Dracula In Whitby – Visiting This Supernatural Town

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What’s a book you’ve read again and again? Ever since I was a kid I always had a bit of a fascination with the supernatural. So it’s no wonder that Dracula has become my favorite book – one I’ve read more than a couple of times. When I found out there was quite the connection to Dracula in Whitby, Yorkshire, I knew I needed to visit again to explore more.

What is the Dracula in Whitby connection?

Even if you’ve never read the book, you have to have been living under a rock (or coffin) to not know anything about the infamous vampire. Count Dracula is the title character of the late 19th Century novel by Bram Stoker.

While the Count himself is Transylvanian Romanian, he ends up in England after stowing away on a ship. The ship lands in Whitby in Yorkshire, England where the Count comes ashore leading to nothing good.

Since a good part of the book has Dracula in Whitby, the town has become a veritable hotspot for the supernatural and gothic alike. More than a couple of famous Whitby landmarks are mentioned in the book, and the connection is so strong that it stands even today. The town of Whitby has reference to the vampire Count all around the small historic streets and ancient town ruins.

Where is Whitby?

Whitby is a small coastal town in Yorkshire, and is found in nothern England along the east coast. Since it’s not really on the way to anywhere, Whitby is either your destination or not. It’s just over an hour away from the even more historic city of York, and the biggest nearby town is Middlesborough.

Although the town of Whitby itself if small enough, and very easy to navigate on foot, having a car is borderline essential due to the remoteness of the town.

It’s not easy to reach by public transport from any of the major cities in the UK. Plus, this way you get to explore the wild and creepy North York Moors National Park that stands between this infamous town and the rest of civilization.

How long should you spend in Whitby

Given the level of effort it might take you to arrive at this wondrously mystical town, it would be best to stay at least one night. Two nights or a long weekend is ideal. There are more things to do here than you might initially think, and if nothing else, the rugged coastline complemented by seaside village vibes is charming enough to make you want to stay.

Since the story of Dracula in Whitby is by no means a hidden secret, you might want to avoid October to visit if you want a quiet break. The town is spooky all year round, but especially so as Halloween approaches. And that brings throngs of vampire hunting/worshipping/curious tourists which can make getting a room (or parking) very difficult.

In the weeks around Halloween in Whitby you’ll find the semi-annual Whitby Goth Weekend (the other weekend being in April). This popular music festival is quite the experience if not for the outfits alone. Just be prepared for how busy it will be.

Where to find Dracula in Whitby

Spoiler alert: you don’t need to go too far. Every street, every sign, every picture in a window will throw subtle, and not to subtle, hints to the spirit of Dracula in Whitby. That said, there are a couple of places which have a bit more of a true connection to the blood-sucking namesake in the book.

Whitby Abbey

Perhaps the most famous place in Whitby is the hauntingly eerie abbey which stands atop a cliff looming over the town. To see the menacing ruins of this 7th Century former monastery is to understand why it was such an inspiration to Bram Stoker.

The abbey itself is mentioned in the book, as is just one of the ghost stories that only increases the abbeys mysterious notoriety. Just because the abbey is in ruins doesn’t mean you won’t want to spend plenty of time here. A stormy looking day only further betters the atmosphere of the abbey.

Within the abbey museum is the story of its creation as well as its downfall. You’ll also find some interesting backstory about Dracula and the connection to the abbey in more detail.

The 199 Steps

For one of the best views of Whitby, look no further than the 199 Steps, right at the Harbour through the main town. The steps lead to St. Mary’s Church in the foreshadow of Whitby Abbey up on the hill.

The 199 Steps were also mentioned in Dracula. After the Count left the ship he landed in England on, he ran up the steps towards the abbey assuming the shape of a black dog.

Ironically the steps were actually believed to have been a sign of religious devotion for parishioners. As the route to the abbey and church at the top was via the 199 steps, you needed to be determined to get there.

When climbing the steps you might notice resting spots including benches. They were actually put there originally for the pallbearers who had to carry the coffins to the church. After all, funerals were held at the church too and this was the only way there at the time.

Church of St. Mary

Great news is you don’t have to climb the steps now if you don’t want to when visiting St. Mary’s Church. The church is not only worth seeing because of how pretty it is, but the 12th Century house of worship has some spectacular views.

But what about St. Mary’s Church is connected to Dracula in Whitby? In the novel, the church is mentioned as one of the main characters, Mina, approaches it. Seeing her friend Lucy on a bench with a strange figure looming over her, overly focusing on her neck, she rushes up the steps to the churchyard. Three guesses who the dark figure was!

One of the other victims of the vampire is a man names Mr. Swales. It appears Bram Stoker took inspiration from a gravestone at the church as there is a grave with that name there.

Whitby Beach

Whitby Beach is where the Count first landed after disembarking the ship that brought him to English shores. This area of the UK is known for its beaches, with neighboring towns Scarborough and Filey both being family seaside towns.

It’ll never be like going to Spain, but a nice walk along the beach with some fish and chips can’t be beaten as the ultimate British activity. In the warmer summer weather, you might be able to sit out on the beach in the sun, book in hand and enjoy the lapping of the waves rolling in and out.

With the imposing abbey on the hilltop overlooking the beach, it can be an ominous sight on a stormy day. But the brightly colored beach huts as you walk along the beach add a bit more whimsy to a place more synonymous with sinister forces.

Dracula Experience

From historical sites to more modern experiences telling the story of Dracula. If you’ve ever been to Salem, Massachusetts, there are similar experiences around the historic witch trials. Live actors complement animated scenes as the story of Dracula in Whitby is brought to life.

While this place certainly wasn’t mentioned in the book, it might be one of the best places to actually “see” Dracula in Whitby. Naturally the place is pretty devoid of sunlight, and while it might be a bit more kitschy than some of the more traditional places to see in town, it’s a fun activity to do.

What else is there to do in Whitby?

It’s not all vampires and death in this interesting North Yorkshire town. Whitby has plenty more to offer, and a great deal to round out a long weekend here. Whether visiting in summer or winter, there are great things to do, easily complimenting the glorious views along the coast.

Whitby Swing Bridge

As you enter the town from where you will likely park, near the train station, you’ll walk right along the water of the River Esk. The harbor area is rather busy with many small boats coming and going – fishing and tour boats mostly. However there are some larger boats that need to get in and out of the harbor. It’s for that reason that Whitby has this old fashioned swing bridge.

When a boat needs through the bridge is closed and cleared of people. Operators then swing the bridge open for the boats to pass through. If you’re lucky you’ll get to see it happening like we did.

Shopping

Whitby is full of cute little shops. Over the swing bridge take a left and you’ll walk down a quaint little street. The street eventually leads to the 199 Steps, but not before enthralling you with its many wares and delights for sale. Antique and jewellery shops dominate the street as the town of Whitby is famous for its black Jet gemstone.

But there are art shops, anything you want with a vampire on it, and plenty of food and drinks to drool over. The shops continue as you weave through the old town and it’ll take all your efforts not to spend a fortune here.

Museum of Whitby Jet

The beautiful Jet gemstone Whitby is famous for is rather fitting given the dark gothic feel of this town. There are more jet shops than you can shake a stick at, but to really learn more try the Museum of Whitby Jet.

Get background on the gemstone itself and why Whitby is the place to find black jet. There are plenty of antique jewelry and other items made with jet on display. Plus you can see the world’s largest specimen of Whitby Jet. There’s even a little restaurant in the building you can dine at.

Take a boat trip

Whitby, being a seaside town, has plenty of boats around. And what better way to get some truly unique views of the area than from the open water. Known for its fishing, you can charter a fishing boat and feel the sea breeze in your face. Or if you have bigger dreams there are whale and dolphin watching tours (you can’t catch them though).

If you didn’t already know, Whitby has a connection to Captain Cook who was a merchant navy apprentice here. The house of his employer is now the Captain Cook Memorial Museum you can visit here. Or you can take a ride aboard a replica version of the HMS Endeavour.

There are also other boat tours: travel aboard a 1938 lifeboat or go on a pirate tour of Whitby on the Black Pearl.

The presence of Dracula in Whitby

Despite being written over a hundred years ago, the antics of Count Dracula in Whitby are still felt. This is the perfect place for any English literature fan, goth and quite honestly, everyone in between. Whitby is a town where the romanticism and horror of all things vampires collide.

The creepy looking old buildings complement the dramatic views to the point where you’ll fall in love with the town of Whitby, Yorkshire. Much like being under the trance-like spell of the Count himself, the supernatural pull to stay in Whitby is real. It’s best not to fight it. Just make sure you’re stocked up on crucifixes and garlic first.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. What do you think of the legends of Dracula in Whitby? Which other famous literary towns would you like to visit?