Whitby

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Captain James Cook spent 9 years in Whitby learning his trade as a seaman and later in his career went on to discover parts of Australia and New Zealand. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum provides exhibits of Cook’s achievements and is set in an authentic recreation of his own home. It is open daily from March to October. Visit their website for more details. (www.cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk) The Whitby Wizard Museum offers magical experiments for children and adults. Open most of the year, it is often compared to science museums all round the world. Take a look for yourself at www.whitbywizard.com. The Whitby Museum and Pannett Art Gallery offers local archaeology and history. It also looks at the whaling industry and exploration originating in Whitby. Their website is www.durain.demon.co.uk/musvs/index.htm

There are many seafood restaurants which love to dish up the daily caught fish. The Magpie Café offers great views of the harbour, (www.magpiecafe.co.uk) The White Horse and Griffin is set in a beautiful 320 year old building and also offers self catering accommodation in cottages as well as bed and breakfast (www.whitehorseandgriffin.co.uk). The Quayside offers fish and chips prepared by award-winning chef Stuart Fusco (www.fuscowhitby.com/quayside.htm) and The Vintner restaurant offers a unique experience located on one of Whitby’s most scenic streets (www.the-vintner-restaurant.co.uk/index.html).

On the cliff top are the ruins of the original seventh century St Hilda’s Abbey. Next to the ruins is the 12th century St. Mary’s Church. There are 199 steps leading from the town to the church, where the graveyard gave Bram Stoker the inspiration to write the world famous novel, Dracula. Due to the Dracula links, Whitby has become a hot spot for Goths. The twice yearly event is held in April and October over a long weekend and is known as the ‘Whitby Gothic Weekend’. A Dracula tour is offered and ghost walks are held every Friday and Saturday from 8pm. (www.whitbywalks.com)

Hotels in Whitby provide a welcome British seaside feel; bed and breakfasts pride their selves in serving the Whitby favourite; kippers and guest houses offer relaxing retreats. There are self-catering apartments and cottages for the independent traveller, and camping and caravan sites are close by. During the summer months Whitby is a haven for tourists so early booking of accommodation is recommended. Whitby is easily accessible by the A171 from Teesside in the north and Scarborough in the south. Visitors from the west can take the A169 over the North York Moors from Pickering and pass through Goathland, the home of television’s ‘Heartbeat’. Whitby train and bus station is centrally located, with train services to and from Middlesbrough and coach services running from all over the county.

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