Whitby, NYK Historic Sites & Interpretive Centres

Of the great abbey ruins of Yorkshire, Whitby Abbey is one of the oldest with the site of the Benedictine order dating back to the 7th century. While the abbey is not quite as grand as Fountains or Rievaulx, its imposing location on the sea cliff overlooking the town of Whitby and the North Sea is both striking and dramatic. The abbey is open year round except for some public holidays and the visitor centre offers guided tours, self-guided audio tours (free with admission), information in French, German and Japanese, special exhibits and a heritage gift shop. Wedding photography available at the abbey.

Part of Whitby Abbey, this medieval church is located just below the abbey ruins and above a steep set of steps knowns as the "199 steps" that lead from the town below to the abbey above the sea cliff. The church is open year round and is worth visiting for its distinctive features - box pews from the 1600s that could be rented by families, a triple decker pulpit and a roof with ship-style skylights that was rebuilt in the 1800s by the town's shipwrights.