If you want to beat the tourists, you'd better speak to a local. We've asked Jules from London on the Inside to share her tips for a weekend in her home turf of Whitby.
Eat: Fish and chips on the harbour
Whitby is famous for its fish and chips there’s no lack of decent chippies around town. People love to queue for the Magpie but there’s not much difference in quality if you head down the road to Trenches or Quayside. Afterwards, sit on the harbour and watch the seagulls, and don’t forget to ask for scraps – that’s pieces of leftover batter that should be drowned in salt and vinegar.
Climb: Whitby Abbey
No trip to Whitby is complete without climbing the 199 steps up to the gothic Abbey ruins – they inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, set on the East Cliff. He’s not buried there though, no matter how many people tell you he is. Then, over on the West Cliff, you’ll find a set of whale bones which form a huge arch that you can walk under. Now there’s an Instagram op half of London won’t have.
See: Whale Watching
Pier Road is littered with amusements of the best kind, hop from one to another blowing your cash on the 2p machines – or if you’re rolling big there’s always the 10p options. Want to get closer to nature? There’s a surf school suitable for all levels, or for those more sensible – hey, it’s the North Sea here – bag a seat on a boat and head out whale watching. The season peaks in August and September and you might see a few seals and dolphins, too.
