If you find beauty in the macabre and the ancient, these five gothic towns provide the perfect backdrop for stepping into the pages of a classic Victorian ghost story. Whether you are a fan of Dracula, Harry Potter, or simply the paranormal - I can assure you'll find your perfect getaway from this list!
Whitby
Starting off with Whitby, arguably the most notable Gothic town in the UK (I probably should've featured this one last!). This seaside town is known for its pirate ships, magical streets, and most notably, St. Mary's Church, which some say Bram Stoker took inspiration for his book, Dracula!
The appropriately decorated Dracula Rooms is in the ideal spot for lovers of the folklore tale. If you're staying here, don't forget to find Dracula's bench too to complete your trip!
Bats and Broomsticks - If you stay here, you get instant access to the Dracula Experience! Complete with a beautiful gothic four-poster bed, this place has been decorated to a tasteful standard and the
La Rosa Hotel is a very unique place in Whitby. Each room has been uniquely decorated and a lot of thought has been placed into every detail. I'd love to pay a visit here and it will definitely be an option for my next stay... keep posted on here!
Where to eat? Whitby has lots of delicious eateries; specifically, their fish and chips. However, I can't say they're my absolute favourite, so I won't personally be recommending any. I will recommend 2 places though; Sanders Yard Bistro for some proper food, and Trillo's just on the pier, for a black ice cream!
Things to do? As mentioned at the beginning, something you simply cannot leave Whitby without doing is visiting St. Mary's Church. It's in all the books, on all the post cards, and it is quite honestly what Whitby is most famous for! This FREE activity is almost mandatory!
You could also pay a visit to Whitby Abbey. Although I've never been myself (because I'm a tight Yorkshire-woman), it's great from a distance too. You could be cheeky like me and stick your hand over the wall for a picture.
Whitby Museum - PUT THIS ON YOUR LIST! I was absolutely gutted when I forgot to go last time, and I've just remembered it. They've got a mummified hand and everything!
*I also just remembered that I did a fully in depth blog post on my Travel Blog, A River of Roses; check it out here!
Haworth
Yes... I know it's not a town, but I've got a soft spot for Haworth, so I had to put it in here. Haworth is blessed with lots of Air BnB's and hotels. Unfortunately, since I live down the road, I've not had the pleasure of staying in any of these places. However, I visit quite often, and I like to eavesdrop, so here are the most popular places I've heard of!
Starting at the top of the cobbles, the famous Black Bull is said to be the haunt of Branwell Bronte. I often like to say hello to him in the ladies toilets, as he apparently likes to spend some time here. If you're lucky enough, you may find yourself a booking in Emily's Room, this overlooks the graveyard, and we love graveyards around here! As a near-local who visits Haworth on occasion, I've only heard great things about The Old Registry, this is another spot to try!
For Air BnB's, I would highly vouch for Fairy Cottage; locals, Emma and Reese own this, they are a lovely couple who I've met quite a few times. Fairy Cottage has been very carefully and beautifully decorated to replicate different eras.
Where to eat? Me my mum, and our late friend used to enjoy dining at Pave.
Things to do? Haworth is a fantastic place to go if you like walking. A great walk is to the Bronte waterfalls, and to Top Withens - both areas were frequented by the famous sisters in their day. If you aren't as active (don't worry, neither am I), Haworth is a lovely little spot for shopping. There's no high-street shops in Haworth (other than the coop/Spa), just independent ones; perfect to find something completely unique to remember your stay!
Cabinet of Curiosities is a great shop complete with potions, candles, and spell books. It was once the local pharmacy where Branwell used to get his fix from! If you can't tell, Branwell is my favourite.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of my favourite weekend breaks in the whole of the UK. I wouldn't recommend where we stayed; the first one is long gone, and the other was too far away. However; if walls could talk, The Witchery could write novels! This luxury gothic escape is nestled at the beautiful gates of Edinburgh Castle, loved by many - including Margot Robbie who compared it to Harry Potter!
Some other stop over suggestions are The Castle Hub, The Butler's Basement, House of Gods and Crazy Bear. Please note, I'm visiting Edinburgh again in March, so I'll try my best to update this... if there's anything worth updating, after my trip!
Where to eat? It's been a while since I've been to Edinburgh so I've no idea if any of the restaurants are still there. Obviously, we will be going again so I'll be able to update this post when I come back. However, some spots I remember are a place I had Tacos at Wahaca, and we also went to an American restaurant at the beginning of the Royal Mile, it had a narrow entrance and it was down some steps!
Can't recommend Haggis - not a fan, sorry!
Things to do? Highly recommend paying a visit to all the local cemeteries in Edinburgh. Here are the ones I went to.
- Greyfriars
- Old Calton
- New Calton
- St. Cuthberts
- Canongate Kirkyard
Also, St. Mary's Close is a great one, and we also went on a Ghost Tour and a Harry Potter Tour - both in Greyfriars! It's good to go on one of these before you visit Greyfriars on your own because it gives you a fresh pair of eyes.
Shrewsbury
Last year, I had an idea to visit Shrewsbury as my first solo getaway. Have I been? No. However, I've done a bit of research, so I thought I'd share it with you.
Darwin's Townhouse doesn't appear to have any connection with the notable Charles Darwin. However, it is a Grade II listed property that is meticulously decorated to a tasteful decor. Not 'Gothic', but quirky.
If you would like to stay in a traditional pub, then why not try, The Vaults? This affordable accommodation spot it a great place to meet the locals, find out about the historic Shrewsbury, and catch up on some live music!
If you're made of money, may I put a gentle request in that you stay at Hansa, a fairytale cottage, and make us all jealous after. The place looks beautiful but the price certainly ain't. Not that I'm intending to put anyone off.
Where to eat? The Walrus, and House of the Rising Sun were the best ones I found on the tinterweb.
Things to do? The main thing I want to do when I visit Shrewsbury is pay a visit to the famous (or infamous) Shrewsbury Prison, and participate in one of their ghost tours. I would love to do a daytime tour too - I think it would give a very different perspective.
York
Hocus Pocus seems to be the prime gothic hot spot in the City of York. When I envision this place, I see the cast of the notable Disney film all stood precariously stirring their cauldrons in the lobby.
Simply as an option, I would advise looking into the Impossible Hotel. It is located very well in the heart of York, and it is decorated beautifully. However, it does have mixed reviews with various sources stating that there are only shared bathrooms. Personally, this is something I have experienced before, and it wouldn't completely put me off, but read reviews before booking!
A third option is the charming, Churchill Hotel. This semi-regal spot is located in the heart of the city, and it will indeed make you feel like royalty. In 1898 it got its very own royal seal of approval when the Prince of Wales paid a visit and stayed himself!
Where to eat? I just deleted a sentence that said I can't remember eating anywhere in York, because I can... and it was really good! For either mine or my partner's birthday many years ago, we went to The Blue Barbakan, an authentic polish restaurant. That's as far as my memory goes. However, I have heard good things about Bill's!
Things to do? One good free thing to do in York is have a stroll along the castle walls, and envision what life would've been like in the medieval times. You can also wander over to The Shambles, and have a look in all the Harry Potter shops, and the ghost shop. On one of our visits, we spent a bit of time at 'Hole in the Wand', the famous Harry Potter-themed mini-golf!
Please Note:
If you own a hotel, restaurant, or activity in any of these places, and you feel like your staycation deserves a rightful place on this list, please email thecryptchick@gmail.com and I will consider adding it to my blog! Alternatively, free stays/food/etc in return for a review are always welcome ;)
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