This page is a placeholder to hold information about accessibility within the WGW and Whitby town itself.
If you have information about any particular issues faced by those with disabilities, or any assistive services, etc. please let us know.

Getting around

Whitby is built on cliffs, and has a lot of steps. However, the local council has done quite a bit to help people with mobility issues get around, and there are alternative routes (either via road or path) that don’t involve steps. However, there are still some relatively steep hills, so you may want to plan your journey and leave a little earlier to get to some places.

The Spa

The Spa, even though it’s located at the bottom of West Cliff, has a road leading all the way down from North Terrace/East Terrace and the Esplanade. This is particularly suitable for wheelchair access. All of the primary facilities are on the ground floor, and there is a lift to get down to the Bizarre Bazaar.

According to DicoverYorkshireCoast, The Spa also offers induction loops and disabled toilet access.

Accommodation

There is a lot of temporary accommodation in Whitby, but the town itself is quite small. This means that a lot (but not all) of places to stay are guest houses with lots of stairs! There is ground floor accommodation on offer though, so please ask when making enquiries or bookings. This list of accessible accommodation from iKnow Yorkshire may prove handy.

Services

Whitby has the usual services offered by a small town (shops, banks, hospital, buses, etc.) and access to these is generally the same as for comparable services within the UK (induction loops in banks, signing in public services, etc.)

Whitby Abbey and St Mary’s

The notorious 199 steps to The Abbey on East Cliff are no good if you’re in a wheelchair.

Medical Support

During the evening events in The Spa, staff from St John’s Ambulance are on hand to cater for any very minor health issues or accidents (fainting isn’t unheard of). Should you need more urgent assistance, there is a small local hospital and also a large general hospital in Scarborough.