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Government GuidelinesNorth Yorkshire's Whitby Abbey has a legacy like no other and has been mesmerising visitors from all over the world for nearly 1500 years.
Whitby Abbey was established all the way back in the 650s by the King of Northumbria and became one of the most significant sites of the Church of England within the Anglo-Saxon world. It then developed into a Benedictine Abbey and was later rebuilt in its iconic Gothic-style across the 13th and 14th centuries. By the late 18th and 19th centuries, the monumental structure of Whitby Abbey had started to erode due to wind and rain, and by this time the town had become a popular seaside tourist destination in itself. People began to flock to see the dilapidated abbey in Whitby, and it was then that Bram Stoker's infamous novel Dracula took up the landmark as the site of its Gothic vampire story. The final destruction of Whitby Abbey befell during the First World War when the North Yorkshire town came under attack by the German army in 1914.
You can uncover all this history of Whitby Abbey and much more on a visit to the bygone grounds yourself. A stroll through these one-of-a-kind ruins will have the whole family awe-inspired as you walk the very footsteps of some of the most prominent literary figures in British history, such as our first-ever named poet, Caedmon, and Dracula's Bram Stoker. Alongside the site of the Whitby Abbey ruins, an upgraded visitor centre and museum recounts the past of this North Yorkshire landmark through tons of Church of England artefacts, medieval manuscripts and trinkets from the ruins using audio-visual information and interactive touchscreens, on which you can question the most notable figures of the Whitby town. Here you can also find a rare signed copy of Dracula by Bram Stoker himself, making this one of the most popular Whitby museums with literary buffs in Yorkshire. Pick up a souvenir of your visit to Whitby Abbey and refuel at the lovely new coffee shop in this 17th-century information building. The rich religious and Gothic legacy of Whitby Abbey also makes it a perfect location for seasonal events for families to immerse themselves in throughout the year. From Easter hunt quests and replica Viking battles to spooky Dracula performances and Halloween ghost stories, there's something fun to get involved in all year round at Whitby Abbey.
The historic site of Whitby Abbey is one of the most iconic and popular destinations to visit in Yorkshire as a family. Play hide and seek amongst the ruins, brave the famous 199 steps leading up from Whitby town and beach, and learn tons of fascinating facts about Whitby Abbey in the wonderful history museum. If you and your little ones loved these atmospheric Church of England ruins, then make sure you check out fellow English Heritage site Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, as well as the region's cathedral landmark of York Minster.
Please follow the latest government guidelines if travelling by public transport.
Government GuidelinesEnglish Heritage brings history to life in an engaging way to over 10 million people every year, caring for over 400 historic palaces, houses, monuments and other locations.
The remarkable collection of English Heritage buildings and monuments began to assemble as early as 1882. These were basically a collection of the greatest sites, which told the story of Britain. From prehistoric sites to historical bridges, gardens, forts and castles, English Heritage sites include Stonehenge, Rochester and Tintagel Castle, Rievaulx Abbey, Eltham Palace and Audley End House and Gardens.
As a registered charity, the English Heritage is governed by a board of trustees. The charitable trust depends on the income generated from admission and English Heritage membership fees to its properties and income from holiday cottages and gift shops. It is also funded from grant-in-aid income from the government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
The difference between National Trust and English Heritage is that the National Trust is purely a charitable foundation that is funded mostly by members’ subscription and donations to look after their historic houses and gardens throughout England. English Heritage was originally run on a budget, funded by taxes by the British Government as a national heritage collection. In 2015, the English Heritage split into two parts: English Heritage Trust and Historic England. The government provided £80 million to English Heritage to become a charitable trust.