The autumn edition of Whitby Goth Weekend is on right now, running from 30 October to 1 November, and the town has taken on its usual gothic look. The festival started in 1994, when Jo Hampshire and 40 pen pals met at the Elsinore Pub in Whitby to share their shared interest in the scene. Today it draws visitors from all over the world, and the Victorian streets fill with top hats, tailcoats and plenty of black lace. A lot of the atmosphere is free, so you can wander the town and watch the parades without buying a ticket.
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For shopping, the Bizarre Bazaar is the heart of the weekend. The alternative market has more than 100 indoor stalls selling gothic clothing, velvet and lace garments, handmade goods, crystals and retro collectables. It is split between Whitby Leisure Centre and Whitby Brunswick Centre, and entry is free. Opening hours are 10am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. The WGW information stall is in the Leisure Centre if you want to check where things are before you set off.
The music takes place at the Whitby Pavilion on the West Cliff, the venue that hosts the festival twice a year. Friday's acts at 6pm are Morning Star, Famous Monsters and Dhampyres. On Saturday at 6pm you can catch Aesthetic Perfection, Ward Xvi and Fleisch, and Sunday's 6pm line-up is Fever Dream Kills, Green Fake and Blush Puppy. Tickets are booked through Ticketmaster, and the Pavilion box office is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm. The building keeps its Victorian character, and from its windows you can see the North Sea and the abbey ruins on the headland.
Those ruins are probably the most photographed spot in town. Whitby Abbey was rebuilt in the Gothic style in the 13th century, and it became linked with literature after Bram Stoker's Dracula was published in 1897. English Heritage runs the site, which is open daily from 10am to 5pm. The Illuminated Whitby Abbey display runs until 31 October, so the ruins are lit up for the whole of the festival weekend. Other good spots for photos include the 199 Steps, the Whalebones, the Swing Bridge, the harbour, the East and West Piers and the Khyber Pass. If you want a drink afterwards, the Whitby Brewery Courtyard is a pub with its own taphouse, operating since 2013.
Published Date
30 October 2026
