Like us, you love all things unique, weird and wonderful! Here are unusual things to do in Whitby.
We’re huge fans of all things unusual, weird and wonderful. Whitby is full of extraordinary things to do. We have compiled a list of 8 unusual things to do in Whitby to inspire you for your next trip.
Can you break out of Whitby’s escape room?
You have just 60 minutes to break out of one of Eskape Whitby’s themed escape rooms!
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It’s time to work with your friends or family to solve clues and puzzles to help you break out. Each room is themed with sweet nods to local history, myths, and legends. Eskape Whitby is only a short distance from Whitby Abbey, and you can choose from the two rooms, ‘The Night Watchman’ or ‘A Curious Case’. Both can be booked via their website up to 24 hours in advance.
They also feature ‘play at home’ experiences for you to take part in from the comfort of your own home or holiday cottage, ideal for those moments when you’d prefer to relax indoors.
Search for fossils, sea glass, jet and other treasures
Fossil hunting has to be one of our all-time favourite things in Whitby to take part in. It’s a great way to enjoy the coastline and is a very mindful activity. You can find a variety of fossils around Whitby and the surrounding coast.
We often see small ammonites and belemnites, and you can discover Whitby jet, too. To learn more about fossil hunting, read our guide for fossil hunting in Whitby and the surrounding area.
Enter, if you dare, the Dracula Experience
The Dracula Experience is great fun and an excellent way to explore all things Dracula when visiting Whitby. It’s a walkthrough experience that tells the story of Dracula and its connections to Whitby. This tour has eight scenes in total. With live actors and special effects, try not to get too scared along the way!
Visit for Whitby Goth Weekend and celebrate all things dark and glorious
Whitby Goth Weekend is a celebration of all things wonderfully gothic. Whitby Goth Weekend has become the world’s premier goth festival, attracting thousands to the town each spring and autumn. It’s a great time to visit Whitby and witness the town dressed to impress and buzzing with excitement.
WGW celebrates Gothic culture, music, and fashion. In addition to two fantastic live music nights, the festival features three days of alternative shopping and fringe events. The Bizarre Bazaar Alternative Market, with over 100 indoor stalls, is a major attraction at the festival.
Step back in time at Eden Camp
Eden Camp is a museum that is dedicated to military history. The exhibits cover an extensive timeline of events from around 1914 onwards. It’s essential, however, to make sure you have a good few hours to walk around the whole camp. This is a wonderful learning experience for people of all ages. In addition, they hold several special event days throughout the year you can enjoy.
Discover dinosaurs and the hand of glory at Whitby Museum
Whitby Museum is located in Pannett Park and is full of fascinating collections. It might be small but jam-packed with exciting artefacts and curiosities. Here, you can see the Teleosaurus Chapmani skeleton of the fossil crocodile.
Make sure you also see the Hand of Glory, one of their most interesting exhibits. The Hand of Glory is an artefact steeped in folklore and criminal lore. This mummified severed hand, discovered in the early 20th century, was hidden inside the wall of a thatched cottage in Castleton. It was found by local historian and stonemason Joseph Ford.
The Hand of Glory is described as the right hand of a criminal, carefully preserved while it still hung from the gallows. It was thought that burglars used this hand to cast people into a deep sleep!
Wander through Whitby on a Ghost Walk
If you enjoy a good scare and you’re interested in stories. You will love a Ghost walk around the town. Rose Rylands is a locally born storyteller who loves to share her intimate knowledge of the area. She tells stories of folklore, history, mysteries, and legends. She runs a variety of guided walks, including Guided Walking Tours of Whitby and Ghost walks in Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby.
Or, if you fancy a ghost walk with a more theatrical twist, the Red Hat Ghost Walk is fun and lighthearted. You will learn tales of ghosts, witches, headless horsemen, severed hands and hobgoblins! Gill has taken years to write all of her stories in rhyme and performs them with ease and intrigue. The walk suits all ages and fitness levels; it’s a great way to explore Whitby behind the scenes.
Wander through the cemetery at St. Mary’s Church
Beyond the 199 steps, the churchyard at St. Mary’s offers a quiet, peaceful space with graves dating back centuries. Many visitors miss this historical gem and walk straight through on their way to Whitby Abbey, but it’s fascinating for those who appreciate the history of the place.
By exploring these off-the-beaten-path activities, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for this intriguing coastal town. Hopefully, we have inspired you to try something more unusual on your next trip. What are your favourite unusual things to do in Whitby? Let us know if you have tried any of our suggestions in the comments.
We have pretty much done all of them,have been visiting Whitby at least once a year for the past 37 years.love it and the people at whatever time of year it is we come