What to do in Whitby, Whitby Abbey

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Today Whitby Abbey is a ruin that dominates Whitby's skyline as it sits on top of the popular East Cliff overlooking the town below. Today many visitors flock to Whitby to see the Abbey ruins and walk up the 199 steps leading up from Church Street.

One of my favourite ways to get to Whitby Abbey is to climb up the one hundred and ninety nine steps from Church Street on the East side of town. If you dont fancy taking the steps, you can simply drive up to the Abbey car park.

If you drive up and take the car park path, you will catch a glimse of the Abbey lake and find yourself facing an impressive stone façade. This is the eastern side of the Abbey

Work began of building Whitby Abbey in around 1200, apparently a smaller chuch was build on this site way back in 1090, and under close inspection, its ruins can still be found today. You can search for ruins of the older church by digging through the grassy areas surrounding the Abbey.

Whitby Abbey was unique in its design for the time. It was clear that the builders wanted to make a statement by its design, and no expense was spared. The finished Abbey was an stunning example of Gothic architecture with a design similar to other ambitious constructions of the time.

The Abbey remains as a reminder of the early power of the Church. A visit to Whitby Abbey in the well known port town, is a must see if you plan on visiting Yorkshire, where thousands have been drawn to this dramatic headland as a site of settlement, religious devotion and literary inspiration.

Whitby Abbey has iconic views overlooking the town below, many great photographers have practiced here and you can find some inspirational shots in the Sutcliffe galley in Whitby.

As you look down the side length of the Abbey from the car park, you can see the west front, which was originally as impressive as the façade of the choir. The Abbey stated to collapse in the last 1700's and in 1914 the Abbey was virtually destroyed as German Ships shelled Whitby. This caused outrage throughout the UK as it was seen as a mindless attack on civilian targets.

At the front of the Abbey you can found very old tombstones. These were excavated in the 1920s, and some were very ancient, but in remarkable condition. Some dated back to Anglo-Saxon days,and are remnants of the first Abbey that was built on this spot, founded by the formidable St Hilda in the year 657.

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