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Whitby & the North York Moors
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Whitby & the North York Moors

Abbey Ruins, Dracula's Harbour and Steam Trains Over the Moors

Plan this trip
2 daysIdeal stay₹11,970From / night₹2,770Food / day₹1,760Entry

A fishing harbour on the Yorkshire coast below the ruins of Whitby Abbey, up 199 steps, where Bram Stoker set part of Dracula; Captain Cook learned to sail here, and his house is a museum. Fish and chips by the harbour, jet jewellery, and the Cleveland Way cliff path south to Robin Hood's Bay. Behind the town rise the heather moors of the North York Moors National Park (purple in August), crossed by the North York Moors Railway's steam trains to Goathland, Hogsmeade station in the first Harry Potter film, and Pickering, from spring to autumn. No main line: the Coastliner 840 bus comes over the moors from York in about 2 h 15 (£3 a ride under England's fare cap), or the Esk Valley line from Middlesbrough (six trains a day, about 1 h 30). By car York is about 1 h 30 away.

Highlights

  • Whitby Abbey at the top of the 199 steps
  • Fish and chips by the harbour
  • Captain Cook Memorial Museum
  • Cliff path to Robin Hood's Bay
  • Steam train over the moors to Goathland
  • Heather moors in bloom in August
  • Dracula's Whitby

Things to do

  • Whitby Abbey and the 199 stepsMorning · 2h 30m
  • Harbour, Church Street and the West PierAfternoon · 2h
  • Captain Cook Memorial MuseumAfternoon · 1h 30m
  • North York Moors Railway steam train to Goathland and PickeringApr–OctMorning · 5h
  • Cleveland Way cliff walk to Robin Hood's BayMorning · 3h 30m
  • Dracula and ghost walk through the old townEvening · 1h 30m

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Whitby & the North York Moorsvia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Whitby & the North York Moorsvia Klook

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When to go

Best time: May – September

Heads up

North York Moors Railway: Winter Timetable

The North York Moors Railway's steam trains between Whitby, Goathland and Pickering run from spring to autumn; in winter only special trains run, on some days. Check its timetable before planning a day around it; the Coastliner bus over the moors runs all year.