Whitby Abbey

Sink Your Fangs Into Whitby Abbey, the Inspiration for Dracula When the Russian schooner The Demeter ran aground in Whitby harbour in 1885, everyone on board was mysteriously dead. The lone survivor, a demonic black dog, bounded from the vessel and up the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey. The dog was a classic form known to be taken by vampires… And so Bram Stoker got the bright idea for Dracula, with which the abbey will now forever be connected. It's no surprise, since the ruins of the abbey on this lonely windswept location are atmospheric with views over the harbour and the Esk Valley are hauntingly beautiful. Aside from the Gothic Legend, the Abbey has hundreds of years of fascinating history, a wonderful visitors centre and a packed events programme, just a short climb away from the picturesque Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby.