‘I spent a weekend in one of Britain’s prettiest seaside towns’

Whitby sits on the Yorkshire coast, just over an hour from York. The town is split by the River Esk which runs into the North Sea, overlooked by the imposing ruins of Whitby Abbey. With caravan parks, log cabins and bed and breakfasts all within close range of the seaside, it’s the perfect break for families.

I spent two days in Whitby, opting to stay in a log cabin just a five minute drive from the centre. This meant we had the best of both worlds, with the leafy wooded seclusion of the cabin and the busy seaside town on our doorstep.

Walking around Whitby will definitely see you meet your step goal, with hilly side streets (which you should definitely venture up to find the best antique shops and quaint cafes), the winding pier and notorious 199 steps.

If you’re after some retail therapy, there are plenty of unique shops to watch out for; one famous store is Whitby Lucky Ducks, which has sold small hand-made glass ducks for more than 50 years.

On Whitby’s east side is a stunning 17th-century workshop, Ebor Jetworks. There are several Whitby Jet shops in the town, featuring jewellery made from fossilised driftwood, which is formed into the solid black material through a process called jetonisation. If you’re beach combing along the Yorkshire coast you may come across some Whitby jet.

If you fancy taking in the sights, walking up the 199 steps will give you a stunning view across the harbour and town of Whitby. It also places you next to Whitby Abbey, so you can see up close the ruins which feature in Bram Stoker’s iconic novel, Dracula.

For those needing a reward after climbing the stone steps – or some liquid courage for the way back down – stop by Whitby Brewery for local ales and pizza.

There are plenty of pubs, restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Whitby, but perhaps the most iconic spot to grab some food is Magpie Cafe. Travelling to the seaside and not getting fish and chips is a crime in my opinion, and with winding queues that spill onto the street, Magpie Cafe is the place to go.

The weather was glorious when we decided to try Magpie, so we opted to get ours to go and sit outside on the pier. You won’t be disappointed by the freshly battered fish, so big it hardly fits inside the takeaway box, and plenty of delicious chips. Topped with lashings of salt and vinegar and a side of curry sauce – there’s nothing better while you’re by the sea.

We took our food down the pier, which can be a tad windy but has plenty of seating and views of both the harbour and beach below. We watched the boats taking tourists for trips around the coast come and go as we ate.

Feeling full, the next stop was to explore the history of Whitby in the famous Dracula Experience. This museum-come-haunted house takes you through the Dracula story, weaving in the true local ghost tales which inspired Bram Stoker. Split over several floors and a jump scare or two – I wouldn’t recommend for young children – the tour ends with a 10-minute documentary on the history of Dracula.

Anyone interested in the paranormal can also go on the Whitby Ghost Walk, a 75-minute tour which takes you on a walk through the spookier side of Whitby. With no need to book, you can just wait for the tour to start at 7.30pm at the Whale Bone Arch on Whitby’s West Cliff.

After a thorough scare, we decided to treat ourselves to a northern favourite – a lemon top. For those unfamiliar, lemon tops are ice cream cones which are made up of whipped vanilla ice cream topped with lemon sorbet. Estimated to have first been produced in 1924 by Pacittos ice cream shop down the coast in Redcar, lemon tops are available at most seaside towns in the northeast of England.

Time for the beach. Whitby Beach is a nice one but it can get busy during peak season. There’s often a funfair available to entertain the kids, you can hire deckchairs and windbreaks, and there are plenty of shops nearby to grab a bucket and spade.

If you’re willing to drive a little distance, you can try Robin Hood’s Bay. Located around 15 minutes from Whitby town centre, Robin Hood’s Bay is an old fishing village on the Heritage Coast of the North York Moors. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops in the village, and a beautiful beach to explore. The beach itself is dog friendly and boasts rock pools and the potential to discover fossils.

For a quieter beach experience just seven minutes drive from Whitby town centre, try Sandsend. Another small fishing village, there are a couple of cafes, fish and chip spots and a gift shop. Sandsend is, as the name suggests, where the sand ends and the cliffs begin. 

If you’re taking a dog, check which areas of the beach are dog-friendly, as these vary throughout the year. For each of these beaches, I’d advise checking the tide before travelling.

After a weekend of ice cream, fish and chips and long walks, there was only one thing left to do – mini golf. There are a couple of options for mini golf, the Whitby Pitch and Putt Mini Golf Course on the West Cliff, or for that iconic seaside feel, the pirate themed mini golf course inside Pleasureland amusements. We opted for the latter and had to battle skeleton pirates, dodge treasure chests and clamber across rope bridges to complete the nine holes.

After beating my husband at mini golf, it was time to head home. And we were both sorry to leave our log cabin and the sea air. Whitby is the quintessential British seaside holiday; with rich history, friendly locals, delicious food and beautiful views – it’s definitely worth the trip.