Full-Day Whitby and The North York Moors Private Tour from York
Description
For group sizes of up to 4, 8 or 16 passengers, this Private Day Trip from York, just for your party, provides the opportunity to spend three hours enjoying Whitby, as well as exploring the scenic and picturesque North York Moors National Park. You will have a full three hours of free time in the fishing port of Whitby on this trip, to see Whitby Abbey (inspiration for the Dracula books), visit the Captain Cook Attractions, shop for some Whitby Jet or Gothic Fashion, sample Fish & Chips from the famous Magpie Café or just enjoy the bustling port and waterfront – the choice is yours! As well as photo stops on the moors, you will also stop at the famous Kilburn White Horse, the market town of Helmsley (with its quaint cafes, shops and medieval castle) and the beautiful, traditional English villages of Goathland (Heartbeat and Harry Potter filming location) and Lealholm (with its stepping stones across the River Esk).
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our first stop is at the Kilburn White Horse hill figure on the boundary of the North York Moors National Park, where your guide will tell you the story of how it was carved into the hillside in 1857.
We then stop in the picturesque market town of Helmsley where you can view the medieval castle, explore the quaint shops or just have a leisurely Yorkshire Brew in one of the cafes – the choice is yours!
After Helmsley, we head off through Hutton-le-Hole into the heart of the North York Moors National Park for some photo stops, passing the 16th century Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge (the highest point on the Moors) and Ralph’s Cross, then stop in the quaint and picturesque Yorkshire village of Lealholm to see the stepping stones over the River Esk – a great photo opportunity! It is then just a short journey into Whitby, whilst hearing stories about the seaside town’s history from your guide who will also tell you about the main places of interest that you may want to visit.
As you arrive in Whitby, there will be a brief stop at the Captain Cook Statue and Whalebone Arch on the West Cliff then alternative drop-offs at the Harbour or Whitby Abbey, if you want to start your visit there to avoid having to climb the 199 steps! You will have three hours free time in Whitby, with options to visit Whitby’s newest attraction, The Endeavour Experience (one of only two full-size replicas of the HM Bark Endeavour in existence), the Captain Cook Museum, take the Bark Endeavour scale replica boat trip around the harbour, view Whitby Abbey (inspiration for the Dracula Books) or just explore the shops and market of the seaside town and experience Fish & Chips from the famous Magpie Café – the choice is yours!
You will arrive in the picture-postcard village of Goathland (filming location for “Aidensfield” in the Heartbeat television series and “Hogsmeade” in the Harry Potter Movies) where you can explore the filming locations, or maybe just grab an ice cream from the village store – the choice is yours!
We leave Goathland for our final stop to enjoy the stunning views at the Hole of Horcum before heading back to York.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up and drop off is from your hotel or another location of your choice in York.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Minimum age is 5 years
- Children under 5 years can be accepted on private tours, on the condition that the customer brings a suitable Child Car Seat with them
- Collapsible wheelchairs can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Some visitor attractions close between November - March. During this period, if weather/road conditions are adverse, the tour may have to follow a different route/itinerary
- Service animals are allowed by prior arrangement only
Reviews(39)
Chris was an excellent guide. The private Mercedes van was clean and comfortable. Chris’ historical knowledge was great and he adapted the tour based on our wants and timeline. It was the right mix of guided and alone time
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you and your family enjoyed your day exploring Whitby and the North York Moors with us. It is lovely to know that the flexibility of a private tour allowed the day to be tailored to your interests and schedule, while still giving you the right balance of guided commentary and time to explore independently. We are also pleased that you found the Mercedes vehicle clean and comfortable. Jake and our in-house maintenance team take great pride in keeping our fleet in excellent condition, so they will be thrilled to hear your kind comments. Thank you for choosing to tour with us and for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you back to Yorkshire for another adventure in the future. Best wishes, Lucy & The Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours Team 🇬🇧
This was a fantastic tour with a great guide Mark who was entertaining, friendly and informative as well as being a careful and considerate driver, i would certainly recommend this tour to anyone visiting York and if you get Mark as driver/guide it will be a bonus
Thank you so much Malcom for your fantastic five star review! We are so pleased to hear you had a great day on your Whitby and North York Moors day trip from York. It is wonderful to know Mark made such a positive impression with his friendly, informative approach and careful driving. Your recommendation really means a lot, and we completely agree, having Mark as your driver guide is always a bonus! Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience. Happy Travels, Lucy Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours
We had a wonderful experience on the Best of Britain tour, thanks to Chris. He was punctual, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable throughout. Whitby was a standout highlight for me. Chris made it especially enjoyable with engaging stories and fun trivia that really brought the place to life.
Thank you for your lovely 5-star review. We are delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful experience on our Whitby and North York Moors day trip from York yesterday. Chris will be thrilled to know that his punctuality, professionalism and knowledge helped make your day so enjoyable. Whitby is always a highlight and it is great to hear that Chris’s stories and insights brought the town to life for you. The combination of history, coastline and the beauty of the North York Moors National Park makes this one of our favourite Yorkshire day tours. Your feedback means a great deal to our family business, thank you again for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you back aboard again very soon! Happy travels, Lucy Best of Britain – Yorkshire Tours
Absolutely fantastic day tour. Whitby was amazing. So too were the Heartbeat and Harry Potter highlights. Our guide was excellent and very informative. Small groups, we only ended up with 3 on our tour. Was told they never cancel for anyone, unless it is not possible for them to drive. I highly recommend them. Wish I had more time to do their other tours.
Thank you so much Marie for your fantastic 5 star review. We are so pleased you had such a great day exploring Whitby and the North York Moors with us. It is lovely to hear how much you enjoyed the Heartbeat and Harry Potter connections as well. We are also glad the smaller group made the experience even more enjoyable. We take great pride in our fleet of 16-seat minicoaches, which allow us to get off the beaten track to places that larger coaches simply cannot reach. Thank you again for your kind recommendation, it truly means the world to our family business. Hopefully you will have the chance to join us again and try another tour in the future, perhaps in the Yorkshire Dales National Park? Best wishes, Lucy Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours
My husband and I went on the tour, and it was so much fun! Our tour guide, Mark, was super knowledgeable about everything and was a great photographer for us! We saw so many cool sites and heard some amazing stories. If you get the chance I'd highly recommend checking out the Abbey in Whitby. It was such a cool piece of history and was so neat to walk around!
Thank you Jessica for your brilliant 5 star review. We are so pleased to hear you and your husband had such a fun day on your Private Whitby and the North York Moors National Park tour from York. It is also fantastic to know Mark’s knowledge and storytelling helped bring the experience to life, and that he was on hand to capture some special photographic moments for you both. We love to hear you enjoyed exploring Whitby Abbey and discovering the vast North York Moors along the way. Thank you for your kind recommendation. We hope to welcome you back on another private tour from York in the future. Best wishes, Lucy Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours
We really got to see a lot of villages and beautiful scenery. There were lots of stops for picture taking. The tour guide was very knowledgeable.
Thank you so much for your wonderful 5★ review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a great experience on your private Whitby and North York Moors tour from York. It is fantastic to know you enjoyed exploring the beautiful villages and stunning scenery of the North York Moors National Park, with plenty of opportunities to stop and capture photos along the way. Those scenic moments are what make this part of Yorkshire so special. We are also pleased to hear that you found the tour informative and engaging. Sharing the history, landscapes and hidden gems of the area is at the heart of what we do on every private Yorkshire tour from York. Thank you again for your kind words. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another memorable day with Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours. Kind regards, Lucy Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours
Beautiful scenery. We really enjoyed the Moors and seeing the Abbeys. Our guide Marc was really informative and did a great job entertaining both my teenage daughter and my elderly father in law.
Thank you so much, Heather, for your wonderful 5★ review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a memorable private tour to Whitby and the North York Moors. It is fantastic to know you enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the North York Moors National Park and exploring the historic abbeys – they really are some of the most striking highlights of the area. Mark will be absolutely thrilled to read your kind words. His ability to share interesting and engaging information while making the experience enjoyable for all ages is something we are very proud of, and it is lovely to hear that both your teenage daughter and your father-in-law had such a great time. Thank you again for your thoughtful feedback. We hope to welcome you and your family again soon for another unforgettable private Yorkshire tour from York with Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours. Kind regards, Lucy Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours
We had a fantastic day with our private tour. Our driver/guide Chris, was well informed and offered lots of details. Highly recommend this tour, van comfortable & great sight lines for all in the van. Whitby was very cute & tasty fish & chips.
Thank you so much for your wonderful 5★ review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic family day on your private Whitby and North York Moors tour from York. It is lovely to know you enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the North York Moors National Park and your time in Whitby – and of course, the famous fish and chips are always a highlight! Chris will be very pleased to read your kind words. His knowledge and attention to detail help create a relaxed and informative experience, and we are glad you found the journey comfortable with great views throughout. Thank you again for your recommendation. We hope to welcome you and your family again soon for another memorable private Yorkshire tour from York with Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours. Kind regards, Lucy Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours
Great tour and a very informative guide. Beautiful scenery and plenty of time to stop for photos. Whitby is a great place for fish and chips and we enjoyed the Magpie restaurant. Travelled back via Goathland where Heartbeat was filmed and a real treat at the railway station when the Nigel Gressley passed through. A great day out and would highly recommend it.
Thank you so much, Sheila, for your wonderful 5★ review! We are delighted to hear that you had such a great day exploring Whitby and the North York Moors with us. It is fantastic to know you enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the North York Moors National Park, along with plenty of opportunities to stop and take photos. We are also so pleased you made the most of your time in Whitby – the Magpie fish and chips are always a highlight! Your return via Goathland (the Heartbeat village) sounds especially memorable, and what a treat to see the Nigel Gresley steam locomotive passing through the station – a truly special moment. Thank you again for your kind recommendation. We hope to welcome you back again soon for another unforgettable private Yorkshire tour from York with Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours. Kind regards, Lucy Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours
Fantastic trip. Mark the driver and tour guide was very knowledgeable and showed great care for our safety and answered all questions. He gave an excellent overview of the area.
Thank you John for the lovely 5* review. We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed your tour with us to Whitby and the North York Moors National Park and we hope to welcome you back very soon. Many thanks, Lucy Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours
