Whitby is a historic seaside town on the coast of North Yorkshire, England, with around 13,000 people. Its history stretches back to at least the 7th century, when Whitby Abbey was founded in 657, and the town later developed as an important fishing, shipbuilding and whaling port. Captain James Cook learned his trade as a seaman in Whitby, and the ships used on his major voyages of exploration were built locally. The ruined Whitby Abbey dominates the cliffs above the old town, reached by the famous 199 Steps beside St Mary’s Church, while narrow streets and historic buildings surround the harbour below. Whitby also has an unusually strong connection to Gothic culture. Bram Stoker visited the town and used Whitby extensively in his 1897 novel Dracula, including the abbey, churchyard and harbour. This association later helped make Whitby a centre for goth culture, with the Whitby Goth Weekend attracting visitors from around the world twice each year.

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