The ultimate day out in Whitby – how to spend your staycation in Britain’s most Googled town – Yorkshire Live

As the country edges towards normality, many of us are planning what we can do with our first taste of freedom - and where we can go on holiday.

This years holiday season has already been dubbed the summer of staycations, it is safe to say that Britain's most-googled small town, the jewel of the Yorkshire Coast, will not be short of visitors.

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But if you are planning a trip to this seaside beauty spot, it is important to know that Whitby is more than just an Abbey.

With its natural and architectural beauty, Whitby is a town of culture, charm, and chips by the spadeful. So whether youre a seasoned Whitby-goer or as green as Pannett Park, here are the absolute must-sees in this gem of a town:

Okay, this one is obvious.

But once youve climbed the 199 steps to this stunningly spectral 13-century relic, you wont be able to deny its place at the top of any Whitby bucket list. Set atop the East Cliff, overlooking the North Sea, its no wonder that it was once named Britains Most Romantic Ruin. So striking is this Gothic pile that, upon seeing it, Bram Stoker was inspired to write Dracula.

The ruins are an English Heritage property, open between 10am and 5pm, with last admission 30 minutes before closing time. For non-members, entry ranges from 6.60 (for kids) to 11.

Just a short drive out of town, this magical tea garden is nestled away in the North York Moors. From the garden you can hear the gentle rush of Falling Foss - an enchanting 30-foot waterfall - as you enjoy your choice from a range of sandwiches and cakes, as well as hot, cold, and alcoholic drinks.

There is a relatively easy circular walk, too, which goes past the hermitage cave, a little interior space carved out of a huge boulder. It is said to date back to the 18th Century and to have once been the home of a real hermit.

Ever wondered where the term jet-black came from? Well it turns out to be a reference to Whitby Jet, a type of gemstone found in the Whitby Mudstone Formation which is known for the intensity of its black hue.

There are a smattering of charming little Jet shops across the town, including Ebor Jetworks and Robinsons Jet, but the Whitby Heritage Jet Centre is the last remaining example of an old-fashioned Victorian Jet Workshop.

Its not just the Abbey that will put you in mind of Stokers vampiric tale. On 9 Marine Parade is The Dracula Experience, a unique tour through the Dracula story and its connection to Whitby, featuring animated scenes, electronic special effects and live actors.

Elsewhere, Story Walker Dr Crank offers an In Search of Dracula tour as one of three guided walks around the historic port town.

Recently completed, the Whitby Walk With Heritage trail is not only a great leg-stretcher, its also a way of exploring the unique fishing heritage of this port town.

Nine life-sized sculptures, crafted by celebrated local artist Emma Stothard, are spread across the town and document the achievements of notable Whitby figures like Captain Scoresby and Dora Walker, as well as the anonymous fishermen and harbour workers who gave so much to the town.

At the Scotch Head bandstand, for instance, youll find the Herring lassies at work these were women who would travel with the herring fleet down the east coast of England, lodging in towns like Whitby to gut and pack the fish brought in from sea.

Judged the best Public Park in Yorkshire in 2014, Pannett Park is a tranquil little space on the edge of the town centre.

But if the beautifully maintained gardens are just a bit too relaxing, you might want to exercise your mind in Whitby Museum and Pannett Art Gallery, both of which make their home in the park.

The art gallery features a mixture of 19th and 20th century paintings and watercolours of the town's Victorian splendour, while Whitby Museum displays a mix of treasures including fossils and artefacts from the towns whaling past.

Hidden away in a village just outside Whitby is this weird and wonderful ode to the peculiar scientific experiments of the Victorian era.

The museum, which includes antique laboratory apparatus, Geiger counters, and an electric telegraph, is a great day out for any would-be steampunk or nutty professor,

You need to be 16 or older to visit and visits need to be arranged by phone (01947 897440) although there is a website with more information.

Housing an incredible collection of original paintings, maps, manuscripts, ship models and Pacific artefacts, the Captain Cook Memorial Museum tells the story of Yorkshire's most famous son.

In this charming 17th century house on Grape Lane, the young Cook served his apprenticeship, and when, not at seas, lodged in the building's attic.

This Victorian double boathouse used to be a real RNLI lifeboat station, but now the space is dedicated to celebrating the area's inspiring lifeboat history.

Featuring a treasure trove of photographs and medals, not to mention a full-size display lifeboat, this is a great place for kids to learn about the courage of RNLI volunteers as well as some of the dangers of the sea.

Last but not least, the obligatory chippy tea. If youre going to visit Whitby, you surely have to treat yourself to some chips, perhaps with a side of Whitby Scampi.

There are plenty of satisfying options to choose from, but Trenchers on New Quay Road won the National Fish & Chip Awards Fish and Chip Restaurant of the Year Award in 2019, excelling in every category, according to organisers.

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The ultimate day out in Whitby - how to spend your staycation in Britain's most Googled town - Yorkshire Live

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero