English Heritage

Though delayed by stormy weather, the spooky season activity is back. Picture: Richard Ponter

18 spook-tacular photos from Illuminated Whitby Abbey 2026

Illuminated Whitby Abbey. photo: Marisa Cashill

Whitby Abbey in Lonely Planet's Secret Wonders of the World

Families enjoy seeing the abbey ruins spectacularly lit up. photo: Richard Ponter

Whitby Abbey to be illuminated over Halloween week

Don't despair if you drop your ice cream at Scarborough Castle - a new 'splat' insurance will get you another!

‘Ice Cream Insurance’ at Scarborough Castle for when an ice cream goes splat

Summer fun on the way at Whitby Abbey.

Celebrate the Great British Summer at Whitby Abbey

Check out the photos below!

Sunny photos of happy visitors enjoying The Big Day Out at Scarborough Castle

Top Secret Mission: Whitby Abbey (picture by Marisa Cashill) and right, Scarborough Castle (picture Richatd Ponter).

Top secret mission awaits at Scarborough Castle and Whitby Abbey

Legio VI Victrix Eboracum (Roman VI Legion from York). From left Dave Grainger, Martin Williams and Dale Symon. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Scarborough's Big Ideas Festival stages free annual outdoor community events

On Tuesday March 10 experts from the charity opened the entrance and lowered cameras into the chamber below to assess its condition.

English Heritage uncovers lost Cold War bunker at Scarborough Castle

Whitby Abbey to open for special late-night Christmas shopping event - Image: Historic England

Whitby Abbey to open for special late-night Christmas shopping event

Illuminated Whitby Abbey. picture: Richard Ponter

Whitby Abbey lights up the night as MP Alison Hume switches on illuminations
The ruins of Whitby Abbey will once again shine brightly against the autumn sky as Alison Hume, MP for Whitby and Scarborough, officially switches on the lights to mark the start of the annual Illuminated Whitby Abbey.
Duncan Atkins

31 fun-filled summer activities for children - for every day in August

31 fun-filled summer activities for every day in August

Check out the photos below!

Tv's Taskmaster takes over Scarborough Castle for the summer holidays

Scarborough Castle entrance. picture: Richard Ponter

TV show Taskmaster and English Heritage team up for event at Scarborough Castle

An overview of historic Kirkham Hall and its stunning surrounding parkland.

Historic Yorkshire estate, with country house and abbey ruins, for sale at £25m

Sewerby Hall will host medieval living encampments, craft displays, feudal fashion workshops and medieval kitchen demonstrations.

Weekend of medieval reenactment back at Sewerby Hall next month

Spirit of Yorkshire whisky director Joe Clark and marketing director Jenni Ashwood with the new whisky at English Heritage site, Scarborough Castle

Hunmanby whisky distillery partners with English Heritage for landmark bottling

(Photo: English Heritage)

English Heritage plans reduced hours and job cuts - the sites at risk

With The Telegraph publishing their 48 UK counties list, what areas of the UK came out on top in the fields of history and culture in 2024?

The 9 most desirable English counties for history and culture

Image showing solar panels on the roof of the visitor centre, with Whitby Abbey behind.

New technology at Whitby Abbey as 28 solar panels help reduce running costs

An aerial view of Whitby at sunrise. Picture: Charlotte Graham

Vision drawn up to promote North Yorkshire's multi-billion pound visitor economy

Ghost tours at Scarborough Castle.

After-dark Ghost Tales returns to Scarborough Castle in time for Halloween

Sir Tony Robinson at Whitby Abbey.

TV presenter and broadcaster Sir Tony Robinson talks about Whitby Abbey artwork

Pictured are Sir Tony Robinson at Whitby Abbey (Richard Ponter); aerial views of the Land Art (PA Photos) and the Game Changers team (Richard Ponter).

Artwork the size of four Olympic swimming pools at Whitby Abbey marks National L...

English Heritage lights up the ruins of iconic site Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire for Illuminated Abbey 2023.

Whitby Abbey to be spectacularly lit up at night over Halloween week

Scarborough Castle entrance.

Scarborough Castle to host Knights Tournament as part of summer programme

Band members pose on Scarborough's Spa Bridge

Scandinavian marching bands bring colour and music to Scarborough

Activists sitting by Stonehenge after it was sprayed orange (Photo: Just Stop Oil / Supplied)

Breaking Watch: Just Stop Oil 'paint' world-famous UK monument
Two Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested after spraying one of Britain’s most famous monuments with orange paint.
Amber Allott

Whitby Abbey - pictured here with a heron on the pond - is hosting a Kids Rule! event on May half-term.

Whitby Abbey to host Kids Rule! event across May half-term week

Gothic Falconry is on its way to Whitby Abbey.picture: Nigel Wallace-Iles

Whitby Abbey set to host Gothic falconry event over bank holiday weekend

The collection of shells from Captain James Cook's third voyage.

English Heritage recovers globally important shells from Cook’s third voyage

Whitby Abbey visitor centre plans. Native Chartered Architects.

Whitby Abbey: Solar panels proposed for roof of Grade-I Listed visitor centre

Late night shopping at Whitby Abbey gift shop on November 25.

Whitby Abbey shop to stay open late for Christmas shoppers

From Framlingham Castle in Suffolk to Scarborough Castle in North Yorkshire, 13 “unlucky” sites across the country will be opening their historic doors to trick or treaters this Halloween (Pic: Andrew Heptinstall)

Scarborough Castle has re-created medieval sweet treat for Halloween

Whitby Abbey looking spectacular lit up on an evening - on until October 31.

IN PICTURES: 13 photos of Whitby Abbey spectacularly lit up at night

Whitby Abbey will be illuminated between 6pm and 9pm, from October 21 to 31.
picture: Tom Arber

Strut your stuff on 'batwalk' at illuminated Whitby Abbey

Whitby Abbey.

Whitby Abbey has been named UK’s most famous abandoned building

Castle for sale UK: 956-year-old fortress used by Kings and Queens hits the market - but there’s a catch

956-year-old castle used by Kings and Queens is on the market

File pic showing the exterior of the Rotunda Museum in Scarborough . Image: ©Tony Bartholomew

Major restoration project at Scarborough’s Rotunda Museum

Knights have taken over Scarborough Castle as battle commenced this week!

IN PICTURES: Knights take over Scarborough Castle as battle commences

‘Army’ of bees force English Heritage castle closure as ‘terrified’ locals caught in massive swarm

‘Army’ of bees forces English castle to shut

A meadow will be created at Whitby Abbey as English Heritage marks the King's Coronation.

How Whitby and Ryedale English Heritage Sites will mark King's Coronation

Family fun at Scarborough Castle this Easter.

Scarborough Castle and Whitby Abbey to host Easter family fun

The 'blue plaque' commemorating Rishi Sunak's Fixed Penalty on Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool.

Pranksters erect blue plaque at spot where PM was hit with £100 fine

Whitby Abbey is open for late night shoppers on November 26.

Whitby Abbey shop to stay open late one night for Christmas shoppers
The shop at Whitby Abbey will be staying open until 9pm on Saturday, 26 November for visitors to beat the crowds and get in a bit of late night shopping.
Duncan Atkins

The historic chapel is the focus of this week’s vintage postcard, seen here during the Edwardian era (note the ladies in formal attire posing for the camera). Postcard courtesy of Aled Jones.

The ‘Now and Then’ column with Aled Jones: People have an affinity with the Ceme...

Young Viking warriors Elijah Harris, 8, Keira Harris, 5, and Trystan Harris, 11, from Northampton

The best pictures as scores of 'Vikings' take over Whitby Abbey

English Heritage has recruited its first ever female pirate to take part in a new series of Pirates! events this summer. Sword fighting 18-year-old Freyja Eagling will first make landfall at Scarborough Castle

Pirate days featuring English Heritage's first female swashbuckler heads to Scar...

Vampire record attempt at Whitby Abbey Pic: James Hardisty

Whitby Abbey vampire gathering smashes world record

Whitby Goth band Westenra.

Whitby to host attempt to beat world record for largest gathering of vampires

Whitby Goth band Westenra will perform at Whitby Abbey.

Whitby Goth band to perform as Whitby Abbey aims to break vampire world record

10 Days Out - Best castles to visit in the county.

In pictures: 10 days out - Best castles to visit in the county.

Vampires will descend on Whitby Abbey for a Guinness World Record breaking attempt.

Whitby Abbey aims to break Guinness World Record for largest vampire gathering

Parts of Elmswell Old Hall can be directly traced back to William the Conqueror.

Residents will get the opportunity to visit 17th Century ruins of Elmswell Old H...

Whitby Abbey lit up.

Whitby Abbey visitor numbers double as people flock to Yorkshire coast

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