When I was researching where to stay in Whitby on my Yorkshire Foodie Adventure, I realised that there are a lot of guesthouses and bed & breakfasts in Whitby. The town on the north-east coast of England is a popular tourist destination, which brings with it a range of different accommodations. Although I often stay in hostels, B&Bs are by far the most common type of accommodation in Whitby. Small, family run hotels which offer bed and breakfast are typical all across the UK, and as I looked through the dozens of options, one stood out in particular. The Riviera Guesthouse in Whitby is an award-winning bed & breakfast right on the Whitby seafront, with gorgeous views, and great reviews. I was sold!
My two-night stay at the Riviera Guesthouse was complimentary in exchange for this review and social media coverage. All opinions are, as always, my own.
Where is Whitby?
Whitby is on the North Yorkshire Coast, about an hour and a half’s drive from York and slightly longer from Newcastle. You can also get to Whitby from London in about 5 hours, either by train or driving.
Why Choose a Holiday in Whitby
This was my first visit to Whitby, as part of my Yorkshire Foodie Adventure. I was following the route of the 840 Coastliner bus across Yorkshire from Leeds to Whitby, across the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Whitby is surrounded by the National Park inland and has a gorgeous coastline and vast beach looking out to the North Sea.
The town is famous for its fish & chips, as it is a dock town where fisherman have brought home their catch for centuries. Bram Stoker left his mark here too when Dracula came ashore in Whitby in his landmark novel and escaped up the steps to Whitby Abbey and St Mary’s Church. This has made Whitby popular with everyone from sun-seeking city folk to foodies and goths, who flock here for the yearly Goth Festival. I was excited to come to Whitby and see what all the fuss was about!
Where to Stay in Whitby
When I was looking for guesthouses in Whitby, I was certain I wanted a sea view. I love being close to the sea, it relaxes me and I feel so much happier if I wake up to the sights and sounds of the sea. I also don’t like to be right in the centre of town, although that is handy for having everything on the doorstep, noise can be an issue. The Riviera Guesthouse in Whitby ticked all of these boxes, when I contacted them to book a room I knew I had made the right choice.
The Riviera Guesthouse in Whitby
The Riviera Guesthouse is family-owned and run by Emma and Zed, who decided to take over the guesthouse when Emma’s father passed away. When I contacted the guesthouse to arrange my stay, Emma was quick to respond to my query and was friendly and efficient. I arranged a two-night stay in a single room with a sea view.
The Location of the Riviera Guesthouse
The Riviera Guesthouse is in an enviable location, away from the hectic arcades and fish & chip shops, and right on top of the beach. When I say on top of the beach, I mean on the cliff over the beach. 5 minutes’ walk from the action, and about 12 minutes’ walk from the station, the guesthouse was far enough away from the crowded dock front but close enough to get around the town very easily.
A word of warning though, there is a steep hill up to the top of the cliffs from the dock front; if you’re coming from the station with luggage you may want to grab a taxi. Walking back to the station is much easier as it is all downhill!
The Bedrooms at the Riviera Guesthouse
The guesthouse has 15 bedrooms, each individually styled, and most have sea views. All of the bedrooms are en-suite and are equipped with freeview TV, tea & coffee facilities and free wi-fi. A continental and freshly cooked breakfast is included in the room rate.
My room had a single bed with plug sockets and a little shelf for charging my phone and where I could put a bottle of water when I went to sleep which was handy. The bed was super comfy, and there were two different pillows so I could choose if I wanted a soft or harder pillow to sleep on, which was a nice touch.
There was a large wardrobe in the room and chest of drawers with the tea & coffee and kettle. My bathroom was spotlessly clean, and towels, soap and shampoo were provided. The best part of my room though was the gorgeous sea view. Waking up in the morning to that was priceless!
Although my room was comfortable and had everything I needed, on my next trip to Whitby I’m planning to upgrade to one of their double rooms, which are stunning!
Breakfast at the Riviera Guesthouse
Mornings are obviously busy times at the guesthouse. There are two dining rooms, on either side of the main entrance, and a board outside instructs guests as to which room they are in, according to their room number. It was a little odd not being able to choose my own table, but with a full house, this was a great way to ensure there were enough clean tables and seats for everyone!
There were cereals, juices and toasts I could help myself to, and on the first day I ordered scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on an English muffin. The following day I decided to try the locally smoked haddock with scrambled eggs.
The hot dishes were freshly made to order, and the smoked salmon was heavenly (it’s one of my favourite dishes so I was thrilled to see it on the menu!). I hadn’t tried smoked kippers before, and I must admit it wasn’t my favourite meal – it is rather a strong flavour! I was glad to try it though as I had been to the smokery the day before.
What I Loved About the Riviera Guesthouse
The location of the guesthouse is fabulous, away from the crowds but within easy walking distance to town, close to the beach and a stone’s throw from the Whalebone Arch for more great views across the bay to St Mary’s Church and Whitby Abbey.
The view from the bedroom really is second to none in Whitby, especially with the great weather I had that weekend. Not all of the rooms have a sea view, but I highly recommend booking one with a view, you won’t regret it!
The breakfast was delicious too, and I got to try the famous Whitby smoked kippers which was fab. I love it when hotels source local ingredients for the breakfast, it really helps you to experience more of the culture of where you are.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
The downside of any bed and breakfast or small family-run hotel is that sometimes there isn’t anyone around to ask a quick question. I am used to having someone on reception 24/7 in most hostels I stay in, so it is a change to not have anyone visible.
That’s not to say that no-one is available though, there is a bell to ring in reception and phone numbers to call after hours. I think it is just my English-ness that I feel bad calling someone to ask a simple question, I’m sure they would be happy to answer – that is something I need to get used to the more I travel around the UK!
The Best Bed and Breakfast in Whitby?
I really enjoyed my stay here and would definitely recommend the Riviera Guesthouse to anyone planning a short break or holiday in Whitby. It isn’t just me who loved the Riviera Guesthouse in Whitby. The accolades on the walls, reviews on Tripadvisor and frequent awards (most recently the 2018 Best Seafront Accommodation in the Yorkshire & Humber Enterprise Awards), it certainly looks like the Riviera Guesthouse is one of the best, if not the best, bed and breakfast in Whitby.
What do you think? Would you stay at the Riviera Guesthouse in Whitby? I’d love to hear your thoughts, share your comments below.
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I stayed in a family room at the Riviera, it was lovely. Our group were all vegetarian, which I mentioned when booking, and we got a delicious vegetarian cooked breakfast. Highly recommend staying there, with just one caveat – there are lots of stairs! I’m not sure if there are rooms on the ground floor, but definitely ask when you book if you find stairs difficult.
How come I have never heard of Whitby before!!! I have lived in London for around 7 years and I traveled around the UK. It looks like a cute British city. I agree with you, in the UK there are many B&B and guesthouses. I usually stay in them instead of big hotels. It feels like you are in a family home. They are so cosy
I too prefer beach facing rooms. The hotel is so strategically located. Definitely would consider this property if and when I am there.
I always love your posts and tips! I am going to pursue my MA in UK next year, I’ll surely go here if it’s only 5-hours by train! Do we have guests discounts if we say your name and web there? Thank you!
The location for me is the huge plus abt the property. Guess it can get a little lonesome since it is not a hotel but then the solitude is what is a perk too. The rooms look quite comfy too
I’ve stayed in some really charming B&Bs in England and Riviera Guesthouse looks like one I’d enjoy. I’ll keep it in mind if we head up to Whitby.