, a beautiful sandy beach, lovely little smokehouses with racks of smoked kippers, a plethora of unusual shops and markets, a touch of the sinister and the Goth, and a very spooky ruined abbey.

~~Count Dracula and the Goths~~

The first thing that many people will think of when mentioning Whitby is Dracula. Bram Stoker's famous vampire novel was set here, and it was whilst on a visit that Stoker discovered the name Dracula, at the Whitby public library. Stoker chose Whitby as the place that Dracula landed in Britain, shipwrecked by the harbour with the dead captain lashed to the wheel of the boat. As a result, one of the more unusual tourist attractions in Whitby is the Dracula Museum, which, for £2.50, will give the visitor a spooky tour through the story of Dracula, complete with live actors and special effects.

It is probably this spine-tingling history that has made Whitby a centre for Goths. The Whitby Goth Weekend is a twice yearly festival, started in 1994 and now one of the most popular Goth events in the world.

~~History~~

The other side of Whitby's history includes connections with whaling and the explorer Captain James Cook. Captain Cook started out as an apprentice to a Whitby ship owner in 1746, and monuments to Cook can be found around the town. An authentic but rather small replica of HM Endeavour is located at the harbour, just outside Tourist Information.

The other memorable historical monument is the huge whale jaw bone arch on the West Cliff, that the visitor can walk underneath to approach the town from the west. This pays tribute to the 80 years of whaling that engaged the fisherman of Whitby and provided their main income. Other links with Whitby's seafaring past are remembered in its pub signs and wooden carvings by the quayside.

~~St Hilda's Abbey~~

Rising up above the town, 199 steps will take you to St Hilda's Abbey and St Marys Church, both perched high on the cliff above Whitby and giving it an atmospheric charm. Now a ruin, Whitby Abbey was founded in 657 by St Hilda and remained until it was destroyed by Henry VIII. Climbing up the stairs to the dramatic gothic ruins is very worthwhile, and sitting high up on the cliff in the sunshine, looking down onto the bay is a lovely experience. The Abbey is run by English Heritage, and taking advantage of their free audio headphone tour really adds to the experience, listening to dramatic reconstructions of monastary life as you walk around the ruins. St Mary's church has been built close to the Abbey and is also worth a look on the way down.

~~Whitby jet~~

One unexpected find in Whitby is Whitby jet: a large collection of this local, semi-precious stone can be found in the Whitby Museum and the visitor can find many pretty necklaces and braclets made of jet in the small shops in the town centre. Whitby jet was favoured as mourning jewellery by Queen Victoria and the manufacture of jewellery from locally mined jet was one of Whitby's main industries.This unusual side of Whitby gives it a unique attraction.

~~Whitby Harbour~~

Whitby harbour is a bustling hive of activity. Home to commercial fishing boats and private yachts, it is a lively addition to the town. As you walk along the harbour wall in the summer, you are accosted by a huge selection of jolly sailors, trying to encourage you to buy a ticket for their boat tour. Boat tours are around £2 per person and give you a 30 minute trip out around the bay. The boats involved range from jet boats to sailing boats and I would highly recommend the trip as Whitby looks even lovelier from the sea.

My personal favourite is the Old Lifeboat. Originally a genuine Whitby lifeboat, it is now run by two very amiable men, one of them an ex-lifeboat crewman called Barry, who shouts jokes to the crowds standing on the pier, and who will give you a very comprehensive history of Whitby, including photos of the sharks that he has seen in the waters nearby.

~~Seaside Activities~~

If all of the history gets too much, there are many pleasant hours to be spent by the beach, on the pier and along the cliffs. Whitby has a Blue Flag beach, with long sandy walks and lovely views. There is also a long concrete promenade which is ideal for those in wheelchairs or with buggies. A walk above, along the cliffs provides great views of the bay and the Victorian crescent of houses on the cliff top. There is a rather unexpected grey metal box-style lift that will take those with mobility problems down to sea level and the promenade. This costs 50p but is a good alternative to the steep steps.

Nearer to town the traditional pleasures of the seaside (amusement arcade, pier and funfair) are mixed with the unusual, in the form of a Steam bus which takes visitors on a ride around Whitby. I have never actually seen a working steam bus before, so this is a great addition to the fun on offer at Whitby.

~~Eating and Drinking~~

Fish and Chips - Whitby's most famous food product. Home to the Magpie Café, famously named as the best fish and chip shop in the world by Rick Stein, plus many other really lovely chippie choices, you will never be short of choice at mealtimes in Whitby. For a cheap choice, take your delicious fish and chips onto the pier to eat, and wash it down with a quality cappuccino from the mobile coffee shop nearby.

Whitby has a lively nightlife and evening will give you the choice of pubs and wine bars with tables outside, by the River Esk.

~~Whitby Station~~

Whitby Station is worth a mention, not only because it provides an excellent link into the town, but also because the Heritage North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs a steam train service to Pickering. A ride on a steam train is a nice diversion on any holiday, but especially if that ride goes across the lovely Yorkshire moors. There are daily departures during the summer peak.

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Whitby seems eternally popular. Our B&B landlady told us that the residents were amazed that Whitby remained untouched by the recession - business is always booming in Whitby! My only slightly negative comment is that Whitby is almost too popular. It would be nice to have time and space to enjoy the place without the constantly jostling crowds, but each time we visit, the crowds always seem to be there.

Also posted on Helium,

Summary: Highly recommended