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 is on the A171 Guisborough road on the western edge of Whitby, 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 through the main visitor season, typically from around Easter to the end of October, with extra days at busy times such as Goth Weekend and Christmas. Buses run every few minutes at peak times. It does not run every day in winter, so check with North Yorkshire Council before relying on it out of season.

Cost

Parking is free; you pay a fare for the bus, with return tickets covering the whole car. 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.