Stay at the home of Dracula

YHA Whitby Abbey House has an unrivalled location for Whitby-lovers; you're immediately next to Whitby Abbey, overlooking spectacular views of the harbour from up on the breezy headland. If you want to stay in a real piece of history, our beautiful mansion has some amazing period features for residents to find. Spend time reading about our carved oak Viking beam and Victorian stained glass, or daydream amongst the fragrant flowers in our award-winning 'Physic Garden' outside. Our lovingly refurbished hostel is a genuine heritage site and it's one of our most memorable and atmospheric buildings - watch out for our spooky mannequin and vampire-inspired stamp! The hostel makes a perfect retreat from the bustling streets of Whitby and our charming Abbey House Tearooms is always welcome to visitors. Pop in for a slice of cake and a cuppa, relax in our sunny conservatory, or eat a delicious hand-battered fish and chips al fresco in our spacious garden. Whether you need toys for little ones to play with or just a quiet place to sit and read (we recommend Dracula), YHA Whitby makes a fab base for seaside fun. 

Twice a year, Whitby's winding cobbled streets become a sea of backcombed hair, steampunk accessories and extravagant costumes for Whitby Goth Weekend. Our fantastic abbey location is a top choice for the April and Halloween celebrations, so travel back in time with us and rub shoulders with vampires and Victorians! The kooky vibe is rampant all year round, with a brilliant ghost walk exploring Whitby's shadowy alleyways and terrifying past every night. October's Bram Stoker International Film Festival shows some of the best horror and suspense movies from around the world, and an outdoor performance of Dracula amongst Whitby Abbey's ruins is a must-see. Swap your black velvet for a flower crown at Whitby Folk Week in August and catch live music, dancing, storytelling and local craft stalls. Whitby celebrates all things creative and quirky, so every day you'll see colourful street performers and buskers. For seaside family fun, the vibrant Whitby Regatta has yacht racing, rowing competitions, fancy dress and a thrilling firework display over the harbour. There are some excellent old pubs in Whitby too, but we're not telling you which ones are haunted...

Stay at YHA Whitby and get free entrance to Whitby Abbey too - it's only a minute away and it's blessed with fascinating history, marvellous views and a fab audio guide. Next door is St Mary's Church, whose graveyard appears in the novel Dracula. Walk down the 199 steps and Whitby is a maze of independent and boutique shops, selling outrageous outfits (teens will LOVE it), gorgeous gifts and natural handmade cosmetics. Whitby's busy harbour has a variety of boat trips, from sea fishing and whale watching to a working replica of Captain Cook's ship Bark Endeavour. Budding explorers can learn more about his adventures at the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, with inspiring educational activities and family events. If you love traditional seaside holidays, you'll find ice cream, souvenirs and some of best fish and chips around all on the busy seafront - Scarborough and Robin Hood's Bay are just a bus ride away too. The unique Dracula Experience isn't for the faint of heart and visitors can expect a living ghost train of actors and special effects! For simple peace and quiet, Whitby's Pannet Park is a haven of gardens, lawns and wooded areas to relax in.

Surf is always up at Whitby Surf School and it's an ideal place to learn how to ride the waves - we love the award-winning sandy beach they use and how their lessons fill you with confidence. Whitby's West Cliff Beach has plenty of space to practice, a nice shallow gradient for beginners and is only 10 minutes from the town centre. Keen walkers and amblers can enjoy the dramatic coastal scenery of the Cleveland Way and can even trek to Robin Hood's Bay and Scarborough, all with the waves lapping at the cliffs below. Or explore over a thousand miles of wild and windy tracks through the North Yorkshire Moors for a rural adventure. We know a great local bike hire shop if you want to tackle the Cinder Track between Whitby and Scarborough too.

 

So what are you waiting for? Book your stay and explore the jewel of Yorkshire's coast for yourself.