Jo’s guidebook to Whitby
Food scene
A great place for lunch that's not typical fish and chips. Lots of fresh produce and kids are well served too. Also a great place for coffee and cake after a stroll. Cosy environment and worth looking for; just off the old market place
8 locals recommend
Sanders Yard Bistro
95 Church StA great place for lunch that's not typical fish and chips. Lots of fresh produce and kids are well served too. Also a great place for coffee and cake after a stroll. Cosy environment and worth looking for; just off the old market place
Our favourite fish and chip restaurant (although daughter always has steak pie) with arguably the best location: an unrivalled seaview over the piers and beach. A varied menu with all the favourites and with lots of speciality dishes, too. Wonderful service and friendly staff. If I had to choose one restaurant to go to, this would bit it
19 locals recommend
The Fisherman's Wife Whitby
Khyber PassOur favourite fish and chip restaurant (although daughter always has steak pie) with arguably the best location: an unrivalled seaview over the piers and beach. A varied menu with all the favourites and with lots of speciality dishes, too. Wonderful service and friendly staff. If I had to choose one restaurant to go to, this would bit it
A firm favourite and pretty much world famous and often considered the best fish and chip restaurant in town. A traditional restaurant with a huge menu with lots of daily specials. Good service and friendly staff. It deserves its excellent reputation. Try and get a table at the front so you get a view of the habour. They also have a take-away downstairs. There's often a queue but you can book a table if you call.
53 locals recommend
Magpie Café
14 Pier RdA firm favourite and pretty much world famous and often considered the best fish and chip restaurant in town. A traditional restaurant with a huge menu with lots of daily specials. Good service and friendly staff. It deserves its excellent reputation. Try and get a table at the front so you get a view of the habour. They also have a take-away downstairs. There's often a queue but you can book a table if you call.
Sherlocks Coffee Shop
10 FlowergateGreat place for lunch, or a coffee and cake. On Flowergate.
If you like beer then this is your place. Whitby brewed beer served direct from the brewer, with a view of the abbey. A great local business
18 locals recommend
Whitby Brewery
If you like beer then this is your place. Whitby brewed beer served direct from the brewer, with a view of the abbey. A great local business
A handy place for dinner and drinks in an open-plan bar restaurant. A popular place with both locals and visitors so best to book. Not a huge menu but good food and service. There's also a take-away counter. Good views over the harbour
32 locals recommend
Abbey Wharf
Market PlaceA handy place for dinner and drinks in an open-plan bar restaurant. A popular place with both locals and visitors so best to book. Not a huge menu but good food and service. There's also a take-away counter. Good views over the harbour
A national treasure: one of the few traditional smoke houses working in Britain. A Whitby kipper is a must eat experience. Just a few doors up from the cottage.
9 locals recommend
Fortune's Kippers
22 Henrietta StA national treasure: one of the few traditional smoke houses working in Britain. A Whitby kipper is a must eat experience. Just a few doors up from the cottage.
Sightseeing
A delightful seaside town full of legend. There's some delightful shops, coffee shops and some characterful pubs. The Bay is the official end of the Coast to Coast Walk and does great pub food. There's a huge beach at RHB, ideal during summer or for rockpools for kids to explore. RHB is south of Whitby and can be reached by bus. If you like walking, take the bus to RHB and walk back along the Cleveland Way.
156 locals recommend
Robin Hood's Bay
A delightful seaside town full of legend. There's some delightful shops, coffee shops and some characterful pubs. The Bay is the official end of the Coast to Coast Walk and does great pub food. There's a huge beach at RHB, ideal during summer or for rockpools for kids to explore. RHB is south of Whitby and can be reached by bus. If you like walking, take the bus to RHB and walk back along the Cleveland Way.
Scarborough: the old dame of the Yorkshire coast. There's a bit of faded glory but it's still got lots to offer. Sealife is there, a small funfair, big wheel, shopping, castle great beach and a long promenade
125 locals recommend
Scarborough
Scarborough: the old dame of the Yorkshire coast. There's a bit of faded glory but it's still got lots to offer. Sealife is there, a small funfair, big wheel, shopping, castle great beach and a long promenade
Pannett Park is home to Whitby's museum, which is an eclectic, old-school style museum. It's a treasure trove of artifacts and local history with some amazing pieces from James Cook's travels. An absolute must for anyone interested in Whitby's history. It's great for families: museum does a 'treasure' hunt for children, there's a coffee shop downstairs and the play area is the best one in town.
25 locals recommend
Pannett Park
Pannett Park is home to Whitby's museum, which is an eclectic, old-school style museum. It's a treasure trove of artifacts and local history with some amazing pieces from James Cook's travels. An absolute must for anyone interested in Whitby's history. It's great for families: museum does a 'treasure' hunt for children, there's a coffee shop downstairs and the play area is the best one in town.
Take a steamtrain on the historic North Yorkshire Moors Railway (not the diesel like the pic) through the moors and villages.
69 locals recommend
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Take a steamtrain on the historic North Yorkshire Moors Railway (not the diesel like the pic) through the moors and villages.
Where Captain Cook started his seafearing career. Picturesque seaside town up the coast from Whitby. There's a regular bus service from Whitby. Can recommend taking the bus then walking back to Whitby along the tops on part of the Cleveland Way
74 locals recommend
Staithes
Where Captain Cook started his seafearing career. Picturesque seaside town up the coast from Whitby. There's a regular bus service from Whitby. Can recommend taking the bus then walking back to Whitby along the tops on part of the Cleveland Way
A must see for visitors to Whitby accessed by the famous 199 steps next to the cottage. There's a modern interactive visitor centre and coffee shop, too. Various activities for children during the main holidays.
112 locals recommend
Whitby Abbey
Abbey LaneA must see for visitors to Whitby accessed by the famous 199 steps next to the cottage. There's a modern interactive visitor centre and coffee shop, too. Various activities for children during the main holidays.
Walking and sightseeing
Roseberry Topping
A lovely walk anytime of year.
From Staithes to Whitby, or from Robin Hoods Bay to Whitby are 2 relatively easy stretches of the Cleveland Way and highly recommended for walkers. Pack a picnic from Bothams to enjoy on route.
35 locals recommend
Cleveland Way
From Staithes to Whitby, or from Robin Hoods Bay to Whitby are 2 relatively easy stretches of the Cleveland Way and highly recommended for walkers. Pack a picnic from Bothams to enjoy on route.
A walk to Ruswarp tea rooms is gentle pleasure. The children will enjoy the mini gauge railway there, too.
15 locals recommend
Ruswarp
A walk to Ruswarp tea rooms is gentle pleasure. The children will enjoy the mini gauge railway there, too.
Things to do
Shows, markets, cinema, coffee shop ... there's always something going on
15 locals recommend
Whitby Pavilion
Shows, markets, cinema, coffee shop ... there's always something going on
Find out all about Captain Cook and his legacy.
32 locals recommend
Captain Cook Memorial Museum Whitby
Grape LaneFind out all about Captain Cook and his legacy.
Shops
So worth a visit if you're a gardener. Beautifully laid out small independent garden centre in Ruswarp with coffee shop next to the Esk. You may even be treated to a passing steam train.
Perry's Plants
The CarrsSo worth a visit if you're a gardener. Beautifully laid out small independent garden centre in Ruswarp with coffee shop next to the Esk. You may even be treated to a passing steam train.
Another Whitby tradition is Botham's bakery and tea rooms. There's a branch on Skinner Street and one on Baxtergate. Traditional bakers, great for stocking up on picnics and sweet treats. Nice range of gifts, too.
29 locals recommend
E. Botham & Sons
35/39 Skinner StAnother Whitby tradition is Botham's bakery and tea rooms. There's a branch on Skinner Street and one on Baxtergate. Traditional bakers, great for stocking up on picnics and sweet treats. Nice range of gifts, too.
The Whitby Bookshop
88 Church StA book shop full of local book titles and gifts.
Traveler advice
Getting around
Parking
Parking on the East Cliff side is limited for both residents and visitors. What we normally do is drive up to the cottage to unload then park the car. There is a small pay and display car park on Church Street. Along the top of West Cliff there are lots of pay and display spaces. There are also large pay and display car parks behind the co-op near the station and one by the Abbey. The parking scratch cards left for you in the cottage allow you to park in the ‘W’ parking zones for free.