YHA Whitby hostel next to Whitby Abbey ruins

Overview

YHA Whitby is a magnificent Grade I listed mansion situated immediately beside the historic ruins of Whitby Abbey. Enjoy views over the harbour and the North York Moors, with the town just a short walk away via the famous 199 steps. The hostel provides the ideal accommodation for exploring Whitby and its year round attractions.

YHA Whitby offers an unforgettable experience with many original artefacts throughout the hostel. Look out for the interpretation boards with information about features including a 13th-century carved oak Viking beam and stunning Victorian stained glass.

With nearby attractions ranging from fossil-hunting on the Jurassic Coast, Dracula heritage and the traditional British seaside to Flamingo Land within driving distance, you won't run out of things to do!

Why guests love YHA Whitby

  • Stay next to the historic ruins of Whitby Abbey
  • Superb views over the seaside town
  • Beautiful grounds and garden

Accommodation at YHA Whitby

Large bedroom with bunk beds

Bed in a shared room

If you're happy to share, dorm rooms have multiple beds - ideal for budget breaks.

YHA Whitby private room with bunk beds

Private rooms

Like your own space? Private rooms offer the hostelling experience with more privacy.

Large bedroom with bunk beds

Private en-suite rooms

Enjoy your own space with a private en-suite room, including bathroom facilities.

YHA Bell tent with the view of Whitby Abbey in the background

Premium bell tents

Get all the fun of the great outdoors without the set-up in our beautiful bell tents.

Dining area leading into a self-catering kitchen at YHA Whitby

Group bookings for 16+ guests

Let YHA take care of your stay with our group booking service.

Reviews

Food and drink at YHA Whitby

Things to do around YHA Whitby

Hostel facilities

  • 24-hour access after check-in
  • Ambulant accessible
  • Baby changing
  • Beach view
  • Café
  • Classroom(s)
  • Coach parking nearby
  • Contactless payments
  • Cycle store
  • Dining room
  • Evening meals
  • Free parking on premises
  • Full mobile coverage
  • Games
  • Garden/grounds
  • Group meals
  • Highchair
  • Licensed bar
  • Lift
  • Luggage store
  • Medium garden/grounds
  • Minibus parking nearby
  • Near bus stop
  • Near train station
  • Outdoor games kit
  • Outdoor seating
  • Restaurant
  • Sea view
  • Self-catering kitchen
  • Shared lounge
  • Shared TV
  • Sole use available
  • Unlimited breakfast
  • Vending machines
  • Water refill station
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • WiFi

Hostel need to know

Reception opening hours: From 07:30 - 22:00.

Food and drink: Breakfast is served to guests from 07:30 – 09:00 on weekdays and 07:30 – 10:00 at weekends. Meals are also available from 10:00 – 20:30.

Licensed bar: This hostel has a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol.

Self-catering: Guests have access to a self-catering kitchen.

Café and restaurant opening times: YHA Whitby's Abbey House Café & Bar is open to the public from 11:00 - 20:30, Monday to Sunday.

Parking: There is parking at this hostel. The car park is controlled by an ANPR parking system. Upon arrival, motorists are required to validate their presence by entering their car's registration number at reception. Parking is available for Blue Badge holders in designated bays, other guest parking is limited. Alternative parking is available 0.4 miles away at Abbey Headland car park.

WiFi: Free WiFi is available in on the ground floor near reception and in the café bar.

Dogs: Pets are not permitted to stay at YHA Whitby, except in our Camping & Cabins accommodation. They are allowed in communal spaces and café areas. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.

Guest access: Our lift takes guests to most floors, except the mezzanine level. Some of our bedrooms are located on the mezzanine with access via stairs only.

YHA Whitby - Access Statement

(PDF download - 138.02 KB)

Location of YHA Whitby

YHA Whitby

Map references

OS Map:
94
OS Grid Ref:
NZ902111
Lat/Lng:
54.487423, -0.608271

Contact information

Volunteering

We are very grateful for all of the help and support that our generous volunteers give to YHA. We are proud of our “Investors in Volunteering” accreditation and have a wide range of opportunities available across the country, all of which will provide great learning or social experiences and help us to create even more opportunities for young people.

Volunteering is a great way to meet people, visit new places, gain experiences and have fun. Full details of all of our various volunteering programmes can be found through YHA volunteering.

History

Our hostel is housed in a magnificent Grade I listed mansion situated immediately beside the iconic ruins of Whitby Abbey.

The Whitby headland had seen Bronze Age and Roman settlements, before an Anglian monastery was founded there by Hild, the daughter of an Anglian nobleman, in about 627. Then things get a bit mysterious; no one is sure why, but the Anglian settlement and monastery were abandoned a few centuries later.

By the end of the 12th century a new monastery had been founded and built in stone. This building underwent various projects of rebuilding and expansion, during which the Abbey House was built. We aren’t sure what the Abbey House was used for, but it is likely that it was the abbot’s lodging.

In the 16th century the Monastery was suppressed and the abbey site was bought by the Chomley family. The Chomleys, and later the Strickland family, used the abbot’s lodgings as a house and over the next two centuries several extensions and a courtyard were added to the building.

In 1920 the Strickland family gave the abbey to the Ministry of Works. Then for around 80 years archaeological excavations were carried out on the site. By the early 2000s the Abbey House had fallen into a dilapidated state, but when its lease came up for tender in 2006 YHA jumped at the opportunity! A £3.5m renovation was carried out making the building into the fantastic hostel enjoyed by many today.

Meet the team

We pride ourselves of friendly service and do our best to accommodate any of our guests’ requirements. You’ll see everyone doing their part working across all areas of the hostel, either serving and making drinks in our busy tearooms, welcoming you on reception, cleaning your room or delivering activities to school groups. Everyone has a good knowledge of the local area and we’re happy to recommend some things to do during your visit

Manager recommends: Walking the Cleveland Way to Robin Hood’s Bay. It’s a great way to see the coastline and look out for seals, whales and dolphins. You can catch a bus back, come back the way you came or hop on to the Cinder Track which is a more gentle route back to Whitby.

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