AIBU to consider going to Whitby next bank holiday Monday?

[TechGinny]

It's pretty short and sweet, this one. We're staying on a campsite over the last May bank holiday weekend (Sun - Tues), and I'm considering taking the kids on the North York Moors Railway into Whitby on the Monday.

We were originally booked to go last May, but obviously had to postpone it to this half term holiday instead. AIBU/a complete lunatic for even considering going to Whitby on a bank holiday (in a pandemic!)? Will anything even be open?

YABU - Yep, you're a lunatic and deserve to be attack by seagulls.
YANBU - Should be fine, go forth and paddle.

Everything is open, but I've read it's one of the most googled holiday towns this year. . . . It's always bedlam there and with narrow streets I personally will be avoiding it altogether this year as I imagine it'll be hellish. Last year there were local news headlines with locals asking people to stay away

Whitby seagulls are ferocious.

My parents live there and said it's been a nightmare since 12th April. There's a handful of the shops open and obviously normal shops like supermarkets but some visitor centre type stuff is still closed. I don't think it would be relaxing with small children to be fair

I think it will be completely and utterly rammed

It will be rammed but as you're going on the train, at least you won't have to find a parking spot.

If you want fish and chips, be prepared to queue for ages, fucking ages if you insist on the Magpie.

It might be bearable if you go on the first train, so you're done for the day by early/mid afternoon.

I went in December a couple of years ago - it was between Christmas and New Year, weather was quite nice for December. I had planned to go walking on the NY Moors (look up the Hole of Horcum - nice to walk around) but it was fogged in so I decided to carry on to Whitby. It was rammed then, and I think I got the last parking spot and you had to shuffle round the harbour in crowds and it still took about 20 minutes to get fish and chips then. I wish I hadn't bothered, but it was one of those queues that looked OK, but you only found out about the glacial speed once you'd joined it.

It'll be rammed and it's not even that nice.

Something terrible about seaside towns which are always cold and windy.

Whitby is always rammed we go there quite often with our motorbike club to be honest theres a small area near the bottom of the Abbey steps with very over priced tourist shops that everyone heads for and walking is almost impossible in normal times, im usually bored within about an hour of getting there the shops are very down market near the harbour /bridge bit , its worth going up the steps and walking along the tops for a bit

We went at the weekend for fish and chips. It was quite busy even though it was raining

Hmm, that looks like a unanimous no I do worry that my tiny 6 year old might get swept away in a sea of tourists, so giving it a miss sounds sensible.

Can anyone recommend anywhere in that neck of the woods that might be less crazy?

Whitby is gorgeous- but never on a bank holiday. If you want some beach time and rock pools etc try Runswick bay. Easier access than Staithes or Robin Hoods Bay

With the NYMR trip that you'll be getting (assuming you are setting off from Pickering) I think you get about 3 hours in Whitby, so not that long by the time you've allowed time for getting on/off etc. Are you going because you want to go to the coast or because of the train? If it's for train, you could get fish and chips and head to a park. If it's for going to the beach, it'll be sooo busy getting down from the station.

I voted YABU, because I grew up there and know that it’s bedlam when the tourists descend even when there hasn’t been a pandemic! 🤣🤣

My ex DH took 11 yr old on Sunday.
He was surprised to find it mostly shut yet still rammed with people....
11 year old said highlight was eating chips sheltering from the rain in the doors of the shut arcade with "loads of other people "

I don’t see the attraction, really. Maybe we missed the good part. I thought it was very downmarket with lots of gift shops selling goth stuff.

@sunnyday1976 That's a good point, probably the train really. It does sound like a better idea to do train etc. one day, and go to the coast another day.

Gawd @Spaceprincess, that sounds miserable!

I love Whitby but I'd think all sea-side places will be chokka on a bank holiday.

Whether or not things are open, if you go by car I expect you will spend half the day trying to find a parking space or sat in a queue.

If you go to the coast, go really early and leave before it gets too busy. I'd probably try a different beach to Whitby, which is always really busy getting down to the beach due to the narrow roads. We go to Filey, there's a lot more space.
If you do go on the train, maybe look at going Pickering to Grosmont and going to see the engine workshop down a very dark tunnel, and get an ice cream before heading back.
If you decide not to go to the beach, there are places that have streams for a paddle. Hutton le Hole and Thornton le Dale are both pretty villages, but get busy too (but not Whitby busy!!).