'Charming' UK seaside town so pretty it's dubbed one of best places to live

16 July 2023 , 09:58

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Whitby is one of North Yorkshire's 'charming' seaside towns (Image: Getty Images)

Bustling cities are beloved by many, especially those who enjoy a fast-paced lifestyle. But so too are seaside towns, where residents love the picturesque views - and the friendly locals. So it should be no surprise that Whitby features on just about every 'best place to live' list.

Nestled on the North Yorkshire coast, the 'calming' town offers everything you need for a peaceful life. But you don't have to give up on the action either, as there are plenty of adventures to be had in the tourist hotspot. With stunning scenery and spooky history, you might even say there's something for everyone.

Visitors and locals alike flock to Whitby Abbey (Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

When asked about his home, Barry, 53, who runs Stokers Café in the town centre, told Express.co.uk: "I wouldn't know where to start. I mean it's a beautiful place with a beautiful coastline, very nice friendly town and a lot of history. It's a beautiful place to live, the history of Whitby, the scenery, the North Yorkshire moors surrounding."

Marie, 57, who works in The Whitby Shop, added: "It's old and charming and very safe." She said she's lived in the town for nine years and she is particularly fond of the "friendly people" and "decent beaches". "Everything's nearby, it's very pretty and a real calm influence, it gets under your skin," Marie concluded.

Literary fans will of course recognise the town from Bram Stoker's Dracula. Author Charles Dickens also counted himself as a fan after a favourable visit.

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In a letter to a friend, he said: "In my time that curious railroad by the Whitby Moor was so much the more curious…in these remote days the one inn of Whitby was up a back-yard, and oyster-shell grottoes were the only view from the best private room."

But the town's daring history does not stop there. It's also where Captain Cook learned seamanship and where the first ship to take him to the southern oceans, HMS Endeavour, was built. So it's not hard to see why people flock to the town for an adventure of their own, perhaps on the lookout for Dracula.

Amber O'Connor