Perched high on a cliff, it’s easy to see why the haunting remains of Whitby Abbey were inspiration for Bram Stoker’s gothic tale of ‘Dracula’. Sink your teeth into years of history, just a short climb away from the picturesque Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby. Immerse yourself in 13th-century gothic splendour, and roam the ruins of the abbey church, to discover remnants of richly carved details and mouldings.
The ruins of the abbey stand proudly on top of the East Cliff headland above the busy seaside town of Whitby. Imagine Bram Stoker striding through the magnificent abbey ruins, soaking up inspiration for his vampire masterpiece: Dracula. Stoker set some of his most dramatic scenes in Whitby, and even took character names from here, making Whitby the ‘Goth’ capital of Britain. The ruins share the headland with the Cholmely family mansion with its classical façade of 1672. In the mansion today you’ll find the visitor’s centre, displaying finds from the Anglo Saxon, medieval and Cholmely periods.
Please note: From the harbour area, you can reach the abbey on foot via 199 steps. Alternatively, a well-signposted road leads from the town to the cliff-top with a large car park.
