Think you know Whitby? These things might just make you fall in love with it all over again.
Whitby has a special kind of magic that is easy to feel as soon as you arrive. One minute, you are exploring a classic Yorkshire seaside town, with its harbour, cobbled streets and fish and chips. The next, the mist rolls in around the Abbey, and it feels like you have stepped into a gothic novel. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to a place you already love, here are the things that I love about Whitby.
I love that Whitby Abbey is always watching over the town
One of my favourite things about Whitby Abbey is that you do not even have to be standing beside it to feel its presence.
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It is always there, sitting high above the town, sneaking into the background of your photos and making every view feel a little more dramatic. Whether you are walking along the harbour, looking back from the beach, or exploring the cobbled streets below, the Abbey has a way of stealing the scene.
Whitby Abbey is spooky, gothic and full of history, which is exactly my kind of place. It is easy to see why Bram Stoker found inspiration here for Dracula.
I especially love visiting around Halloween, when the Illuminated Abbey event brings the ruins to life after dark. There is something unforgettable about seeing those ancient arches lit up against the night sky.
When you climb the 199 steps to reach them, you are not just going for the view. You're walking into one of the most iconic parts of Whitby’s story.
You can try the BEST fish and chips
You can get fish and chips in plenty of places, but there is something about eating them in Whitby that makes them taste even better.
Maybe it is the sea air, the harbour views or the fact you are trying to enjoy every bite while keeping one eye on a very confident seagull. Whatever it is, Whitby fish and chips feel like a proper seaside ritual.
The Magpie Café is one of the most famous places to try them, while Trenchers is another much-loved favourite. Whether you sit down for a proper meal or eat them straight from the tray, this is one Whitby experience I definitely love to repeat.
Just be warned: once you have had fish and chips in Whitby, your local chippy might never quite hit the same again.
You can scare yourself on ghost walks
Whitby is spooky enough in the daytime, but after dark? That is when the town really comes into its own.
I love a good story, especially a ghost story, and Whitby has the perfect setting for them. Narrow streets, shadowy corners, old buildings, sea mist, churchyards and centuries of strange history all come together to make the town feel full of secrets.
Joining a ghost walk is a way I love to explore Whitby. As you follow a local guide through the town’s darker side, you will hear chilling tales of smugglers, sailors, pirates, haunted places and ghostly figures said to linger long after sunset.
What I love most is that it is not just about being scared. It is history, folklore and theatre all rolled into one. You get to see Whitby from a completely different perspective, and suddenly every alleyway and old doorway feels like it has a story to tell.
If you like your seaside trips with a little shiver down the spine, a Whitby ghost walk is an absolute must.
Goth Weekend shows Whitby at its boldest and darkest
Twice a year, the town transforms into a celebration of all things dark, dramatic and beautifully theatrical. The cobbled streets fill with incredible outfits, lace, leather, corsets, top hats, boots, bold makeup and people who have clearly spent serious time creating their look.
Even if you are not part of the goth scene, Whitby Goth Weekend is such a brilliant event to experience. There is music, markets and a buzzing atmosphere that feels completely unique to Whitby.
What I love most is how perfectly it fits the town. It is spooky, stylish, welcoming and wonderfully different. If you want to see Whitby at its most dramatic, this is the weekend to visit.
You can take a beautiful coastal walk
Whether you are a serious walker or just fancy stretching your legs after fish and chips, Whitby is a brilliant place to get outside.
The Cleveland Way National Trail is one of the best ways to experience the coastline, with dramatic cliffs, wide sea views and plenty of photo-worthy moments along the way. The walk from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay is especially beautiful if you want a route that feels wild, windswept and properly Yorkshire.
But you do not have to do a long hike to enjoy it. A stroll along the beach, a wander around the harbour or a walk up to the Whale Bone Arch can be just as memorable.
What I love most is how quickly Whitby gets you to slow down. One minute, you are in the busy streets of town, and the next, you are looking out to sea, breathing in the fresh air and wondering why you do not do this more often.
You can hunt for fossils and beach treasures
One of the things I love most about Whitby is that even a simple walk on the beach can turn into a little treasure hunt.
Whitby is part of the Yorkshire Coast’s famous fossil-hunting area, and if you know where to look, you might spot ammonites, interesting stones, sea glass, shells or other little beach finds washed up by the tide.
It is especially lovely if you are visiting with children, because suddenly the walk becomes an adventure. Every pebble could be something special, and every rock pool or patch of shale feels worth exploring.
I love that side of Whitby. It is not just about the big views and famous landmarks. It is about the little moments too.
Just remember to check the tide times, stay away from unstable cliffs, and collect only from loose material on the beach. The best treasures are the ones you find without taking any risks.
Whitby is one of those places that gives you a new reason to love it every time you visit. It can be spooky, peaceful, dramatic, nostalgic, windswept and wonderfully cosy, sometimes all in the same day.
Whether you come for the Abbey, the fish and chips, the ghost stories, Goth Weekend, beach treasures or a walk by the sea, I hope you find your own reason to fall in love with Whitby too.
What do you love most about Whitby? Let us know in the comments.
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