Whitby Beach (West Cliff)

Whitby has beaches on both sides of the River Esk. On the east side is the smaller Tate Hill, a sheltered sandy beach that allows dogs all year round. On the other side of West Pier is West Cliff, a larger sandy beach with colourful beach huts, deckchair and windbreak hire, a children’s paddling pool and donkey rides.

West Cliff Beach is the main beach in Whitby, and a typical “bucket and spade” location, stretching for two miles. The beach itself is flat, and known for its beautiful sandy texture and bright and pretty beach huts, which are available for hire, as are deckchairs and windbreaks. There are donkey rides for children, and the size of this beach makes it ideal for ball games, kite flying, and paddling. 

There is an outdoor paddling pool, skateboard area, and public toilets on the West Cliff itself. Other activities for children include crazy golf, pitch and putt, trampolines, and bumper boats and events take place in the town throughout the year. Special events usually include Whitby Regatta each summer and Goth conventions; the town is also known for Captain Cook, Dracula, and jet. 

From the clifftop there are panoramic views of the North Sea, the Abbey, piers, and the East Cliff. From the end of April to the end of September a cliff lift runs down to the sands from 10am to 5.30pm. There is a first aid centre nearby, and accessible toilets can be found along the beach at various points. 

There are two large pay and display car parks at West Cliff as well as on street parking. The beach is a short walk from Whitby train station, and regular buses stop nearby: North Terrace is the closest stop.