Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in Pickering

"There are ruined abbeys, and there are picturesque ruined abbeys. And then there's Whitby Abbey, dominating the skyline above the East Cliff like a great Gothic tombstone silhouetted against the sky. Looking as though it was built as an atmospheric film set rather than a monastic establishment, it is hardly surprising that this medieval hulk inspired the Victorian novelist Bram Stoker (who holidayed in Whitby) to make it the setting for Count Dracula's dramatic landfall."

"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."

"Next we made our way up the hill to Scarborough Castle. This medieval keep is in a commanding location, it would have been a spectacle to behold and easy to defend. The castle is mostly ruined now, but it is great to walk around and learn about the 3000 year history of the site."

"Wonderful views of the bay, informative guides and very helpful staff. Lots of space to walk around and have a picnic or food from the tea room. There is a good cafe on the site with plenty of choice."

"Just a stone's throw from the centre of Whitby, Pannett Park offers a haven of peace and quiet with an exciting new play park for children and beautifully kept gardens, lawns and wooded areas for the whole family to enjoy. Click here to view the Friends of Pannett Park website."

"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."

"Just behind the North Bay is the fanciful Peasholm Park, designed in an Oriental style in 1912. At that time the park was Scarborough’s venue of choice for extravagant galas and exhibitions, but its glory faded as the century wore on. The park closed in 1999 after its pagoda was damaged by arson, but reopened in the 2000s and is now a treasured part of the resort."

"There is a miniature railway which will take you to Scalby Mills and back with a miniature steam train. A must visit when in Scarborough. Address : North Bay, Scarborough YO12 7TR, United Kingdom"

"Stately homes may be two a penny in England, but you'll have to try pretty damn hard to find one as breathtakingly stately as Castle Howard, a work of theatrical grandeur and audacity set in the rolling Howardian Hills. This is one of the world's most beautiful buildings, instantly recognisable from its starring role in the 1980s TV series Brideshead Revisited and in the 2008 film of the same name (both based on Evelyn Waugh's 1945 novel of nostalgia for the English aristocracy)."

"Standing in the Howardian Hills to the west of Malton, Castle Howard is an outstanding example of English baroque, with a distinctive…"

"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..."

"High on the isthmus between the old town and castle, St Mary’s is a Grade I listed church, first erected in the 12th century. That building was mostly lost in Civil War in the 17th century, and was rebuilt at the end of the 1600s. Out in the sprawling graveyard you can find the ruins of the old west towers, which give a sense of how much larger the Medieval church used to be."

"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."

"Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 4pm till 10pm, Saturday & Sunday 12pm – 10pm. Open 7 days a week, this contemporary Indian restaurant is conveniently located in Whitby town centre. With its modern and spacious interiors, Passage to India is as popular with locals for eating in as it is for takeaways."

"22/05/2021: Really nice to eat in the restaurant again ,staff very friendly ,always checking if need drinks ,not waiting long for food after we ordered ,all freshly cooked ,best place to go and have a curry . 20/05/2021: This restaurant was recommended by our B&B host. When we arrived we realised we'd been here about 10 years before, again after a recommendation."

"Popular with the residents of Pickering, Spice 4 U is an award winning Indian restaurant full of flavoursome dishes. Offering a dine-in and takeaway menu, this restaurant is perfect for all your curry cravings. It is a family run business that has been feeding diners since 2002."

"One of the more beautiful churches in Scarborough, St Martins is filled with gorgeous stained glass windows with designs from celebrated artists including William Morris, Sir Edward Burne-Jones and Dane Gabriel Rosetti."