When planning your itinerary in Whitby, some of the first things you think of are the beach, Whitby Abbey, the harbour, and the many incredible fish and chips restaurants. While these are undoubtedly unmissable on a trip to the town, what happens if you want to do something that breaks from the norm?
If you are looking to do something weird and wonderful, then this guide is for you. We will explore seven unusual things to do in Whitby, from fossil hunting to escape rooms to the Whitby Goth Weekend. So, let’s dive in and start with one of the biggest events on the calendar.
1. Experience the Whitby Goth Weekend
If you are looking for something that takes you into the darker delights of life, then the Whitby Goth Weekend is for you. It dates all the way back to 1994, when organiser Jo Hampshire and 40 pen pals came together for a meet-up at the Elsinore Pub. This small gathering then grew to become one of the most famous alternative festivals, attracting visitors from all over the world. Whitby is the perfect location for a celebration of all things Gothic due to its haunting coastal landscapes and association with Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
So, what can you expect from the Whitby Goth Weekend? You will experience an unforgettable event that’s filled with live music, shopping, and a sea of outfits that are wonderfully unconventional and macabre. For music, past performances have included iconic bands and artists such as The Damned, Toyah, and Fields of Nephilim. If you want to shop, then be sure to head on over to the Bizarre Bazaar Alternative Market – one of the UK’s oldest and most famous markets of its kind. It is spread across venues such as Whitby Leisure Centre and the Brunswick Centre, and hosts over 100 stalls selling a wide range of items, including gothic jewellery and clothing, as well as dark arts and rare books.
Want to take a trip to the dark side? The Whitby Goth Weekend takes place twice a year and is coming up next month, from 30th October to 2nd November.
For more information, discover our guide – Spend a Haunting Halloween at Whitby Goth Weekend
2. Hunt for Fossils
Next on our list of unusual things to do in Whitby is fossil hunting! You may not know this, but the North Yorkshire Coast is also known as the Dinosaur Coast and is one of the best fossil hunting spots in the UK.
Every year, thousands of palaeontologists, fossil hunters, and amateur diggers head to the Whitby coast to search for things like Ammonites and Belemnites, which formed millions of years ago. This fun and educational activity allows people of all ages to step back in time and hopefully find an ancient find to take home.
For the best chance of finding fossils, you should head towards East Cliff, which is also known as Whitby’s fossil beach. Here you can search for fossils when the tide is out. If you fancy going slightly further afield, you can take a gentle walk to Saltwick Bay. It is a more secluded spot, which is just a mile and a half from the town centre, and offers incredible coastal views while you search for fossils.
3. Get Spooked on a Ghost Walk
One of the many pull factors of Whitby for visitors is their desire to hear more about the charming Whitby folklore, legends, myths, and ghost stories. Whether it be the town’s famous links to Dracula or St Hilda and Constance De Beverly, the two ghosts said to haunt Whitby Abbey, it is awash with scary tales.
Like to be spooked? Well, one of the best and unusual things to do in Whitby is go on one of the spine-chilling ghost walks that take place in the town. A couple of the most popular ghost walks in Whitby include:
- Red Hat Ghost Walks – Your local guide, Gill Locker, takes you on a journey, where you’ll hear all about Whitby’s charming folklore and chilling ghost stories that have been passed down through the generations.
- Whitby Walks – Dr Crank invites you to join him on a tour to hear ‘strange and supernatural tales of murder, mystery, and suspense’. Just some of the tales you will hear include Dracula’s bench, the headless horseman, and the haunted lighthouse.
4. Go on the Whitby Brewery Tour
The Whitby Brewery is responsible for producing some of the most delicious ales our fine county has to offer. Situated near Whitby Abbey on the town’s iconic cliffs, they have been producing beer which is found in many restaurants, pubs, bars, and shops in Whitby and around Yorkshire.
If you like beer (who doesn’t!) and want to go behind the scenes to hear more about how it’s produced, then book yourself on their brewery tour. You’ll gain fascinating insights into the history and future of the brewery, brewing process, and the various machines, tools, and ingredients they use. That’s not all! At the end of the tour, you will get to sample their ales with ⅓ pint tasters. The best part is, all this is just £15, so what are you waiting for?
If you want to stick around at the Whitby Brewery after the tour, they often have live music and serve delicious wood-fired pizza. Discover more about this by reading our guide – Trying to Find Live Music in Whitby? Here’s the Ultimate Guide.
5. Explore the Ebor Jetworks
Aside from Dracula, Captain Cook, and fish and chips, one of the things Whitby is most famous for is Jet. Firstly, ‘What is Whitby Jet?’, you may be asking. Jet is fossilised driftwood from the Toarcian Period of the Lower Jurassic. The rocks that contain Whitby Jet began to be deposited 183 million years ago!
With Whitby Jet being such a feature of the town, you must add a visit to the Ebor Jetworks to your itinerary. The workshop is housed in an endearing 17th-century dwelling on the town’s historic Eastside.
The Jetworks is home to some of the most advanced gemmological research of our times. Their Whitby Jet is lovingly handcrafted on the premises right in front of you. You’ll be able to see and hear about the full manufacturing process and how all the Jet is responsibly sourced from within four miles of the workshop. The best thing is that you can purchase items from the shop, ranging from necklaces and earrings to hip flasks and pocket watches.
6. Fortune’s Smokehouse
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When you think of food in Whitby, you probably instantly think of the many wonderful fish and chip restaurants dotted around the town. However, if you want something a little different, then there is a hidden gem located just beneath the 199 steps and St Mary’s Church – Fortune’s Smokehouse and Shop. Founded by William Fortune, it has been a Whitby favourite since 1872 and has been run by five generations of the Fortune family.
Walking through the door of Fortune’s is like stepping back in time, from the same rich flavours and aromas to the traditional methods perfected over 150 years to smoke their famous kippers. Their kippers are so highly regarded that they have been enjoyed by a certain Princess Anne, and visited by celebrity chefs such as Rick Stein, The Hairy Bikers, James Martin, and Mary Berry (who described them as a ‘real gem’).
The shop opens from 9 am to 3 pm Monday to Saturday, and 9 am till 1 pm on Sunday. However, they will close early if they sell out, so get there in plenty of time. Also, as a heads up, it is cash only.
7. Test Yourself at Eskape
Last but certainly not least on our list of unusual things to do in Whitby is the town’s very first live escape experiences – Eskape. Just a short walk from the Abbey, it is perfect for entertaining friends and family, a fun date night, or even a team-building event. It provides you with the ideal chance to test your teamwork and puzzle-solving skills to see if you can crack the clues in 60 minutes or less.
Eskape currently offers two themed rooms to choose from. First, the ‘Night Watchman’ takes you on a journey to the dark docks of Whitby, where a series of mysterious disappearances masks a chilling secret. Alternatively, there’s ‘A Curious Case’, where the Red Queen is plotting universal domination and to tear apart space and time. As a team of Time Agents, you will go back in time to prevent our reality from merging with Wonderland before it’s too late.
So, add Eskape to your itinerary for your next trip to Whitby and get ready to bring out your inner detective skills and give your brain a workout!
Ready for Some Unusual Things to Do in Whitby?
We hope our guide has given you some great insights into the weird, wonderful, and unusual things to do in Whitby. Whether you get spooked on a ghost walk, get yourself some kippers from Fortune’s Smokehouse, or scour the beaches for fossils, we’re sure you’ll take home some incredible memories from this seaside gem.
What to discover more about what is happening in Yorkshire? Then discover our travel section for more insightful guides.
Read More: Inside the SPOOKtacular Dracula Experience in Whitby
