Whitby park and ride
Whitby's streets were laid out for fishing carts, not cars, and in summer the town-centre car parks fill by mid-morning. The park and ride is the painless answer.
Where it is
The park and ride car park has 450 spaces at the junction of the A171 Guisborough road and the B1460, on the northern edge of Whitby (sat nav YO21 1TL), signposted from the A171 and the A169. Leave the car there and a bus takes you into the town centre, stopping near the station, the harbour and the West Cliff.
When it runs
The service runs seven days a week through the main visitor season, in 2026 from 29 March to 1 November, with two routes: P1 via the West Cliff and P2 direct to the bus station. Buses run every 30 minutes, and up to every 15 minutes at the busiest times. It does not run in winter, so check with North Yorkshire Council before relying on it out of season.
Cost
Parking is free; you pay a fare per person on the bus (in 2026 an adult day ticket is £3, a child £2, and a family day ticket for two adults and two children £5.50). Dogs and bikes are usually fine on the bus, but check.
Alternatives
- Come by train. The Esk Valley Railway delivers you to the harbourside with no parking to find.
- Park in a village up the valley and take the train in: Ruswarp and Sleights are one and two stops out.
- Whitby's long-stay car parks at the marina, the Abbey headland and the West Cliff fill early on summer weekends.
Our sister site has a guide to parking across the moors.