by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:30th June 2026
A grand dame on England’s northeast coast
North Yorkshire is such a beautiful part of the UK to tour around, with its gorgeous rolling countryside across the Dales and the Moors. Although I must admit, I do love to wander around the picturesque towns and villages along the east coast shoreline, and a visit to Whitby Abbey is an absolute must.
During our relaxing Yorkshire EV road trip, we stayed overnight in Whitby, which gave us the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the colourful town itself. It also meant we climbed the 199 steps of Church Stairs at a pleasurable pace to Whitby Abbey.
Whitby Abbey ruins are now in the care of English Heritage and were designated a Grade I Listed Building in February 1954. Why not book your tickets in advance with English Heritage and save yourself 15% discount?
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Where is Whitby Abbey?
How to get to Whitby Abbey
- By Bus
There is a regular bus service to Whitby town from many of the surrounding cities, towns, and villages.
- By Car
Whitby Abbey is just ½ mile from the historic town centre, with a 15-minute walk up the famous 199 steps, the view across the bay is worth it.
To find the nearest EV charger to Whitby Abbey, check zap-map.com/live
A chargeable car park is outside the south entrance, 100m from the Abbey. There are a small number of disabled visitor spaces by the entrance to the visitor centre.
Use postcode Whitby YO22 4EH for your Sat Nav, or find it by using What3words ///drumbeat.winds.alarmed
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You will find us across many forms of social media. You will find our latest posts, some throwbacks, links to historic events with our 'On this day' posts, across Facebook, X, Bluesky & Threads. Each week, themed visual content on Instagram, and our narrated travels on YouTube. Collections of the images in our posts are also collated into boards on Pinterest.
The origins of Whitby Abbey
Life began in the 7th centuryPerched high above the harbour on the cliffs of Whitby is the magnificent Whitby Abbey, which has one of the most dramatic and stunning settings of any ruin in England. The first monastery here was founded in 657 AD by King Oswiu of Northumbria and was led by the remarkable Abbess Hilda, later known as Saint Hilda.
Full view of Whitby Abbey
Whitby Abbey quickly became one of the great centres of learning in the Anglo-Saxon world, famous for poetry, scholarship, and religion. One of the abbey’s most important moments came in 664 AD during the Synod of Whitby, when church leaders met to decide whether the English church should follow Celtic or Roman Christian traditions.
North Transept exterior
Ruins of Whitby Abbey Nave
Consequently, aligning it with Roman Christianity rather than Celtic practices. The Roman system won; this decision helped unify English Christianity under Rome’s influence and shape the future of Christianity throughout England, making Whitby one of the most significant religious sites in the country's history.
Escape for a few days
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Browse through the handpicked properties and unique retreats at Holiday Cottages.
Approaching Whitby Abbey on foot
Soaking up the iconic viewYes, of course, you can drive up to Whitby Abbey, but where is the fun in that?
It’s so much more rewarding if you climb the steep and winding 199 Church Stairs to St Mary’s Church. The views across Whitby town and harbour as you wander up the ancient stone steps are incredible, and you’ll recognise the iconic view immediately.
The iconic 199 Church Stairs in Whitby
The Caedmon Memorial, Whitby
Prior to reaching the magnificent ruins of Whitby Abbey, you’ll pass by the Caedmon Memorial, which is dedicated to Saint Caedmon of Whitby, who was an early English poet. The memorial is within the churchyard of St Mary’s Church, founded in 1110. This prominent Norman church stands in a beautiful spot overlooking the North Sea beyond.
Places to visit in North Yorkshire
During our one-week EV road trip around North Yorkshire, we visited some beautiful places. They included the incredibly historic towns and cities of York, Whitby, Ripon and Harrogate. We also detoured north of Whitby to visit the quaint hillside port village of Staithes and the nostalgic seaside town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
The Whitby Abbey story unfolds
Viking raids to Henry VIII’s ruleWhitby’s original Anglo-Saxon monastery was destroyed during Viking raids in the 9th century, and the ruins lay abandoned for many years.
Following the Norman Conquest, a new Benedictine abbey was established on the site in the 11th century. Much of the spectacular, soaring Gothic ruins we see today dates from the 13th and 14th centuries, when wealthy patrons funded major rebuilding projects.
South view of Whitby Abbey
The abbey became a powerful religious institution, owning land across Yorkshire and benefiting from pilgrims and trade passing through Whitby’s busy port below.
Like many monasteries, Whitby Abbey's fortunes changed dramatically during the reign of Henry VIII. In 1539, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey was closed and its wealth seized by the Crown. Over the following centuries, the abandoned structures were gradually stripped of their useful stone, which was taken to construct local buildings.
Medieval tombstones
The unforgiving sea winds battered the remains, which were left to weather the harsh coastal storms. Since that time, the haunting ruins of the grand abbey have continued to be used by sailors as a nautical landmark of the nearing headland.
Discovering more English Heritage sites
We’ve visited many English Heritage sites and explored their magnificent ruins, and also beautiful gardens. A few places that particularly stand out for me are Mount Grace Priory in Yorkshire, Dover Castle and Rochester Castle in Kent and Eltham Palace in London.
Exploring Whitby Abbey
History, legend, and literatureFast forward a few centuries, and rather than the grand Gothic monastery disappearing completely, by the Victorian era, the abbey had become deeply romanticised. The iconic ruins were a captivating landmark that inspired artists, writers, and visitors.
East towards the Choir & Sanctuary
Early 13th century ruins
Nowadays, many people associate Whitby Abbey with Dracula. When author Bram Stoker visited Whitby in the 1890s, he was enchanted by the abbey's silhouette against the sky. He later used the town and its abbey as settings in his famous Gothic novel, helping cement Whitby's reputation as one of Britain's most atmospheric historic locations.
The magnificent ruins of Whitby Abbey
Standing among the ruins today, with seabirds circling overhead and waves crashing below, it's easy to see why the place has inspired both pilgrims and storytellers for well over a thousand years.
Whitby Abbey is one of the most striking and atmospheric ruins on England’s northeast coast, a place where history, legend, and literature all intertwine dramatically. Whitby Abbey is quite an extraordinary location, just stand amongst the ruins and breathe it all in.
Whitby Abbey visitor centre & museum
We visited Whitby Abbey about one hour before it closed for the evening, and it was beautiful. There were fewer people around, and you felt like you had the whole place to yourselves. We sat in awe for a while, appreciating the stillness of the surroundings and relishing how the evening sun cast stunning shadows.
Our video of Whitby
We have created a little YouTube video of Whitby, including Whitby Abbey. Why not take a look?
Also, why not subscribe to our YouTube channel and get the latest clips as we post them?
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