A Whitby day trip from Scarborough gives you time for the harbour, old town and Whitby Abbey, an English Heritage site above the coast. Plan your day around the journey and the town’s main sights.
- Bus: Arriva North East’s X93/X94 connects Scarborough and Whitby.
- Rail: Whitby’s rail connection is the Esk Valley Railway between Middlesbrough and Whitby, not a direct train from Scarborough.
- Abbey access: Walk from the harbour via the 199 steps or take the signposted road route.
- Tickets: English Heritage offers a 20% discount on a walk-up ticket for visitors arriving by train, bus or bicycle.
How do you get from Scarborough to Whitby?
The X93/X94 bus is the direct public-transport connection between Scarborough and Whitby. Arriva North East operates the route, which continues between Middlesbrough and Scarborough. You can use this Scarborough-to-Whitby bus route guide to help plan around the service.
A rail journey takes a different route: it is not a direct train trip from Scarborough to Whitby. Northern describes Whitby’s rail connection as the Esk Valley Railway, running between Middlesbrough and Whitby. For the bus, check Arriva North East’s date-specific timetable before setting out, especially when planning your return.
Scarborough station is about a 15-minute walk from the Boston Hotel, a three-star hotel.
Before you go: Timetables and abbey opening days can change, so check the official site before you go: use Arriva North East for bus times and English Heritage for Whitby Abbey’s opening details.
Scarborough’s station and local transport connections can help you plan the Scarborough end of your journey.
Start with Whitby harbour and the old town
Begin your time in Whitby around the harbour and old town, then set aside a separate part of the day for the abbey on the headland. This order keeps the town visit and the climb to the abbey distinct, while leaving room to adjust your pace.
From the harbour, you can head to Whitby Abbey on foot via the 199 steps, also known as Caedmon’s Trod. If you prefer to avoid that stepped route, a signposted road route runs from the outskirts of town to the cliff-top site. Choose your approach before setting off so you can allow for the route you plan to take.
Allow time for the abbey and headland
Whitby Abbey stands on the headland above town, and its grounds include a visitor museum with objects and stories about the headland’s people and history. Allow time for both the outdoor site and the museum as part of your visit.
The grounds have step-free access from the parking area, ramps in parts and a smooth pathway covering some areas, but most of the site is grass. Accessible toilets, handrails, assistance-dog access and wheelchair loans are available.
English Heritage lists four accessible parking bays in the council car park beside the abbey and three more near the shop and museum. Visitors with access needs can be dropped in the turning circle near St Mary’s Church, close to a ramped entrance to the shop and museum.
Keep in mind that the grounds include a signed open pond and signed drops. Grass and stone areas may also be slippery when wet, so take care on the paths and uneven surfaces.
English Heritage says visitors arriving by train, bus or bicycle can get 20% off a walk-up ticket. Tickets are valid all day, with arrival permitted at any time within the site’s opening hours; check English Heritage’s Whitby Abbey listing for the opening days and times that apply to your visit.
Plan food, return travel and weather alternatives
Keep your return journey in mind while you plan time in town. The cited bus information does not establish the last return service from Whitby to Scarborough, so confirm the date-specific timetable with Arriva North East before you travel and leave enough time to get back to your stop.
If wet weather affects your plans, the abbey’s visitor museum offers an indoor part of the visit, though the grounds are mostly grass and some surfaces may be slippery.
You can also choose the signposted road route to the abbey rather than the 199 steps from the harbour. The museum and the town visit give you options for shaping the day without relying on an unconfirmed schedule.
FAQs
Is there a direct train from Scarborough to Whitby?
No. There is no direct train trip from Scarborough to Whitby. Whitby’s rail connection is the Esk Valley Railway between Middlesbrough and Whitby; the X93/X94 bus connects Whitby with Scarborough.
How do you walk from Whitby harbour to the abbey?
The direct walking route goes up the 199 steps, also called Caedmon’s Trod. A signposted road route from the outskirts of town also leads to the abbey.
Can you get a discount on a Whitby Abbey ticket?
English Heritage offers 20% off a walk-up ticket if you arrive by train, bus or bicycle. Check the site’s current opening details before planning around a visit.
Is Whitby Abbey accessible?
Some areas have ramps and a smooth pathway, with step-free access from the parking area, but most of the grounds are grass. Accessible toilets, handrails, assistance-dog access and wheelchair loans are available.