A stunning seaside town has been dubbed one of the best in England by hundreds of visitors. Whitby Harbour sits in the town of Whitby, in Yorkshire.
Guarding over this charming town is Whitby Abbey which has been standing since 657AD. The imposing 13th Gothic ruins are said to have inspired Bram Stroker to write his gothic novel Dracula, published in 1897.
This idyllic former fishing own has cobbled streets, red-roofed houses that step down the hillside to the water’s edge, endless fish and chip shops, and intriguing museums. The River Esk runs the centre of town, theoretically dividing it in half. These are halves linked by a swing bridge.
The West side features lovely little historic fishermen’s cottages and Georgian townhouses.
The Abbey ruins are certainly impressive with expansive views across Whitby’s town and beach. Remains of the eastern side of the church and the north transept stand almost to their original height.
It is elaborate with much-carved detail and moulding. It does send a little shiver through you and by night, it takes on an even more imposing appearance.
Whitby’s wide beach sits at the bottom of steep, grass-clad cliffs. Swimming here is not for the faint-hearted as it sits on the edge of the freezing North sea, however, it’s lovely to stroll along the water’s edge.
Alternatively, explore the coastline by boat – on a replica of Captain Cooks HMS Endeavour, no less which sets sail from Whitby harbour and follows the coast to Sandsend. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum is a must too and sits in a 17th Century house, where Captain Cook learned seafaring skills.
At the Whitby Museum, there’s a superb collection of historical items such as artifacts linked to its maritime heritage and social history and specimens of animals and birds as well as a spectacular display of Jurassic fossils. And of course, fish and chips are available all over town.
Buy yourself a takeaway and sit on the harbour walls. Just watch out for the giant seagulls who are quite the experts in stealing your catch if you’re not careful.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
