If you’re visiting the Yorkshire coast, there’s one stop we’ll always make time for – Whitby Brewery. Nestled right beside the hauntingly beautiful Whitby Abbey, this independent brewery is one of our favourites in all of England.
A Brewery in the Shadow of the Abbey
Few pubs or breweries can boast a backdrop quite like this one. From the outside terrace you can sip your pint while gazing up at the gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It’s a view that makes every sip feel a little more special. And this is truly a special place.
What to Try
Whitby Brewery offers a rotating selection of their own craft beers, from crisp golden ales to rich stouts. Each brew is made on-site, and there’s something for everyone—whether you’re after a refreshing pint after a coastal walk or something darker to warm up with on a blustery Yorkshire day.
Why We Love It
We’ve visited Whitby several times, and this brewery has become a must-stop for us. There’s just something magical about enjoying a locally brewed beer in such a dramatic setting. It’s welcoming, relaxed, and feels like the heart of Whitby’s modern food and drink scene. Whitby has always been special to us, so much so that we named our first dog after it. Love having a wander through the town, then a hike up the stairs to the Abbey and Brewery. The view from the top is worth tackling the stairs. Take your time and enjoy the view.
Plan Your Visit
📍 Location: Whitby Brewery, next to Whitby Abbey
⏰ Opening times vary seasonally—check their website before you go.
🍺 Best for: A well-earned pint after exploring Whitby Abbey and the seaside town below. Plenty of walking and sightseeing to be had. The hike up the 199 stairs to the Abbey and Brewery is enough to make you thirsty. If you’re even more adventurous spend the day hiking the Cleveland Way to Robin Hood’s Bay, then stop in for a pint on the way back. The view from the cliffs is amazing.
Whether you’re a craft beer enthusiast or just looking for a unique place to relax, Whitby Brewery is a stop we can’t recommend enough. It’s beer with a view at its very best!
If you’re landing at Gatwick Airport and heading straight into central London, one of the quickest and most comfortable options is the Gatwick Express. Here’s how to make the journey smooth from start to finish.
Step 1 – Board the Gatwick Express 🚄
Travel time: Around 30 minutes from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria.
Why choose it? It’s direct, non-stop, and designed for airport passengers with plenty of luggage space.
Tickets: You can buy at the station, but booking online often saves you 10% or more (visit gatwickexpress.com).
Step 2 – Take the Underground to King’s Cross🚇
At London Victoria, follow the signs to the Victoria Line (Underground).
Trains run frequently and take about 15 minutes to King’s Cross St Pancras.
It’s a straightforward, single-line journey – no changes needed.
Step 3 – Arrive at King’s Cross ✨
You’ll step out into one of London’s busiest and most beautiful stations.
From here, you can connect to the rest of the UK by train, hop on Eurostar at St Pancras, or start exploring central London right away.
Travel Tips
Book ahead: Online tickets for the Gatwick Express can be cheaper than buying on the day.
Contactless or Oyster: For the Underground portion, use your contactless card or Oyster card to avoid queueing.
Allow extra time: If you’re catching another train at King’s Cross, build in a buffer for delays.
Tucked away just off the High Street in Skipton, The Castle Inn is the kind of place that feels like home the moment you walk in — all warm wood, stone walls, and the gentle hum of conversation. A cheery welcome for locals and visitors alike.
On our recent trip to Yorkshire, this pub quickly became one of our favourites. We ordered:
🥧 Beef & Ale Pie – tall, flaky, and filled with rich, slow-cooked beef. Served with chunky chips, seasonal veg, and a pot of thick gravy.
🥩 Yorkshire Pudding Roast – slices of roast beef tucked into a giant Yorkshire pud with mashed potatoes and proper pub gravy.
🍺 Local pints – because no visit to a Yorkshire pub is complete without one. Just ask Richard, it’s his goal to sample them all.
Richard gave it a 10/10 — and judging by the empty plates, it’s safe to say we both left happy.
If you find yourself in Skipton, we wholeheartedly recommend a stop here after exploring the castle or canal. It’s everything we love about pub dining in the UK: generous, cozy, and made with heart. Feels like home away from home.
➡ Watch the Reel over on instagram @travellingwilbys for a peek at our plates!
Skipton is only a hop, Skip, and a jump away from Leeds via the Northern Rail line. It takes approximately 42 minutes to travel the distance between the two. Making it the perfect, scenic destination for a day trip.
Leeds train station can be busy. A little chaotic with people rushing about to find their platform. Give yourself enough time, and it’s no problem. That’s my anxiety speaking. Check your platform departure number on arrival and hop on board for a day of adventure. An excellent outing and chance to explore somewhere new.
We love train travel in England. An easy way to get from place to place. A novelty we do not have at home. Perfect for exploring and adventuring. I think if we had this at home, you might never see me. You would find me riding the rails in search of new places, and new adventures.
Skipton Train Station
That being said, there has been an ongoing issue with rail strikes. Two years in and they do not seem to be going away. This requires a little more planning and flexibility on your part. Two weeks notice is required in advance of strike action. Our best advice, keep an eye on the strike dates and plan around them where possible.
A BritRail pass is the best bet for international travellers. They must be purchased from your home country. Simply buy the pass online, load it onto your phone, and off you go. Paper tickets are available. These require a little more time to arrive.
Enough said, time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the amazing scenery. No need to rush. North Yorkshire does not disappoint!
Rolling green hills, quaint villages, lovely little train stations, and historic sites pass by your window. With each new station, you are given a peek at other places you may wish to explore. There is no shortage. I think our list of things to do gets longer every time.
We were there in May, and it was lambing season. It is hard not to smile at their cuteness as they play happily in the field. That is, until the big, scary train comes. Then it is off to mom they run. Now PLEASE do not tell me where most of them are destined to end up. I prefer to live in denial and picture them living out their lives in those beautiful green fields, providing the odd woolen sweater.
The train trip from Leeds gives you splendid views of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal with its many canal boats. The towpath running alongside the canal provides for great walking and biking trails. You can walk the entire towpath from Leeds to Liverpool in about two weeks. There is a lot of history to the canals. A post for another time. I could see us doing a trip via a canal boat or a walking holiday.
A market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, Skipton is known as the Southern Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. Its proximity to the Yorkshire Dales National Park makes it a great starting or stopping point for exploration of the Dales. It began life when the owners of Skipton Castle acquired a market charter in 1204. It then thrived as a trading centre for sheep and wool. Today, there is a population of approximately 15,000 people. It has been listed as one of the best and happiest places to live in the UK. I believe I could be quite happy living here.
Rich in history and outstanding natural beauty, it is hard to resist this market town. The 900-year-old Skipton Castle stands high and proud as its centrepiece, and the historic cobbled High Street makes for perfect browsing of its shops, bakeries, and eating establishments. With the husband in tow, there is always a pub high on the list of things to do. Of which, there are many.
Skipton Castle high above Castle Woods
Suggestions for the Perfect Day in Skipton:
Skipton Castle – one of the most complete and best-preserved medieval castles in England. At over 900 years of age, it is well worth a visit rain or shine. Enjoy a walk through the castle and its grounds. Below it, you can see the beautiful walking path for Skipton Castle Woods.
Woodland Trust’s Skipton Castle Woods – we discovered this beautiful walk on our most recent visit. It is hard to believe you can escape from the business of High Street to the tranquility of this rare ancient woodland within seconds. Perfect for those who want to unwind in the peace and tranquility of nature. It has a fascinating history dating back a thousand years.
Peruse the shops and eateries on High Street. I love quaint little gift shops and exploring little alleyways to see what I can find. Skipton Market operates Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday throughout the year. Always worth checking out, never know what you might find.
Enjoy a pint at one of the many pubs. One of our faves is the Castle Inn. A traditional pub with great cask ales, and an excellent food selection. Seating can be found inside or outside. This is by no means the only pub, there are many lovely ones to choose from. We just need to try a few more of them. If you are in Skipton on a Sunday, do not forget to book in somewhere for a traditional Sunday Roast. A Sunday must for us.
Walk the canals around the city. Stop at one of the little pubs on the canal and do some people watching. We checked out the Boathouse Bar which was a great little spot for watching the canal boats. They were coming and going right in front of the bar. There is seating inside and outside. It was kind of nice to sit outside on a sunny day.
Take a canal boat tour. They range from 30 minutes to two hours. Depending on how much time you have, you should be able to find one to fit your schedule. It is a wonderful way to explore the area from the water.
These are just a few ideas for a day out in Skipton and by no means a full list. A list of some of our personal favourites. There is much more to explore depending on your wants. We left wishing we were spending a couple of nights there. This would have allowed us more time to fully enjoy all that Skipton has to offer.
Day trips are a great way to get away from it all. The perfect opportunity to explore somewhere new. We quite often find it nice to find a central location, base ourselves there, and do day trips. While it may seem the time passes all too quickly, you can always come back. You’ve had a taste of what it has to offer. I know we would be very happy to return to Skipton!
