The nicest coastal towns in Yorkshire, England
Anyone who has ever lived in a British seaside place, may not have the best memories. Images of bachelor parties with girls wearing far too little clothing surface. Drunken men with oversized beer bellies and promenades full of arcades and plastic junk. You don't want to be here (or do you? you do you). Where you do want to be are the coastal towns in Yorkshire. Where there are no arcades (or one or two, that's fine). Where the sea crashes against the cliffs, and where you can warm up in the coziest and most English pubs. Before you end up in the 'wrong' seaside town, here is a list of seaside towns in Yorkshire that you will want to visit.
No, this is not necessary hidden gems. Anyone remotely familiar with Yorkshire has heard of it Whitby heard. And otherwise it is the first village that comes up when you Google. We do have that again off the beaten track places in Whitby where you can leave the rest of the (day) tourists behind and experience the local stuff do. Like your portion of fish & chips, for example. Don't get it at the Magpie (even though everyone tells you to go there, but don't do that), but at trench coats, opposite the War Memorial. Would you rather not have fish & chips? Good, because then you have extra room for a pulled pork sandwich Greedy Pig. It's down a small alley and a bit hidden, but totally worth the reward after a bit of searching.
You will find a range of boutiques, charity shops and other places where you can find the most beautiful things. Favorite is Rooms, a wonderful family business with all kinds of beautiful things: colorful carpets, unique Chesterfield-style armchairs, pewter lamps, and tweed doorstops.
Whitby has two parts: the old part and the new part. You will have to walk through the new part of the coastal town to catch some wind on the pier, and although it doesn't look like much at first; so there are a number of hidden gems there. At the first fish stall (to the left of the fortune teller) you can buy good oysters for next to nothing.
You will find a good delicatessen shop in the street of the games halls, The Whitby Deli, with everything local and very tasty Chardonnay chips with a picture of the Whitby Pier - if you are still looking for a nice souvenir. Oh, and for (sweet) baked goods you can walk to the Cornish Bakery. Scandinavian vibes, and really good cakes, pastries and coffee.
Then over the bridge to the historic part of Whitby. Small alleys everywhere, the streets are nowhere flat and everything feels like you are in a Bram Stoker novel you have ended up. That is not surprising, because it was here in Whitby that Stoker was inspired to write Dracula. If you walk over the bridge into the old part, walk as far as you can towards the sea and there you will find, at the end of the cozy shopping street, the Duke of York, at the beginning of the 199 steps (which go up to the Whtby Brewery). Great pub, beautiful view if you sit at the right table.
Another recommendation is The Black Horse. Surprising beers, nice menu and very friendly service. It is small, so for large groups it will be crowded, or you will be politely but firmly refused.
Another really favorite place in Whitby is the Whitby Brewing Taproom. You have to climb a few stairs (199 steps in no time and you will find those stairs opposite the Duke of York) and then you have a view over Whitby and the cliffs beyond. As a reward you get (or, well, buy) a delicious English Ale on tap, fresher than fresh. Unfortunately, the beer garden of the taproom does not look out over the sea, but it does overlook the Whitby Abbey (worth a visit in itself). A fire is often lit and there are cozy lights hanging throughout the garden.
A lot smaller than Whitby, but therefore slightly cozier: Sandsend. Where the East Row Beck flows into the sea, you can feed ducks and build dams when the tide is out. The beach is not very large, so a morning or afternoon in Sandsend is more than enough. It is also a good place for surfers, which is wonderful to watch from the beach for non-surfers. Go to it for a quick coffee Sandside Cafe, but you prefer to take a little longer and warm up The Hart Inn. A pub so small and low that you have to be careful not to hit your head on anything, but once you are seated, you are nice and cozy. Free parking is available at The Hart Inn.
You can find it a little further north Statistics, where the Staithes Beck has carved out a valley and where the inhabitants have built their colorful houses and cottages against the cliffs. When the tide is out, all the fishing boats are on their holes in the sand and, if you are quick, you can walk over the rocks to the cliffs and beaches south of Staithes. Pay close attention to the tide, because you will soon be stranded. For you quintessential tea party do you need to Dotty's Vintage Tearoom are. The café is full of vintage details and so sweet that your icing starts to crackle as soon as you step foot over the threshold. It shouldn't be any different. Prefer something rougher and less honeysucklesweet? Then you walk to the Cod & Lobster. A pub right on the harbor with views over the cliffs and the windiest terrace in the area. It's not necessarily pretty inside, but because the staff is so friendly and the food is good (and a lot of it), we don't mind that at all.
Perhaps the most beautiful coastal picture of them all. Park somewhere at the top of Robin Hood's Bay and then walk down the road or turn into a small alley here and there: eventually you almost always end up at the sea. The Tea, Toast, and Post is a nice place for coffee with something tasty on the side. Nice, friendly service, old school music from the jukebox and dogs are more than welcome. The scones are to die for (not agreeing in advance to share; we warned you..).
The guys behind Whitby Well Being doing all kinds of fun things, with always a little self-care as a focus. We like the pop-up saunas on the beach the best, and they also do them regularly in Bay: steam in the cabin and cool off in the sea. Just keep an eye on the website to see where they are and when!
If you have had enough of a breath of fresh air, there is still plenty to do inland. This way you can enjoy a wonderful walk in the area North Riding Forest Park to the Falling Foss. In high season you will find a cozy and cozy one next to the Falling Foss tea garden with good coffee, better tea and everything sweet and tasty.
Stop for a moment at the Devil's Elbow in the Yorkshire Moors is a must. Always windy, beautiful views (unless there is fog, which unfortunately sometimes happens) and various routes that take you straight into the Yorkshire Moors. Drive a little further and then you can have a cup of coffee bacon buttie pick up at it Highwayman Cafe.
