What's on in Whitby, United Kingdom through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in United Kingdom, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Museums shut for winter (1 Dec – 7 Feb (usually))

Busy — February half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Dark Skies Festival

  13 Feb – 1 MarDark-sky season

  The North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales run over two weeks of stargazing safaris, night walks and observatory sessions around the February half-term, some within reach of Whitby. Book the guided sessions ahead. Source ↗

Still on: Museums shut for winter (1 Dec – 7 Feb (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Holiday

  Easter bank holidays

  3–6 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedClosures

  Good Friday is a bank holiday across the UK and Easter Monday everywhere but Scotland. The long weekend opens the domestic touring season: popular towns, coasts and parks get busy, rooms cost more, and rail engineering works often cut or replace train services. Source ↗

Still on: Dark Skies Festival (13 Feb – 1 Mar)

Peak crowds — Easter bank holidays, Easter / spring holiday in United Kingdom

• Festival

  Whitby Goth Weekend, spring

  1–3 MayMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The spring half of a twice-yearly gathering that fills the town with black lace and the abbey steps with photographers. Beds go months ahead and the pubs run to a different clientele for three days. Source ↗

Still on: Easter bank holidays (3–6 Apr)

Peak crowds — Whitby Goth Weekend, spring, Late-May half-term in United Kingdom

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Whitby Goth Weekend, spring (1–3 May)

Peak crowds — Robin Hood's Bay Folk Weekend, Late-May half-term in United Kingdom

• Festival

  Robin Hood's Bay Folk Weekend

  5–7 JunMusic festivalCrowded

  A free weekend of folk music and traditional dance in the steep streets and pubs of Robin Hood's Bay, a few miles down the coast, usually in early June. Parking at the top of the village fills early. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Peak summer on the harbour, Summer holidays in United Kingdom

• Holiday

  Peak summer on the harbour

  20 Jul – 1 SepSchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  The car parks are full by ten, the queue at the fish shops runs down Pier Road, and the 199 steps move at the pace of the slowest party on them. Early morning and after six are the town's own hours. Source ↗

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Peak summer on the harbour

• Festival

  Whitby Regatta

  7–12 Aug · usuallySporting eventCrowded

  Probably the oldest sea regatta on the north-east coast, going on 180 years: rowing and yacht races in the harbour, a classic car rally, and fireworks off the pier to close it. Source ↗

• Festival

  Whitby Folk Week

  19–28 Aug · usuallyMusic festivalBook early

  A week of concerts, dance sides and sessions in halls and pub back rooms in the run-up to the August bank holiday. Half of it happens without a ticket, in whichever bar has room. Source ↗

Still on: Peak summer on the harbour (20 Jul – 1 Sep)

Busy — Peak summer on the harbour, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Peak summer on the harbour (20 Jul – 1 Sep)

Peak crowds — Whitby Goth Weekend, autumn, October half-term in United Kingdom

• Opening

  Whitby Abbey Illuminated

  20 Oct – 2 Nov · usuallyLights & fireBook early

  English Heritage floods the abbey ruin with coloured light on the dark evenings of half-term week. Timed tickets, and it sells out before the clocks change. Source ↗

• Festival

  Whitby Goth Weekend, autumn

  30 Oct – 1 NovMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The bigger of the two weekends, landing on Halloween in a town that Dracula came ashore in. It overlaps the illuminated abbey, so the last weekend of October is the busiest of Whitby's year. Source ↗

Busy — Whitby Goth Weekend, autumn, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Whitby Abbey Illuminated (20 Oct – 2 Nov (usually)), Whitby Goth Weekend, autumn (30 Oct – 1 Nov)

Peak crowds — Whitby Krampus Run, Christmas and Boxing Day

• Festival

  Whitby Krampus Run

  1–8 Dec · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Around the first Saturday of December a procession of horned, fur-clad Krampus figures rattles chains through the town, now stretched into a weekend with a ball. Streets are packed and the parade is noisy for small children. Source ↗

• Closure

  Museums shut for winter

  1 Dec – 7 Feb · usually

  The Captain Cook Memorial Museum closes from December until early February, and other smaller attractions shut or keep short winter hours. The harbour and the 199 steps are yours, and the town is at its quietest. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Christmas and Boxing Day

  24–28 DecChristmas & New YearClosures

  Christmas Day and Boxing Day are bank holidays. Public transport is minimal or absent on 25 December and thin on the 26th, and most shops, attractions and many pubs and restaurants close on Christmas Day, so plan travel and meals ahead. Source ↗