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Welcome

The ruins of Whitby Abbey stand above the coastal town of Whitby in the North York Moors. The first Abbey was founded on the site in 657AD and the headland is now dominated by the shell of the Benedectine Abbey, which is one of the most celebrated and iconic sights in North Yorkshire. Whitby Abbey is also famous for its connection with the Dracula story and is said to have inspired the author Bram Stoker during one of his visits to the town.

Today, visitors to the site can enjoy the Abbey ruins and visitor centre, as well as taking in the panoramic views over the coast, the town and the surrounding area.

 

Watch the video: Whitby Abbey Pre-Visit Information
The ruins of Whitby Abbey

Hearing

We have a hearing loop in in the ticket office in the council car park and at the ticket desk in the shop / visitor centre..
Some staff have disability awareness training.

Visual

Glass doors and full-height windows have contrast markings.
The walls and the doors have high colour contrast.
Some parts of the venue have low lighting.
We have display information in audio.
We have information in audio.

General

We have a concessionary rate for disabled visitors.
We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.
There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
Some staff have disability awareness training.
We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

Whitby Abbey,
Abbey Lane,
Whitby,
YO22 4JT

Travel by public transport

You can get to Whitby Abbey by bus and train.
The nearest bus stop is by the entrance to Whitby Abbey. The bus service is operated by Whitby Town Tour and the double decker buses operating the route are wheelchair accessible. The bus stop is 0 miles / 0.0 km from Whitby Abbey.
The nearest train station is Whitby Station. The train station is 0.6 miles / 1.0 km from Whitby Abbey.

Visitors arriving by train have an 11 minute walk to Whitby Abbey. This is up a steep gradient and includes 199 steps. Visitors with additional access requirements may therefore prefer to take the Whitby Town Tour bus, which stops at the Abbey entrance, or book a local taxi for the short journey.

For those wishing to leave by train from Whitby station, there is level access into the ticket office via a permanent access ramp with a gentle slope.

Parking

There is parking near the venue. There are accessible parking spaces. Parking is not free.
There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.
From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The path is sloped.
The route is 1500mm wide, or more.

In summer, the main car park (owned and operated by the local council) is open and situated close to the ticket office.

In winter, visitors should use the West Front car park, which has four accessible parking spaces.

There are additional accessible parking spaces at the West Front entrance of the Abbey which can be accessed through the Abbey Lodge archway.

Whitby Town Tour double decker bus approaching Whitby Abbey Entry door to Whitby Town Tour bus showing wheelchair accessible logo Stone frontage of Whitby Station Access ramp to ticket office at Whitby station with gradual slope. Accessible parking spaces accessed through Lodge archway.

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.
The path is 1000mm wide, or more.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.
There is a permanent ramp.
The door is 1230mm wide.
The main door is side hung and automatic.

The main entrance into the Abbey is through the West Front Entrance, through the Abbey archway and courtyard. This leads to the grounds through the shop / visitor centre where tickets can be purchased.

A mobile ticket and information point is also located here during the summer months. During this busy period, there is also an additional entrance via the council car park. This is known as the 'summer ticket office'. Visitors entering at this point proceed through the ticket office via automatic doors (1360mm wide), up a slope (with a 3 degree gradient) which leads directly into the Abbey grounds.

Visitors requiring level access into the Abbey without a gradient are advised to park in one of the four accessible parking bays accessed via the archway at the West Front Entrance.

Mobile ticket and information point at the West Front Entrance to Whitby Abbey Archway leading to four accessible parking bays at the West Front Entrance to Whitby Abbey Additional ticket office open in the Summer months in the adjacent Council Car Park. Doors leading from ticket office open in the Summer months showing access slope with 3 degree gradient into Abbey grounds.

Getting around inside

Visual Impairment - General Information

We have contrast markings on all glass doors, contrast markings on all full-height windows and high colour contrast between walls and doorframes.
Some parts of the venue have low lighting.
Wheelchair user looking into a glazed display cabinet at a wheelchair accessible height, showing good visual contrast.

Lift

We have 2 lifts.
You can get a lift to all floors.

Visitor Centre Lift

The lift door is 870mm wide.
The lift is 1090mm wide. The lift is 2000mm deep.
The lift buttons have raised numbers or letters.
There are two lifts adjacent to each other which provide level access to the Whitby Abbey Museum on the first floor.
Two lifts adjacent to each other with doors closed. Wheelchair user entering lift at Whitby Abbey

Ticket/ information desk

Ticket desk in Visitor Centre / Shop

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1230mm wide, or more.
The door is 1120mm wide, or more.
The desk has a low section.

This ticket desk is located at the left hand side of the shop. It operates all year round and has a hearing loop available. 

Ticket and information desk in shop showing lowered counter and hearing loop symbol

Things to See and Do

We have a concessionary rate for disabled visitors.
We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.
We have display information in: audio.

Museum

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.
From the lift to this area, the route is 870mm wide, or more. The door is 870mm wide.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

This area has a number of displays which provide audio information about the Abbey and its history. 

Wheelchair user in Whitby Abbey Museum showing clear circulation space Wheelchair users in Whitby Abbey Museum listening to audio information through a earphones Wheelchair users in Whitby Abbey Museum looking at items in a glass display cases at a wheelchair accessible height.

Public toilet

Accessible Toilet in Visitor Centre / Shop

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 800mm wide, or more.
The toilet door is 800mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.
There is 700mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1100mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 480mm high. The toilets have handrails.

There is a space of 700mm to the underside of the sink in this facility. There is no electric hand dryer in the toilet but paper towels are provided.

Accessible toilet showing white toilet, and sink with contrast blue toilet seat and grab rails. Accessible toilet showing outward opening, white door with contrasting blue grab rail , waste bin and sink.

Shop

Visitor Centre Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1120mm wide, or more. The door is 1120mm wide.

The shop offers a wide selection of items for sale and there is good circulation space of at least 800mm throughout.

Shop interior showing a range of items for sale in display cabinets and on wall shelving and showing clear circulation space.

Getting around outside

Abbey Ruins via Council Car Park Entrance (Summer months only)

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1360mm wide, or more. The entrance is 1360mm wide.

The entrance to the Abbey ruins from the council car park includes a long slope which has handrails to either side located at a height of 950mm.

From this entry point the Abbey Ruins are accessed via grass and gravel pathways which are uneven in places. Some limited parts of the Abbey ruins also have ramped access and again, the ground here can be uneven.

Pathway with smooth, solid surface and a 6 degree gradient leading from Summer ticket office into Abbey ruins. Wheelchair user on matting surface over grass in Abbey grounds with wooden access ramp and Boardwalk in the background. Wheelchair user on a smooth pathway within the Abbey ruins, smiling and enjoying the atmosphere.

Abbey Ruins via Shop / Museum

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift. From the lift to the venue, the route is 1220mm wide, or more.
The entrance is 1080mm wide.

There are two sets of double doors to access the outdoor area at this point. The external doors are held open during visiting hours. The internal, glazed doors, which have clear manifestation markings, are automatic doors operated via a push button.

From this entry point the Abbey Ruins are accessed via a gentle downward slope with dual height handrails, then across a level, grassed area which leads to a wooden Boardwalk. This then becomes a level, solid stone floor leading into the Abbey ruins.

Once in the Abbey ruins, the route includes a combination of wooden, concrete, stone and light gravel pathways. There is also access over grass and the ground is uneven in places. Some parts of the ruins have ramped access which may suitable for some, whilst other manual wheelchair users may find this terrain a challenge. The majority of the site is suitable for power wheelchairs or scooters however.

Despite the potentially challenging terrain, the overall experience of being close to the Abbey and the surrounding dramatic scenery makes the ruins well worth a visit.

Wheelchair user on grassed area with Abbey ruins in the background. Museum exit door leading to Abbey ruins. Gentle slope with solid surface and dual height handrails, leading to Abbey ruins.

Customer care support

Accessibility equipment

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.
We have a hearing loop in in the ticket office in the council car park and at the ticket desk in the shop / visitor centre..
All dogs are welcome on site and we politely ask that you use the waste bin provided for dog waste.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.
We have information in audio.

There is an audio guide on site which has over 200 information points, spanning both our inside and outide spaces.

Audio information point on stone plinth with Abbey ruins in the distance.
Guide info
Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.