Christmas and New Year in the Esk Valley
Winter is a great time to visit the Esk Valley, Whitby and the Yorkshire Coast. With warm and cosy pubs, cafes and restaurants open throughout the festive period, and plenty of activities and events to enjoy in the area, wrap up warm and visit Whitby this Christmas time!
Yorkshire Hospitality
Pubs
If you're visiting the Whitby area, then here are our top tips for friendly pubs, pouring a perfect pint:
The Station Inn
The Station is located in Whitby town centre - opposite the train station, of course! They serve a great selection of drinks including locally brewed Whitby Brewery ales. They have a roaring open fire and regular live music too.
Abbey Wharf
More of a restaurant but a perfectly acceptable place to go for a drink, you'll find Abbey Wharf in Whitby's Market Place on the East Side. The building underwent major renovation in 2015. They have a very extensive bar with so much choice and a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of space - unless it's really busy.
The Victoria Hotel
Robin Hood's Bay is home to a healthy selection of pubs, 5 between Robin Hood's Bay and Fylingthorpe. The Victoria Hotel is the largest, and good for food too, but they're all good. Make a night of it and find out which is your favourite.
The Wheatsheaf
In the pretty village of Egton you'll find The Wheatsheaf, one of our absolute favourites. Great for food as well as drink, and a proper traditional pub feel.
Cafes
The Whitby Deli
Walking down St Hilda's Terrace and onto Flowergate you'll find The Whitby Deli, opposite The Resolution. It has quickly become one of Whitby's most popular cafes - serving a good selection of delicious food & drinks (they're licensed too) from their kitchen. Great for that last little bit of Christmas shopping too!
Sanders Yard
Great for families - children are very welcome, dogs too. Their food is pretty good, especially the cakes. You'll probably find a better coffee somewhere else in town, but if you're looking for a relaxed, child-friendly location to warm up in over the Christmas period you can't go too far wrong with Sanders Yard.
Tea, Toast and Post
Again, situated in the bottom of Robin Hood's Bay, Tea, Toast and Post has made its home in the old Post Office, next to the Bay Hotel. They serve the excellent Baytown Coffee and other hot drinks, along with a good range of hearty snacks - great for warming up after some time on the beach.
Restaurants
The Wheatsheaf
Mentioned above, but worth another plug - great food, great atmosphere.
Abbey Wharf
Also mentioned above, but worth an additional mention, Abbey Wharf is a great new restaurant and and fish and chip take away. Visit their website for more details, sample menus and so on - or just call in and see them when you're next in town.
The Passage To India
A reliably good Indian in Whitby's town centre (next to the bus station). Good service and a good menu - if you're looking for a curry. Booking advisable at peak times. They also provide a take-away and delivery service, so you can enjoy your meal in the comfort of your own accommodation if you prefer.
Things to Do
Events
The Boxing Day Dip
Come and cheer on Whitby's bravest (or most stupid?) residents as they take part in the Whitby Lions Boxing Day Dip. A firm fixture in the local Christmas calendar, individuals and teams representing all kinds of causes meet on the beach near Battery Parade for a dash into the chilly North Sea waters. It's a sponsored event, with some taking to the sea in fancy dress, and others more suitably dressed. It's a spectacle which is definitely worth the treck down to the beach - a perfect start to a relaxing Boxing Day in Whitby.
Music
Most of Whitby's pubs host live music events on a fairly regular basis - so have a walk around town and look out for posters, or ask behind the bar. The Station Inn and Abbey Wharf (mentioned above) often host bands - but there are plenty of other venues too, and all offering something different, so do your research and take your pick.
Theatre & Film
Jack and the Beanstalk
Come and enjoy a traditional pantomime in Whitby, presented by Whitby Apollo Players. From January 16th to 21st you can enjoy Jack and the Beanstalk for just £5 - tickets available from Whitby Pavilion Box Office.
Whitby Pavilion
Whitby Pavilion also hosts a wide variety of events year-round as well as being home to Whitby's Cinema. Visit their website for all the details:
Places to Go
York
If you're in search of a bit more hustle and bustle then York might be a good option - particularly at Christmas time. We recommend getting the Park and Ride from Monks Cross, which can also provide the perfect excuse to visit John Lewis if you're in need of a 'big' shopping experience. Otherwise, York is full of independent shops of all kinds, it's a great place for window shopping, or spending your Christmas money!
Robin Hood's Bay
Head down to Bay and enjoy one of Yorkshire's most picturesque villages, particularly at Christmas time. With a great choice of pubs, cafes and restaurants, and plenty of options for shorter or longer walks, it's a firm favourite. Make sure you take an afternoon to enjoy Bay if you're visiting Whitby this Christmas time, you won't regret it.
The Great Outdoors
Walking
Make use of the Cinder Track between Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay for an easy (and not too muddy) walk. Or, for the slightly more adventurous, head onto the Cleveland Way for a breasy cliff-top adventure. The Clevelands Way from Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay takes around 3 hours, and you'll be richly rewarded with stunning views, and a nice pint at the end - or perhaps a mulled wine to warm you through! There are loads of footpaths from Aislaby too - heading deeper into the Esk Valley - we're happy to suggest routes if you want a little more local knowledge!
Woodland
Mulgrave Woods is open to the public on Saturdays and Wednesdays - there's a sheltered footpath leading from Sandsend to the old castle - well worth a look. Or you could head to Falling Foss - unfortunately the tea garden is closed at this time of year, so take your own flask if you want a hot drink. It's still definitely worth a walk around - visit the hermitage, or walk all the way along the footpath to May Beck.
Beaches
A winter walk on the beach is always enjoyable - provided you're wrapped up warm! Why not walk from Whitby to Sandsend? You can always get the bus back - the Arriva Saphire service runs half-hourly so you'll never have too long to wait. Or, you could head down to Robin Hood's Bay and walk along the beach to Boggle Hole (check the tide times!) - there's an excellent new cafe at the Youth Hostel, but check opening hours before you go. You can walk back along the Cleveland Way - a nice circular route.
Whatever you Choose...
Whatever you get up to this Christmas, we hope you have a lovely time - and if you're not staying in Whitby or the Esk Valley this year, perhaps we've encouraged you too look into it as an option for next year? Whenever you visit Whitby you'll be certain to have a great time.
With best wishes for Christmas, and the New Year!