Things to do in Whitby
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Magpie Café
The Magpie flaunts its reputation for serving the 'World's Best Fish and Chips'. Damn fine they are too, but the world and his dog knows about it, and summertime queues can stretch along the street. Fish and chips from the takeaway counter cost £5; the sit-down restaurant is dearer, but offers a wide range of seafood dishes, from grilled sea bass to paella.
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Captain Cook Memorial Museum
This fascinating museum occupies the house of the ship owner with whom Cook began his seafaring career. Highlights include the attic where Cook lodged as a young apprentice, Cook's own maps and letters, etchings from the South Seas and a wonderful model of the Endeavour, with all the crew and stores laid out for inspection.
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Dracula Trail
The famous story of Dracula, inspiration for a thousand lurid movies, was written by Bram Stoker while staying at a B&B in Whitby in 1897. Although most Hollywood versions of the tale concentrate on deepest, darkest Transylvania, much of the original book was set in Whitby, and many sites can still be seen today.
The tourist office sells an excellent Dracula Trail leaflet, but you shouldn't miss the stone jetty in the harbour, where the Russian boat chartered by Dracula was wrecked as it flew in ahead of the huge storm.
After the town sites, you can climb the same 199 stone steps that the heroine Mina ran up when trying to save her friend Lucy. At the top of the steps is m…
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Walking
Although it's hardly tranquil, a walk up the main road to the new bridge high above the Esk is worth it for great views. For something a bit longer, the 5.5-mile cliff-top walk south to Robin Hood's Bay is a real treat (allow three hours). Or head north for 11 miles to reach Staithes (five hours). A bus from Middlesborough will get you home again.
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Whitby Museum & Art Gallery
In a park overlooking the town, is the wonderfully eclectic Whitby Museum & Art Gallery, with fossils, Cook memorabilia, ships in bottles and weird stuff like an amputated hand and an invention for weather forecasting using live leeches. The gallery contains work by the Staithes group of artists.
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Whitby Abbey
There are ruined abbeys and there are picturesque ruined abbeys, and then there's Whitby Abbey, dominating the skyline above the East Cliff like a great Gothic tombstone silhouetted against the sky. Looking more like it was built as an atmospheric film set than as a monastic establishment, it is hardly surprising that this medieval hulk inspired the Victorian novelist Bram Stoker – who holidayed in Whitby – to make it the setting for Count Dracula's dramatic landfall.
From the end of Church St, which has many shops selling jet jewellery, the 199 steps of Church Stairs lead steeply up to Whitby Abbey passing the equally atmos- pheric St Mary's Church and its spooky grav…
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Fish & Chips
For many visitors, Whitby cuisine extends no further than a fish-and-chip supper (served with peas, bread and tea), obtainable most everywhere but preferably at the world's most famous chipper. If you want to keep your cholesterol in check, there are a few other options.
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St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church has an atmospheric interior full of skewed and tilting galleries and box pews. You reach the abbey and the church via the famous 199 steps up the cliff side. Take time out to catch your breath and admire the fantastic view.
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Coastal Cycle Trail
First choice for a bike ride is the excellent 20-mile Whitby to Scarborough Coastal Cycle Trail, which starts a few miles outside town, following the route of an old railway line. It's particularly good for reaching Robin Hood's Bay.
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Green's
The classiest eatery in town is ideally situated to take its pick of the fish and shellfish freshly landed at the harbour. Grab a hearty lunch in the ground floor bistro (moules-frites, sausage and mash, fish and chips) or head to the upstairs restaurant for a sophisticated dinner date.
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Duke of York
Many pubs also serve food, including, of course, fish and chips or crab sandwiches. A good first choice is the popular Duke of York at the bottom of the 199 steps, with plentiful food and a classic Whitby atmosphere.
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Captain Cook Monument
At the top of the cliff near East Tce, the Captain Cook Monument shows the great man looking out to sea, usually with a seagull perched on his head.
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Trenchers
Top-notch fish and chips minus the 'World's Best' tagline – this place is your best bet if you want to avoid the queues at the Magpie (don't be put off by the modern look).
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Dolphin
Many pubs also serve food, including, of course, fish and chips or crab sandwiches. The Dolphin has tables inside or out on the pavement.
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Board Inn
Many pubs also serve food, including, of course, fish and chips or crab sandwiches. Board Inn has good views, beer and seafood.
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Whalebone Arch
The Whalebone Arch (it's just that), near the Captain Cook Monument, remembers Whitby's days as a whaling port.
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Tap & Spile
The Tap & Spile is a straightforward pub with good local rock and folk bands.
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Trailways
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St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church has an atmospheric interior full of skewed and tilting galleries and box pews. You reach the abbey and the church via the famous 199 steps up the cliff side. Take time out to catch your breath and admire the fantastic view.
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Whitby Sands
Whitby's days as a seaside resort continue with donkey rides, ice cream and bucket-and-spade escapades on Whitby Sands, stretching west from the harbour mouth. Atop the cliff on the harbour's west side, the Captain Cook Monument shows the great man looking out to sea, often with a seagull perched on his head. Nearby is the Whalebone Arch, which recalls Whitby's days as a whaling port. Whitby Sands can be reached from West Cliff via the cliff lift , an elevator that has been running since 1931.
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Whitby Museum
Set in a park to the west of the town centre is the wonderfully eclectic Whitby Museum with its displays of fossil plesiosaurs and dinosaur footprints, Cook memorabilia, ships in bottles, jet jewellery and even the 'Hand of Glory' – a preserved human hand reputedly cut from the corpse of an executed criminal.
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Station Inn
Best place in town for atmosphere and real ale with an impressive range of cask-conditioned beers including Theakston's Black Bull and Black Dog Abbey Ale.
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Moon & Sixpence
This brand-new brasserie and cocktail bar has a prime position, with views across the harbour to the abbey ruins. The seafood-dominated menu ranges from hearty winter warmers such as chunky vegetable soup and fish pie, to more sophisticated dishes like a half-dozen oysters au naturel and seared scallops with black pudding.
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Java Cafe-Bar
A cool little diner with stainless-steel counters and retro decor, with internet access, music vids on the flatscreen and a menu of healthy salads, sandwiches and wraps washed down with excellent coffee.
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