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HOW IT RATES

A contender for the most charming seaside town in the North of England, Whitby is on the coastal edge of the North York Moors National Park. Captain Cook learnt his boat-building skills here and it was the setting for parts of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The town sits around the harbour and estuary of the River Esk and a Whalebone Arch (made of two whale bones) pays homage to the port’s whaling past.

ARCHITECTURAL GEMS

The town is a picturesque mix of medieval and 19th century buildings. The cliff-top remains of Whitby Abbey are spectacular, and date from the 11th to the 14th century. They are reached by a dramatic cliff-side climb of 199 steps (there is also a lift). St Mary’s Church is by the Abbey and is a mix of Norman, Stuart and Georgian design.

WHAT'S NEW

The old Harrison car showroom is being demolished to make way for 25 flats on Upgang Lane in the West Cliff area. The proposed design resembles an old mill (contact Stuart Duckett Architecture and Design, 01947 893780). A terrace of four east-facing houses to go alongside the railway line is being proposed by David Chapman Associates (01904 700941).

QUALITY OF LIFE

Quite good. The beaches are gorgeous and the town is friendly, if a little twee. Locals have the beauty of the North York Moors on their doorstep. It’s a small place, however, so cultural activities are somewhat limited.

TRANSPORT

It takes more than five hours to reach Whitby by car from London. The Esk Valley Railway runs from Whitby to Middlesborough: trains take 90 minutes. The Moorsbus is good for reaching remote spots for walks or picnics.

POPULATION

13,597, with the population of working age being a fair bit lower at 8,035. Every year the tourist influx swells the population by an estimated 995,000.

SMARTEST STREETS

West Cliff has some beautiful Victorian and Edwardian houses by the sea. Many of the surrounding villages have large houses, and Ruswarp has some very nice houses by the river.

BEST RESTAURANTS

Tourists and locals alike pile into the Magpie Café for its famous fish and chips. For finer dining, Green’s does modern British food with an emphasis on fresh fish and puddings.

TOP NIGHTLIFE

Whitby Pavillion offers traditional entertainment including tea dances. The Duke of York is a cosy pub with harbour views and fishing memorabilia.

EDUCATION

The Caedmon School is included in the Good Schools Guide and was identified as “outstanding” by Ofsted in 2005. It is a middle school that feeds Whitby Community College.

WORKING LIFE

The unemployment rate in Whitby is 2.2 per cent, compared with the national average of 5.4 per cent. The main industries are wholesale and retail, with 13.6 per cent of the workforce, hotels and restaurants with 9 per cent, manufacturing with 8.5 per cent and health and social work with 8 per cent. Fishing now makes up only 0.7 per cent of the workforce.

UPSIDE

The beaches a few bays away from the town offer sweeping views; Robin Hood’s Bay is five miles down the coast, and although it gets busy, it is a beautiful spot. The last weekends of April and October in Whitby are Gothic Weekends, when crowds of black-clad teenagers appear to celebrate the town’s Dracula river is perfect for a romantic rowing trip in the summer, and sailing and windsurfing are popular off local beaches.

DOWNSIDE

The usual tacky seaside town arcades are found here, and summer brings plenty of tourists to crowd the beaches and the chip shops. For decent nightlife or cultural variety, you need to travel to York or Leeds.

£212,200 The average property price in Whitby

Source: Halifax

11.7% The increase in property prices in Whitby over the past three months

Source: Halifax

186% The increase in property prices in Whitby over the past ten years

Source: Halifax

664 The year the Synod of Whitby set the date for Easter

Source: English Heritage

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