Famous for being the inspiration of Dracula, Whitby is one of the most exciting coasts in the UK, with tons to keep children entertained. Located on the East Coast in North Yorkshire, there is something for everyone. It’s easy to spend a full day in Whitby, especially if it’s sunny. Even on a rainy day there is plenty to do though, with its myriads of independent shops and indoor activities.
Parking and Travelling:
In peak times, Whitby can be very busy, and a parking spot is like gold dust. Get there early to nab yourself a spot. Click here to find information about car parks in Whitby.
Northern rail trains also run to the station in the centre of Whitby.
The Coastliner bus is an excellent way to get to Whitby and at the time of writing costs only £2 wherever you embark. This passes through major places like Leeds and York and was proclaimed Britain’s most scenic bus route in 2018.
Prams and Accessibility:
Whitby is famous for having 199 steps up to the Abbey, so it is not the most accessible or pram friendly place. There are many cobbles, alleyways and steep hills that would make navigating with wheels a challenge, but there are accessible areas. Many of the eateries and shops are accessible, and there are accessible public toilets along the coast. The beach is accessed by a slope so wheelchairs and prams can go down, but it is very steep. Even the abbey can be accessed by an alternative route without steps and should be fine for prams on all but the muddiest of days.
Things to do with kids at Whitby
1.Whitby Abbey
Up on the cliffs sits the beautiful ruins of Whitby Abbey; a great place to explore with kids. Whilst a pram could be brought up here, it would be much easier to use a baby carrier on this sometimes-muddy terrain. Visit the museum to find more about the 3000-year-long history at the Whitby Abbey site. This is an English Heritage property and kid friendly events run in the Easter holidays, May half term and the half term around Halloween.
2. Beaches
Whitby has a beach on each side of the River Esk, which travels through the centre of Whitby. On one side is the sheltered Tate Hill beach: a sandy beach known for welcoming dogs all year round. On the other side is West Cliff beach; a great place for the kids to bring bucket and spades and to paddle. In this beach you can hire a chalet and deckchairs and explore the rock pools. Whitby is also famous for jet, a gemstone made from fossilised wood, which can sometimes be found by hunting along the beach.
3. Boat trips
Along the harbour sit several boats ready to take visitors on a half hour trip into the sea and back, giving a wonderful view of the imposing Abbey atop the cliff and all the bright chalets on the beach. There is even a pirate themed boat and when I was a child myself, I loved visiting Whitby and sailing around.
4. Steam Train
Take a steam train on a scenic journey all the way to the historic market town of Pickering and back. Stop off at Pickering for a bite to eat and visit the castle. With trains running from the end of March to the start of November, you will also pass, and can visit, Goathland, used as Hogsmede station in the Harry Potter films, and where Heartbeat was filmed.
5. The Dracula Experience
If you have a child that is more daring than me as a child, they will love visiting the Dracula Experience. It tells the story of how Dracula came to Whitby through dramatisation and there are sometimes live actors there to give an extra little scare. This is a good attraction for those who like a good spooky story, but is best avoided by children who are easily scared.
6. Whitby Goth Weekend
This is usually over the last weekend in both April and October and is an excellent excuse to dress up. Your children will enjoy admiring all the Victorian, steam punk and gothic get ups. There is also an alternative market in the leisure centre, but this can be very busy so is only really suitable for young children in carriers or older children. The effort that most people put into their outfits these weekends is incredible.
Things to do with kids nearby
1.Robin Hood’s Bay
A beautiful village on the coast with a sandy beach great for bringing the family, and has rock pools to explore. It was historically a smuggling village and more can be found out about Robin Hood’s Bay’s history and geology by visiting the local museum.
2. Scarborough
There is so much to do if you are thinking about visiting Scarborough, such as visiting Scarborough Castle, Sea Life Centre, Peasholme park or doing the more traditional seaside activities such as splashing in the sea, building sandcastles on the beach and visiting the amusements.
3. Mulgrave Castle
If you take a stroll in Mulgrave Woods, which are open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays (except in May) then you will come across the Norman ruins of Mulgrave Castle. It was destroyed by order of parliament when Oliver Cromwell was in charge.
4. Dalby Forest
Within the 8,500 acres of Dalby Forest, there is tons to do with kids. You could go on the Stickman adventure, picking up a stick man trail pack from the visitor centre. There is a Gruffalo orienteering course designed to help your little ones practice map reading in a fun way. Dalby also had many cycle trails, each colour coded by difficulty, so could be the perfect place to take more athletic kids. Another option at Dalby is the Go Ape adventure course.