Holidays in Whitby, things to do in Whitby UK

You can't 'do' Whitby in a day - there's just so much to see and do. Fringed by a Blue Flag beach and pretty beach huts, it's a perfect seaside retreat for a family holiday.

The Captain Cook Memorial Museum in quaint Grape Lane is housed in the 17th-century house where the young explorer lodged as an apprentice; today, you can take a trip from Whitby Harbour aboard a replica of his ship, HM Bark Endeavour.

"Idyllic, quaint and intriguing - Whitby is a small town with lots of stories to tell, the perfect place to explore. Not to mention the delicious seafood!" @dr_faye

Whitby Abbey towers over the town, and was one of the inpirations for Victorian writer Bram Stoker, creator of Dracula. Alice author Lewis Carroll also loved Whitby - his first published poem was in the local paper in 1854. Both authors are paid tribute to in the town's annual goth and steampunk festivals.

Whitby is synonymous with jet, the sleek black gemstone so beloved by Queen Victoria. 2019 marks the 200th anniversary of her birth, and local jewellers W. Hamond have opened a new Museum of Whitby Jet, housing the worlds most comprehensive collection including what's believed, at 21 feet long, to be the largest piece ever found.

And food lovers will be in their delicious element - gorgeous coffee an cake, great fish and chips, first-rate restaurants (including one run by a Michelin-starred chef), and great pubs and cocktail bars.