Discover the Culture
Feed your mind and soul on the Yorkshire Coast
The history of the Yorkshire Coast has been a turbulent and fascinating one, to say the least. Around 160 million years ago, it was on the migration path of herds of dinosaurs, which left behind many footprints. You can also find many fossils including beautiful ammonite, belemnities and other fascinating creatures.
The Coastline has been invaded by the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings and the Normans. We've seen great communities built, and others disappear into the sea. We've been ome to great explorers, men and women of religion, smugglers, fishermen, artists and writers.
Into modern day the Yorkshire Coast can feed your mind and soul on the Yorkshire Coast with world-class theatre and art, great music and a range of ventures from the beachside pubs to internationally renowned theatres such as Bridlington's historic Spa and 'favourite little venue', the spotlight theatre, Whitby's clifftop Pavillion and Scarborough's world renowned Stephen Joseph Theatre, Open Air Theatre and Spa.
And while you're here try catch one of our many festivals, chance are if you can think of somethingg that comes under the heading of 'Culture' we have a festival for it.
Discover Yorkshire Coast has worked in partnership with North York Moors National Park, Visit Ryedale and Welcome to Yorkshire to provide four fantastic films! The themes of the films are:
Stately Homes, Castles and Abbeys
Castle ruins and abbeys, carefully preserved stately homes - we've some of the world's best around Yorkshire!
- Burton Agnes Hall
- Burton Constable Hall
- Castle Howard
- Nunnington Hall
- Rievaulx Abbey
- Scarborough Castle
- Sewerby Hall
- Sledmere House
- Wassand Hall
- Whitby Abbey
Galleries
Art and the Coast have always gone hand in hand, and the Yorkshire Coast is no exception!
Artists have always been drawn to our spectacular scenery, and the results can be seen in just about every one of the lovely villages and towns. From the larger municipal galleries in towns to the smaller, independant selling galleries where you might just find that perfect piece you've been searching for.Keeping an eye out for the 'pop-up' galleries that appear at our regular arts festivals, such as the annual Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage, which takes place each September.
Live Music
Pop, Rock, Folk, World, Classical, Jazz: there are so many choices when it comes to music and we cater for them all.
Both Bridlington and Scarborough Spa's and The Open Air Theatre at Scarborough host some of the biggest names in the world.
Our music festivals are second to none - Scarborough's Jazz festival is regularly named as one of the country's best, as Whitby favourites Musicport and Folk Week, but don't forget Bridlington's Northern Soul Weekener and Filey Town Festival.
Museums
Whatever your historical interest, there's a museum for you:
Theatres
Scarborough has the Stephen Joseph Theatre, The Open Air Theatre and the Multi Venue Scarborough Spa. Whitby is home to the Clifftop Pavillion whilst Bridlington is home to the Spotlight Theatre and the Bridlington Spa.
Architecture
Whether your architectural tastes run to ancient ruins, medieval castles and abbeys, Elizabethan Manor Houses, Georgian and Victorian domesticity or Art Deco glamour, you'll find something of interest in the towns and villages on the Yorkshire Coast.
Definatly not to be missed are the great ruins of Whitby Abbey, Scarborough Castle and Rievaulx Abbey, all conveniently located within a couple of hours drive of each other. There are multiple stately homes packed with treasures and unparallleled art collections including Castle Howard, which took over 100 years to build, starting in 1699.
Sledmere House
Sledmere House, Sledmere, DRIFFIELD, Yorkshire, YO25 3XG
One of Yorkshire's most beautiful houses, with some of England's finest plasterwork. Award-winning garden. Military Museum, children's quiz, picnic and play area, terrace cafe and gift shop.
Sewerby Hall and Gardens
Church Lane, Sewerby, Bridlington, YO15 1EA
Sewerby Hall and Gardens is the place to visit all year round. Uniquely situated in a dramatic clifftop position with spectacular views over Bridlington and set in 50 acres of early 19th Century parkland.
Whale Bone Arch
Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3HA
Original Whale jaw bone arch was erected some time after 1853. A replica was presented to Whitby by Norway in 1963. The current replacement was donated by Alaska in April 2003.
Whitby Brewery
Abbey Farm, East Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4JR
When we started up our microbrewery back in 2013, we made it our mission to bring local, craft brewing back to Whitby.
Whitby Harbour
St Annes Staith, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PY
Whitby's harbour is bustling with life with small fishing boats to larger vessels ready to whisk visitors off on trips around the bay.
Burton Agnes Hall & Gardens
Burton Agnes Hall, Burton Agnes, DRIFFIELD, Yorkshire, YO25 4NB
Magnificent Elizabethan house filled with treasures collected over four centuries.
Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Whitby
Grape Lane, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4BA
Open again! Celebrates the life of the great explorer Captain Cook, and his momentous voyages. Gold Award winner for best small visitor attraction, Visit England Awards for Excellence. Royal Mint commemorative coins on sale now
Ravenscar Visitor Centre
Ravenscar, North Yorkshire, YO13 0NE
Situated at the southern end of Robin Hood’s Bay, Ravenscar Visitor Centre is a welcoming gateway to the Yorkshire Coast.
Scarborough Lifeboat Station - RNLI
Lifeboat Station House, Foreshore Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1PB
The RNLI is the charity that provides a 24-hour lifesaving service around the UK and Republic of Ireland. In the event of an emergency at sea call 999
Ampleforth Abbey
Ampleforth, York, YO62 4EN
Ampleforth Abbey has been home to a Community of Benedictine monks since 1802. The Abbey Church is the centre of monastic life and is open to visitors all year round.
Helmsley Castle
Castlegate, Helmsley, York, YO62 5AB
Towering over the attractive market town of Helmsley, and surrounded by spectacular banks and ditches, Helmsley Castle is an imposing sight with a wealth of history.
Old Coastguards Station - Visitor Centre
The Dock, Robin Hoods Bay, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4SJ
The Old Coastguard Station visitor centre at the edge of the sea in Robin Hood’s Bay village will help you discover what makes this part of the Yorkshire Coast so special.
Anne Bronte's Grave
Castle Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1HY
Burial site of the late literary icon, Anne Bronte. She is buried in St Mary's Church graveyard in Scarborough; a place she loved; a place she portrayed in both her novels.
Whitby Gin
1-2, Gray Street, WHITBY, North Yorkshire, YO21 1EP
Distilled using the London dry method, with foraged local botanicals from the coast and moorland, our recipe pays homage to Whitby town's rich history.
Beck Isle Museum of Rural Life
Bridge Street, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 8DU
Bygones of Victorian age with something of interest to all ages many rooms including a grocer's shop children's room printer's workshop costume room kitchen.
Wold Top Brewery
Hunmanby Grange, Wold Newton, Driffield, YO25 3HS
Wold Top Brewery is an award-winning micro brewery that uses traditional methods to produce high quality beers that combine the characters of the Yorkshire Wolds and the East Coast.
Ryedale Folk Museum
Hutton-le-Hole, Nr. Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO62 6UA
A unique visitor attraction located in the picturesque village of Hutton-le-Hole, where history is brought to life through the Museum’s buildings and collections.
Whitby Museum
Pannett Park, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1RE
Set in stunning Pannett Park, Whitby Museum is the home of Whitby’s history, past to present.
Rare Bird Distillery
The Stable Block, Yorkersgate, MALTON, North Yorkshire, YO17 7FT
Gin Distillery – Founded in 2016, we are a working distillery producing our signature Rare Bird Gin, a London dry gin rich in botanicals with a deliciously smooth texture.
The Great Yorkshire Brewery
The New Inn & Cropton brewery, Cropton, North Yorkshire, YO18 8HH
Unique opportunity to see inside a micro brewery producing award-winning real ale in a rural setting on the edge of the North York Moors National Park and Cropton Forest.
