YHA Whitby - Hostel

The team were kind and helpful the whole time, and when we spotted a leak from the rain in our room after checking in, they moved us straight into another one with no fuss. That quick, warm response made an already lovely visit even better. The place is beautiful, with historic landmarks all around, and the views from the back of the café were stunning. Getting free tickets to the abbey was a lovely extra. We had a great stay and would highly recommend it.

The location is amazing, right beside the abbey, with the 199 steps down into Whitby just a short walk away. There's extra parking up the road. I hadn't stayed at a YHA before, but £80 for a room with four beds, two bunks, felt excellent value. It was clean and warm, and the shower was spacious and powerful. The cafe bar had a cosy feel, plenty of seats, nice food, draught lager and a good bottle selection. Kids' meals are only £1 when adults dine, and the cooked breakfast for kids is £1 too. There's also self-catering facilities with a dining area, plus a TV room. Pretty much all you need.

After checking out, I went to The Passage to India for my tea, utterly superb as usual. I stayed Thursday night and the staff were superb. The room was spot on and very clean. I shared with three other blokes I didn't know, but everyone was well behaved and respectful.

The setting is the big draw for me, with stunning views and that windswept, spooky feeling right by the Abbey, church, graves and steps down to Whitby central. If you're into Dracula and the mythos, it's a perfect place to stay. Even with work going on during my visit, and the building feeling a bit quiet, I thought it was incredible. One of the YHA's best hostels, in my view, and a real gem in their portfolio. I'll stay here again.