The main B&B concentrations are on West Cliff, in the streets stretching back from the elegant Royal Crescent. Across the river in the old town, several pubs have rooms, while if you're prepared to travel a couple of miles out of Whitby you can find some pleasant country inns and hotels.

It's also worth nothing that Whitby is at the centre of the local music scene , with especially good folk nights in some of its pubs . It all comes to a head during the annual Whitby Folk Week in August (the week immediately preceding the bank holiday), when the town's streets, pubs and concert halls are filled day and night with singers, bands, traditional dancers, storytellers and music workshops. Other festivals throughout the year include the Regatta every August, a weekend of fairground rides, harbourside fireworks and boat races.