Whitby

Whitby is a historic town and seaport in North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the northeast coast at the mouth of the River Esk, beneath the North York Moors. The town's medieval core features narrow streets, a working fishing harbour, and dramatic sea and cliff scenery dominated by Whitby Abbey on the East Cliff.

Whitby Abbey, founded in 657 after the Synod of Whitby, dominates the town above. The harbour grew as a fishing port and later supported whaling. Whitby jet, a black gemstone formed from fossilized wood, has long been mined nearby. The 199 steps connect the town to the Abbey.

Whitby is notable for literary and cultural associations. Bram Stoker used Whitby as a key setting in Dracula, contributing to its Gothic identity. The explorer Captain James Cook lived here as a youth, and the Captain Cook Memorial Museum preserves his memory. The town hosts Whitby Goth Weekend and the Whitby Museum, which covers local history and natural science.

Today Whitby remains a working port and tourist centre. Visitors come for the Abbey ruins, the harbour, the jet industry, and nearby beaches. Lifeboat services operate from the harbour. The town is accessible by road and rail, with services on the Esk Valley Line and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in the vicinity.