Whitby, a seaside town in North Yorkshire, is one of the most popular coastal destinations in England. It is a very pretty town with lovely sandy beaches, a picturesque harbour and a rugged coastline.
There are two things that visitors will not miss spotting as they head towards the pier and lighthouse: the Church of St Mary — accessed via 199 steps — and the ruins of the Gothic Whitby Abbey. Both are perched high on the headland at the edge of the town.
Famously associated with Whitby are Bram Stoker and Captain James Cook. Stoker — because his visit to the town and Abbey ruins in 1890 is said to have been the inspiration for his “Dracula” novel. As for Captain Cook — his ship the HM Bark Endeavour was built in Whitby. Its full-size replica sits in Whitby Harbour as a tourist attraction, and a smaller replica takes visitors on short sailing tours.