York or Whitby with teens ?

[rookiemere]

Booking a UK break for summer. Have options in both these cities, both with parking and walking distance into the town. Can't take ddog if we go to Whitby, but he can board with our dog walker.
Going to ask DS friends DM if her DS would like to come with us. Both boys are 15 so presumably would mooch around the town.

I'm thinking Whitby would be better for some reason but not sure why.

Hmm I think probably more to do in York and surrounding areas than Whitby overall, even though Whitby is slightly more of a tourist destination in some ways. It's actually a pretty small town really. There's amusement arcades and the beach etc but in York there's more of a selection of shops and touristy stuff too. If it was just you, your partner and dog, I'd say Whitby.

I think teens would prefer York, there’s more to do.

Thanks Balaur. I was thinking they'd quite like the amusement arcades and mooching around though. It's so tricky trying to decide and need to get skates on or they'll all be booked out.
Another option from a thread might be Conwy.

Consensus so far seems to be York which is good as already have a cancellable house booked in York and we could bring ddog.

Whitby is a day trip, there’s a lot more for teens in York. Should be easy to get the train from York to Whitby.
York Chocolate Story is good 🙂

I'd argue the alternative! York is lovely for a day but for several days, with teens who might not appreciate cafes, restaurants, shops etc it would get boring very quickly.

I would vote Whitby - there's loads of surrounding areas - Sandsend etc. That way at least there is the beach. You could also go to the Dracula Museum, the ruins of the Abbey, Robin Hood's bay, the old Lighthouse, Captain Cook's Memorial.

However, if they're not good moochers could you look at somewhere a bit more vibrant? Maybe a few days in London instead?

Much more to do for teens in york, lots of quirky shops and things to see.

Oh that's a good idea to do day trip on train to Whitby. They're off an age where taking the train by themselves would be a bit of an adventure for them - due to pandemic haven't had as much opportunity to develop independence over past year as would normally.

Am now wondering if we should leave dog home anyway- also have option of lovely dog sitter - as means we'll be a bit less encumbered for sight seeing.

@Doyouwantanothercuppa

Whitby is a day trip, there’s a lot more for teens in York. Should be easy to get the train from York to Whitby. York Chocolate Story is good 🙂

To get a train to Whitby you have to go via Middlesbrough. They could get the train to Scarborough then a bus or a bus all the way. The cost liner between York and Whitby passes through so lovely places.

Which place depends on your teens. Whitby has the abbey, beach plenty of countryside walks etc. Not much shopping.

It should indeed be easy to get a train from York to Whitby.

It bloody isn't though. Unless you pay a fortune for the North York's Railway steam train, it's up to Middlesborough and back down, which takes about three hours. Sorry, bugbear of mine and admittedly I haven't checked lately.

They're drivable for a day trip though if you're taking the car. I would say for two teens to slope off on an evening, Whitby would be better as they could knock about the arcades rather than wandering the streets of York.

You're also in hitting distance of Flamingo Land if they fancy a theme park - in fact there's a bus if they would want to go on their own. (There is from York, too tbf).

@intheenddoesitreallymatter argh now you've said what I was thinking. I can see them at Whitby at the Dracula museum one day, mooching at the beach the next, arcade day after that.But on flip-side they did school trip to York at end of primary so can see them retracing their steps.

Don't fancy London as DH isn't a fan and it's a bit too far for us from Scotland.

@rookiemere

Oh that's a good idea to do day trip on train to Whitby. They're off an age where taking the train by themselves would be a bit of an adventure for them - due to pandemic haven't had as much opportunity to develop independence over past year as would normally.

Am now wondering if we should leave dog home anyway- also have option of lovely dog sitter - as means we'll be a bit less encumbered for sight seeing.

Be aware that you can’t get a direct train from York to Whitby.

As long as they are old/responsible enough to be let loose in York alone, York. The big advantage of Whitby would be that I’d be comfortable letting not very savvy younger teens roam alone there.

@ClashCityRocker ooh Flamingo Land. Sounds like my idea of hell, but boys would enjoy it.
Now swithering back towards Whitby. They're not great shoppers.

Must check that friend can come - if he can't then we'll probably stick with York.

Oh dear i hadn’t imagined that train journey would be quite so complicated!

@MinesAPintOfTea yes I think of them as younger teens, although they're not really. As I say they missed a bit of independence over the last year, and actually the York cottage is quite far out so can't see them walking in from there. Plus I love being near the sea, so I'm gravitating towards Whitby.
Going to check with the Mum see what she says.

I love both but my teen kids would probably choose whitby.
Feels more holiday ish as has beach. Lots of nice places nearby.
York I think works better as a weekend spring/ autumn type of thing I think. More of a city break.

Right minds made up Whitby it is. Must book apartment today on e I've checked with other mum

doyouwantanothercuppa yes, it's a crying shame really. Quickest way to get to whitby is train to Scarborough and then bus, which is 50 mins on train and then an hour on the bus (although its a very scenic bus route).

There is a bus from York, but it takes about three hours. Stunning scenary though as you go over the moors and through Goathland. In fact I think it was recently voted the most scenic bus route in the UK.

Also going against the consensus, but I'd say Whitby. It's great for teenagers - loads to do, safe to explore on their own, lots of fun on the beach and mooching around the arcades etc. If they're sporty, the mountain biking/trail running opportunities around there are great too (check out Dalby Forest for a potential day trip, or the Cinder Track from Whitby down to Ravenscar).
York is just a naice yet slightly dull city. Much more a "ladies who lunch" vibe than a fun place for a family to be. If they were older then the pubs and clubs are good, but at 15 I'd fear they're in the "nothing to do" age bracket - and you couldn't as easily let them wander as you could in Whitby.

If you do go to Whitby, too, spend at least a day in Robin Hoods Bay. And as pps have said, the kids might like Flamingo Land or Lightwater Valley.

Whitby; walks, go out for a day on one of the fishing boats, surfing lessons, arcades. Day trip to Scarborough to Alpamare. York as a day trip if you drive.

3 hrs to get from York to Whitby by bus - the mind boggles. Can't see the boys on that, they'd totally panic and Ds phone would run out as he never charges it and always leaves the house with 14% charge.

Right minds made up Whitby it is

I'd cross-posted! Excellent

Both are lovely- you can’t really go wrong! If you do go for Whitby, might be an idea to drive through to York one day. If you go in the afternoon you could have a wander, then dinner and one of the brilliant ghost walks. We did the same with 2 14 year old boys last year and they loved it.

Definitely Whitby, there is a lot to do in the surrounds.

They could get the bus to Scarborough and there is the North Yorkshire Moors steam railway from Grosmont to Pickering as well.