Top 10 Kid Friendly Things To Do and Attractions in Runswick Bay

"There’s something special about the ruins of Whitby Abbey brooding over the harbour from the East Cliff. These ruins were mentioned in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1890), and even at that time the monastery had been abandoned for 350 years. It was set up in the middle of the 7th century by Oswy, the King of Northumbria."

"As we dropped down into the town, we managed to find a parking space next to Whitby Abbey. It was a perfectly base for our little adventure and (being members of the National trust) didn’t cost us a penny."

"Finally, we will take you back into the town of Whitby itself and to one of its most prized possessions – Pannett Park. Most towns, of course, have one or more parks providing residents and visitors with a place to sit and relax. It is fair to say, however, that the level of care and dedication which goes into making Whitby’s Pannett Park a haven of tranquillity where guests can enjoy both the peaceful atmosphere and an impressive range of themed gardens puts it several steps ahead of most of its contemporaries."

"The high sloping park around the Whitby Museum will keep you in this picturesque part of town a while longer. Pannett Park was voted “Best Public Park in Yorkshire” in 2014, and has a superb prospect east to Whitby Abbey. There are wooded areas, a lily pond, all manner of formal flowerbeds, a floral clock, rose gardens, pergolas and a playground for children."

"Pannett Park, a haven of peace and tranquillity and located close to the centre of Whitby in North Yorkshire, is well worth a visit, whichever season of the year. Excellent for family and nature walks."

"The beach offers a stunning coastal view of the North Yorkshire coastline and is a wonderful place to spend time with family and friends. There are trails leading from the beach to some other local attractions or one can choose a bracing walk along the water as a refreshing alternative."

"Whitby Sands, stretching west from the harbour mouth, offers donkey rides, ice-cream vendors and bucket-and-spade escapades, though the sand is mostly covered at high tide. The beach can be reached on a path from..."

"Whitby is famous for its Gothic Weekend – but how do goths in hot weather cope?. With blackcurrant and liquorice ice cream, topped off with dark chocolate sprinkles and (spooky) strawberry sauce, of course. The Trillo brand has been making ice cream since WWI, when the founder's family brought his secret recipe over from Italy."

"Ice cream parlours are 10 a penny in Whitby, but this kiosk down at the pier sells the town's very own award-winning stuff. The Trillo brothers who founded it were born in southern Italy and arrived in Whitby in..."

"There's no seating inside (it's based in the old Spa Ticket Office) but providing the weather's not absolutely awful you're guaranteed a great view out across the piers and towards Sandsend."

"In 2018, a full-size replica of Captain Cook’s HM Bark Endeavour became a permanent fixture in Whitby harbour and opened to the public as a visitor attraction. On board, 11 cabins have been transformed into a..."

"On West Cliff, overlooking the mouth of the River Esk, is the Whalebone Arch, an archway formed from a set of 20-foot-high whale jaw bones. The arch is a reminder of the role played in Whitby's heritage by the whaling industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. The original arch was erected in 1853."

"Whitby was once a whaling town and the arch made from 2 whale jaw bones is a reminder of its past. The bones that stand there today are not from illegally hunted whales but those from a whale killed legally by Inuits in Alaska."

"At the top of those 199 Steps, and before you get to Whitby Abbey, you’ll be confronted by the compact Church of St Mary. The building goes back to a Norman church, consecrated at the start of the 12th century. The tower, choir and parts of the nave all date to that earliest period, and at the transept you can look for the three Gothic lancet windows."

"The 199 steps of Church Stairs lead steeply up from the end of Church St, passing the spooky graveyard of St Mary's Church, a favourite haunt of Goth courting couples. The atmospheric interior of the church is..."

"One of those things you simply have to do in Whitby is to climb the 199 steps that wind up from Church Lane to St Mary’s Church on the East Cliff. You’ll be treading the same path as the creature “resembling a large dog” that climbed up to the abbey in Dracula. The stairway is vertiginous, but the higher you go, the better the views back over the roofs of the old town and the harbour."

"Climb the 199 steps to the top of East Cliff for views over the town and harbour. At the top you will find the medieval church of St Mary."

"The spacious restaurant can comfortably seat 250 people and their balcony area offers a superb al fresco dining experience with views of the east and west piers. This is a great venue for both pescatarians and general fish lovers but they also serve delicious 21-day aged steaks for the more carnivorous diner. The fish is received fresh each morning from local suppliers and their fish display enables diners to see the produce before ordering."

"Located within the heart of the old town, The Black Horse is one of Whitby’s must-visit pubs. From the outside it looks absolutely tiny and it doesn’t seem that much bigger when you get inside. However, alongside the cosy front room there’s a slightly larger second bar area through the back which has more seats."

"A Grade II listed pub dating from the 1600s located on the right-hand side of cobbled Church Street. One of the oldest pubs in Whitby, The Black Horse has a varied history. A pub since the 16th century, it has also been used as a funeral directors, spirit warehouse, and brothel."

"Located on Whitby's handsome, cobbled Church Street, The Black Horse is a tiny Victorian pub is somewhat of a hidden gem. Away from the flocks of tourists, ..."

"The restaurant is located in Whitby's ‘Harry’s Bar’ and offers a great range of seafood from the classics to old favourites, each with their own signature twists. Why not try the classic french dish of Moules Mariniere, mussels with white wine, cream and garlic and onions – a speciality of Harry's Bar. Other dishes include Harry's Famous Chowder, New York style with seafood."

"A stone's throw from the world-famous Magpie Cafe, Harry's offers what it calls "a food lover's paradise". Founded in 2008, the establishment boasts a cafe, restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of Whitby. The bar include cocktails, fine champagne, wines, beers and spirits from around the world."

"At the top of those 199 Steps, and before you get to Whitby Abbey, you’ll be confronted by the compact Church of St Mary. The building goes back to a Norman church, consecrated at the start of the 12th century. The tower, choir and parts of the nave all date to that earliest period, and at the transept you can look for the three Gothic lancet windows."

"The 199 steps of Church Stairs lead steeply up from the end of Church St, passing the spooky graveyard of St Mary's Church, a favourite haunt of Goth courting couples. The atmospheric interior of the church is..."

"One of those things you simply have to do in Whitby is to climb the 199 steps that wind up from Church Lane to St Mary’s Church on the East Cliff. You’ll be treading the same path as the creature “resembling a large dog” that climbed up to the abbey in Dracula. The stairway is vertiginous, but the higher you go, the better the views back over the roofs of the old town and the harbour."

"Climb the 199 steps to the top of East Cliff for views over the town and harbour. At the top you will find the medieval church of St Mary."

"On West Cliff, overlooking the mouth of the River Esk, is the Whalebone Arch, an archway formed from a set of 20-foot-high whale jaw bones. The arch is a reminder of the role played in Whitby's heritage by the whaling industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. The original arch was erected in 1853."

"Whitby was once a whaling town and the arch made from 2 whale jaw bones is a reminder of its past. The bones that stand there today are not from illegally hunted whales but those from a whale killed legally by Inuits in Alaska."

"The restaurant is located in Whitby's ‘Harry’s Bar’ and offers a great range of seafood from the classics to old favourites, each with their own signature twists. Why not try the classic french dish of Moules Mariniere, mussels with white wine, cream and garlic and onions – a speciality of Harry's Bar. Other dishes include Harry's Famous Chowder, New York style with seafood."

"A stone's throw from the world-famous Magpie Cafe, Harry's offers what it calls "a food lover's paradise". Founded in 2008, the establishment boasts a cafe, restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of Whitby. The bar include cocktails, fine champagne, wines, beers and spirits from around the world."

"The best place in town for atmosphere (though it might not look it from the outside) and real ale, with its impressive range of cask-conditioned beers including Timothy Taylor's Golden Best and Ossett Silver..."

"Serving a great range of guest ales this popular pub attracts beer connoisseurs from far and near. Loved by the locals, it has a friendly atmosphere and is always busy."

"Located within the heart of the old town, The Black Horse is one of Whitby’s must-visit pubs. From the outside it looks absolutely tiny and it doesn’t seem that much bigger when you get inside. However, alongside the cosy front room there’s a slightly larger second bar area through the back which has more seats."

"A Grade II listed pub dating from the 1600s located on the right-hand side of cobbled Church Street. One of the oldest pubs in Whitby, The Black Horse has a varied history. A pub since the 16th century, it has also been used as a funeral directors, spirit warehouse, and brothel."

"Located on Whitby's handsome, cobbled Church Street, The Black Horse is a tiny Victorian pub is somewhat of a hidden gem. Away from the flocks of tourists, ..."