Whitby
Travelers come to Whitby for the abbey ruins above the harbor, the fish and chips on the quay, and the coast where Bram Stoker set part of Dracula.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Whitby is a harbor town on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, England, split in two by the River Esk. Go for the ruins of Whitby Abbey on the East Cliff, above the harbor. The abbey began as a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon monastery, and most of what you see today is medieval. Bram Stoker stayed in Whitby in 1890, and in Dracula the Count comes ashore here by sea.
One day covers the abbey, the harbor and the old fishing houses on the streets below, and an overnight stay leaves room for the evening on the quay. Fish and chips and jet jewelry, carved from a dark fossil material found on this coast, are the local things to eat and buy. Captain James Cook trained in Whitby as a young sailor. Reach the town by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's steam trains, the Esk Valley line, or by car.
Whitby in five
- Check the Abbey calendar before you climbEnglish Heritage tickets are valid all day within opening hours, and its calendar lists off-season weeks with Monday and Tuesday closures. Look at the dates for your visit.
- Arrive by the steam railway for the sceneryThe North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs 24 miles between Pickering and Whitby via Goathland and Grosmont. Booked more than 4 days ahead, a Day Rover saves 10%.North York Moors
- Walk the old town earlyNarrow streets by the harbor are quieter before day visitors arrive. Leave the abbey for the afternoon if the weather is clear, because the cliff top has no cover.
- Take a base or a day trip from YorkYork is the nearest big rail city to the south-west, so Whitby works as a long day by car. An overnight gives the harbor in the evening.York
Things to do in Whitby
See all attractions in Whitby
Need to know
- Airport
- Leeds Bradford, Newcastle or Manchester, then road or rail
- Getting there
- Car from York; steam railway from Pickering; Esk Valley line from Middlesbrough
- Getting around
- On foot; the abbey sits above the old town
- Best base
- The old town or harbor streets
- Time needed
- 1 day; a night for the evenings
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Cold, quietFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Cool, windyMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, windy
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Mild, quietAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low13°Warm, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Autumn lightOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn light
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°Wet, short daysNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, short days
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Cold, short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, short days
Average daily high and low in Whitby, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Whitby
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 91%
- Wind
- 20 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 78%
Whitby
12:50 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today11°10°78%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Wed12°10°18%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Thu11°11°26%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 26%.
- Fri12°10°16%Friday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Sat12°10°39%Saturday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 39%.
- Sun11°10°45%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 45%.
Updated 10:19 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- North Yorkshire Moors Railway24-mile steam ride from PickeringGoathland and Grosmont are the main stops between the moors and the sea.Read the guide
- Yorkabout 1.5 hours by carThe Minster, walls and the Shambles, a long day trip from the coast.Read the guide
- Yorkshire Dalesabout 2 hours by carLimestone dales and waterfalls on the far side of the county.Read the guide
Before you go to Whitby
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Whitby, checked
- Whitby Abbey (English Heritage): tickets are valid all day within opening hours. The calendar lists off-season weeks with Monday and Tuesday closures.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Whitby
Heather moors and the steam railway
Read the guideYorkThe Minster and walls, a rail city to the south-west
Read the guideYorkshireCities, dales, moors and coast
Read the guideTrains, buses and carsHire cars and rural rail links
Read the guideAll of EnglandCities, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideWhitby FAQ
Is Whitby worth visiting?
Yes, for the harbor, the abbey ruin above it and the steam railway. It is small, so most visitors spend a day, with an overnight for the evenings. It can be crowded on summer weekends.
Is Whitby Abbey open every day?
Not always. English Heritage lists off-season weeks with Monday and Tuesday closures, and tickets are valid all day within opening hours. Check the calendar for your date.
How do you get to Whitby without a car?
The Esk Valley line from Middlesbrough and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Pickering both reach it, and buses cover other routes. Confirm timetables on National Rail and the railway's own site.
How many days do you need in Whitby?
One day is enough for the abbey and harbor. Two days let you ride the steam railway or add moorland walks, and the town is calmer once day trippers leave.
When is the best time to visit Whitby?
May and June for long days and quieter streets, and September and October for calmer crowds. July and August are the busiest, and winter days are short, wet and windy.