Whitby Harbour and the 199 Steps

The Esk reaches the sea between two piers at Whitby, and the harbour in between is the heart of the town. On the east side, Church Street winds beneath the cliff, lined with jet jewellers, fudge shops and the old Market Place, to the foot of the 199 steps that climb to St Mary's Church and the abbey. Count them as you go.

On the west side are the beach, the bandstand, the whalebone arch and the Captain Cook statue on West Cliff, and the fish quay where the day's catch comes ashore. Boat trips run from the harbour in summer, and the swing bridge between the two sides opens for taller vessels.

Fish and chips are the local religion; the queues outside the best-known shops are part of the experience.