Whitby Abbey Reviews Summary

Category: Historical landmark

Address: Abbey Ln, Whitby, YO22 4JT, United Kingdom

Phone: +443703331181

Rating: 4.6
based on 593 reviews.

Accessibility

Pros:

  • "Dogs on leads welcome."
  • "Good for kids to explore and they do events fairly frequently."
  • "Car park was free out of season as well which was a nice surprise!"
  • "English Heritage members get in free or you can join then and there, which we did getting 15 months for price of 12 with an annual direct debit."
  • "Full access to the abbey to walk around. There’s picnic tables on site to enjoy the views."
  • "Inside the abbey there are lots of ramps and I was able to get around."
  • "The whole site is also wheelchair friendly, it's all pretty flat and easy to get around."

Cons:

  • "Just beautiful only thing what let it down was the cost of entry we was not prepared to pay £50 for a family of 3 as that is crazy prices."
  • "Once you've climbed the 199 steps you'll discover that there is a hefty entrance fee of currently £11.20 for Non - English Heritage adult members."
  • "But £14 for an adult and £8.50 for kids (spring 2023 prices) is steep."
  • "Not sure about it being fully wheelchair accessible as there is a lot of field to cross to the abbey but some looked possible."
  • "On arrival even disabled had to pay Scarborough Council parking £3.20 - 2hrs £7 - 3hrs .. only 4 disabled bays near entrance."
  • "People walk up and down the sharp small stairs that are steep which aren't ideal for kids and elderly people."
  • "It is understandable that the site at the Abbey itself is, in the most part, difficult or impossible for wheelchair users."

Value for Money

Pros:

  • "Well worth the money."
  • "As members admission was included which is always good. I’d thoroughly recommend joining EH."
  • "We enjoyed our time here but would recommend purchasing a years membership so you can visit again and gain free entry to other English Heritage sites."
  • "The price is very cheap for non-Heritage members (around £10 if you buy the ticket online, £11 and change if you buy it on-site)."
  • "Cost to enter is reasonable considering the work involved to preserve and maintain this relic."
  • "We have family membership so don’t pay for entry and get 10% of shop purchases which is always good!"
  • "Is good value for money."

Cons:

  • "Not worth 14 pound to get in."
  • "The £14 per person ticket price is a joke."
  • "Whilst appreciating its a National Heritage site, charging £16 per adult is too steep in my opinion."
  • "Fairly high cost of entry for a very limited experience, we went during the half term and didn't see any of the events going on."
  • "At £14.00 per adult there should have been far more information available around the abbey itself."
  • "If I wasn't an English heritage member, I'm not sure I would say there was value for money."
  • "The 3 star is because you have to pay £11 to get in which I think is overpriced considering it takes 10mins to walk around."

Experience & Atmosphere

Pros:

  • "What a fantastic historical place."
  • "The staff are friendly and helpful, special thanks to Sally who pointed us in the direction of a stunning angle to photography the abbey from."
  • "An Absolutely stunning place and location. English heritage and history at its best."
  • "What a beautiful place this is. Absolutely love it here."
  • "The illuminated Abbey is absolutely spectacular and makes for a great photo opportunity that you usually wouldn't get to see."
  • "Beautiful ruins atop a hill with gorgeous panoramic views over Whitby."
  • "The Abbey ruins have been well preserved by English Heritage ... there is an audio tour which is informative."

Cons:

  • "The show that was put on was very AM Dram though."
  • "The story was not that engaging and the actors felt like they had come from a local armature dramatics theatre and were overacting like their lives depended on it."
  • "Other than any activity that's on there is very little to see or do."
  • "Ruins are interesting but no signs to tell you what you're looking at or any aspects apart from the limited audio guide information."
  • "The museum is so basic too."
  • "Wouldn’t recommend as there’s nothing insanely good that you can’t see from the outside."
  • "Only complaint £10 is a bit much for pictures I could take from outside and the museum is really small and I didn’t really learn anything new or of value."

Facilities & Services

Pros:

  • "The staff are knowledgeable and friendly, adding to the overall enjoyable visit."
  • "The gardens were well tended to and the staff were friendly and informative."
  • "There's loos in the shop if you need them and and a very badly advertised but lovely YHA cafe with amazing views from their picnic tables, located behind the Abbey."
  • "The gift shop and museum are both well stocked and staff are great."
  • "Abbey has good facilities shop, cafe, toilets etc."
  • "The museum and gift shop are also lovely and add to the experience."
  • "Staff were all very polite and chatty, even with my children (6 + 7), fully explained what to expect and all about the museum etc."

Cons:

  • "We were not offered the audio tour..."
  • "Come on, English Heritage, let's have a few more facilities and some better organisation."
  • "At entrance Scarborough Council owned toilets 40p entrance fee were a disgrace no hand wash or sanitizer floors a mess."
  • "One star less for the very overpriced gift shop. Would have loved a souvenir but would not pay their prices as they were extortionate."
  • "It usually has a cafe but it's closed at the moment."
  • "For those caught short there is a 40p charge which can be paid by contactless card."
  • "Unfortunately couldn’t get in as it was closed despite the weather being lovely."

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