PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
W
Destinations
Home›Destinations›Whitby
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland

Whitby

England, United Kingdom · Europe

About Whitby

Whitby works well as a base: 10 minutes from Sleights, 21km from North York Moors National Park.

Whitby is a town located in England, United Kingdom. With a population of 13,213, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Whitby sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Whitby to your route.

About Whitby

Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It is located at the mouth of the River Esk, where the North York Moors meet the Yorkshire Coast, and has a maritime, mineral and tourist economy. It is 47 miles (76 km) from York and 22 miles (35 km) from Middlesbrough. From the Middle Ages,

Read more Whitby had significant herring and whaling fleets, and was where Captain Cook learned seamanship. He first explored the southern ocean in HMS Endeavour, built in Whitby. Alum was mined locally, and Whitby jet jewellery was fashionable during the 19th century. Tourism started in Whitby during the Georgian period and developed with the arrival of the railway in 1839. The abbey ruin at the top of the East Cliff is the town's oldest and most prominent landmark. Other significant features include the swing bridge, which crosses the River Esk and the harbour sheltered by grade II listed east and west piers. There are statues of Captain Cook and William Scoresby, and a whale bone arch on the West Cliff. Whitby has featured in literary works including Bram Stoker's novel Dracula.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Whitby

Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.

Filter presets

Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.

Booking.comExpediaTripAdvisorHotels.comAgodaAirbnb

Compare before you book!

Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Whitby.

Explore the Area

Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Whitby.

Loading map...
Open in Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Whitby?

Whitby offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Whitby?

Plan your road trip to Whitby with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Whitby as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Whitby located?

Whitby is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 54.4877 latitude, -0.6150 longitude.

What is the population of Whitby?

Whitby has a population of approximately 13,213 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.

Plan a Road Trip

Add to your itinerary

Start planning your road trip with Whitby as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Start Road Trip

What's Nearby?

Discover destinations like Tinder

Swipe through stunning destinations near Whitby. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.

Explore now

Quick Information

Population
13,213
Continent
Europe
Country
United Kingdom
Region
England
Timezone
Europe/London
Coordinates
54.4877, -0.6150

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United Kingdom

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomEnglandTown

Worth the detour from Whitby

7 notable places within an hour's drive.

restaurant

Magpie Café

Whitby's harbourside fish-and-chip institution in a black-and-white 1750s merchant's house, serving fish landed yards away since 1939. The queue down Pier Road is part of the ritual.

0 km · about 5 min drive

landmark

Robin Hood's Bay

Enchanting fishing village tumbling down steep cliffs to a rocky shore, famous as the endpoint of Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk.

8 km · about 15 min drive

photogenic

Staithes

Former fishing village of red-roofed cottages stacked into a cleft in the North Yorkshire cliffs, where Captain Cook worked as a grocer's boy. Park at the top and walk down: the harbour view from Cowbar Nab is the classic shot.

14 km · about 25 min drive

national park

North York Moors National Park

Vast expanse of heather moorland turning purple in August, with deep valleys, a dramatic coastline and the historic North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

21 km · about 25 min drive

famous road

Rosedale Chimney Bank

One of England's steepest roads, hitting 1-in-3 (33%) as it climbs from Rosedale Abbey onto the North York Moors past old ironstone kilns. A rite of passage for drivers and cyclists; caravans are banned.

24 km · about 25 min drive

castle

Castle Howard

A stately home in North Yorkshire, not a true castle but one of England's grandest Baroque residences, famous from Brideshead Revisited.

45 km · about 50 min drive

cafe

Seaways Cafe

Famous bikers' cafe at Fridaythorpe on the rolling B1251 through the Yorkshire Wolds, drawing hundreds of motorcycles and sports cars on summer weekends for its renowned breakfasts.

53 km · about 60 min drive

Driving roads near Whitby

  • 24 kmRosedale Chimney BankOne of England's steepest roads, hitting 1-in-3 (33%) as it climbs from Rosedale Abbey onto the North York Moors past old ironstone kilns. A rite of passage for drivers and cyclists; caravans are banned.

Driving in United Kingdom

Drives on
the left
Petrol
~€1.73/litre
Motorway tolls
None

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Whitby.

Sleights

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

5 km awayPop. 1,972

Danby

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

19 km awayPop. 1,515

Loftus

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

20 km awayPop. 4,824

Skinningrove

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

20 km awayPop. 1,606

Burniston

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

21 km awayPop. 1,523

Brotton

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

23 km awayPop. 5,394

Lingdale

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

23 km awayPop. 1,423

Boosbeck

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

24 km awayPop. 1,168

Plan a trip around Whitby

United Kingdom road trip planner

Plan a Road Trip from Whitby

Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.

Start Planning
PYRT

The ultimate road trip planning platform. Discover 150,000+ destinations worldwide, plan scenic routes, and create unforgettable adventures.

Inspiration

  • Discover Trips
  • Travel Guides
  • Community

The Product

  • Calendar Planner
  • Integrations
  • How It Works
  • Collaboration Mode
  • Get the App
  • Merchandise: PYRT Supply Co.
  • Become a Creator
  • Trip Marketplace

Plan Your Trip

  • Road Trip Planner
  • Famous Routes
  • Planners by Country
  • Best Road Trip Planner App
  • Discover Road Trips
  • Events
  • Travel Guides
  • How It Works
  • My Trips
  • Community Groups

Company

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

© 2026 Plan Your Road Trips. All rights reserved.

•[email protected]
Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence