You can't go to the Yorkshire Coast without trying typical British fish and chips! The fish caught in whitby is fresh daily, so you can find good quality fish and chips almost everywhere.

Cod and haddock are the two types of fish most commonly served. They are almost identical, so don't worry which. If you ask for fish and chips, they will serve you whichever is ready. If you want to try the most famous of Whitby's fish and chips restaurants, try the Magpie Café. You might have to queue for a while, but it is renowned as one of the best and most popular spots in the country.

Magpie Café

When we first arrive in Whitby, we will stop for a photo at the top of the 199 steps. You must go down the steps to get to the main town and the beach. Whitby's 199 steps provide picturesque views across the harbour and rooftops of the old town, with the North Sea stretching out to the horizon in front of you.

Remember you will need to walk back up these to return to the coach, so make sure you leave enough time!

Whitby has a very busy working harbour, with a lot of boats sailing in and out each day. The town is divided by the harbour, with a single bridge connecting the two sides. When larger boats come in, the bridge swings open, so you may have to wait for a few minutes while the bridge is opening and closing.

The eastern side of Whitby is where you will find the old town centre, while the western side gives access to the pier, large beach, and arcades.

Whitby was the inspiration for parts of Bram Stoker's famous vampire novel, Dracula. Parts of the story are set in Whitby, when Dracula first arrives in England.

You will see a lot of links to gothic literature and vampires around the town, but hopefully no real vampires! For a small entrance fee, the Whitby Dracula Experience is a unique attraction which guides visitors through the story and its connection to Whitby.

Dracula in Whitby The Dracula Experience

Whitby Abbey sits at the top of the cliff and is one of the most recognisable sights of the town.

Entrance to the abbey is not included in the excursion plan, but the coach stops nearby, so you will be able to see it and take photos as we walk past.

Whitby Abbey

Whitby has a long pier extending out to sea. You can walk along it and take in views of the beach, the harbour, the abbey and out to the horizon.

Please be very careful walking along it, because the floor is uneven in places, and it might be very windy!

A lot of people say that Whitby's west cliffs are shaped like a crocodile.

Walk out to the end of the West Pier and look back to the shore. Can you see the reptilian outline stretching along the coast?

In the 18th and 19th centuries, whaling was a big part of Whitby's industry. We do not have this industry today, but the whale bone arch is a reminder of the past.

If you have time to cross to the other side of the harbour and walk up to the opposite clifftop, the whalebone arch is a good spot for a photo.

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Whitby's northern beach stretches all the way along the coast to Sandsend. If the tide is out, you will be able to go down and enjoy some time on the beach.

Remember that the North Sea will always be VERY cold, so please do NOT go swimming!

Whitby is famous for jet, a deep black gemstone formed from fossilised wood millions of years ago. It became especially popular in Victorian times, when Queen Victoria wore jet jewellery during mourning.

Today, you can find shops all over Whitby selling beautiful jet jewellery and ornaments.

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Arcades are very popular in British seaside towns. These are places where people play games and try to win prizes.

You can have a go at some of the 2p machines to try to win a keyring, but please do not spend all your money!

Whitby is one of the only places in the UK where you can see pirate graves, marked by the famous skull and crossbones icon.

The graves are located at the top of the churchyard at the top of the 199 steps, near the abbey. You will see them to the left hand side before you exit the churchyard, heading back towards the coach.

HMS Endeavour was the ship used by Captain James Cook on his famous voyage to Australia and New Zealand in the 18th century.

Today in Whitby, you can visit a full-size replica of the ship in the harbour, where it serves as a museum and attraction. It lets visitors step aboard and experience the life of sailors from Cook’s time.

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The Whitby RNLI Museum celebrates the courage and dedication of the town’s lifeboat crews, who have been saving lives at sea for more than 200 years.

Visitors can explore the original 19th-century lifeboat house, see old lifeboats and equipment, and read about dramatic rescues carried out in stormy seas. The museum shows how deeply the RNLI is connected to Whitby’s maritime history and community spirit.

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The Captain Cook Memorial Statue stands proudly on Whitby’s West Cliff, overlooking the harbour and the North Sea.

It was built to honour James Cook, the world-famous explorer who began his seafaring career in Whitby, where his ships were also built.