The best places to go shopping in Whitby offer everything from ancient jewelry and fossils to vintage clothing and craft beer. Renowned across North Yorkshire for its antique jet gemstone industry, narrow streets and scenic harbor, this coastal community makes for an amazing shopping trip.

With Whitby featuring storied connections to famed explorer Captain James Cook and the iconic Count Dracula character, wandering through the stores is just the beginning of your adventure. Here, we explore where to find the best shops in Whitby to ensure you experience a striking getaway.

  • 1

    Grape Lane

    Shop local boutiques and cozy restaurants

    Grape Lane
    • Shoppers

    Grape Lane is a charming pedestrian street on the western side of the River Esk, featuring outstanding independent stores and welcoming eateries. Curving between Bridge Road and Church Street, this bustling shopping street offers a range of options that capture the village’s seaside atmosphere.

    Agrarian makers and producers like The Cheese Trader and The Green Dragon offer spectacular local food and drink. Meanwhile, the ladies’ fashion at Lola and homewares at The Sandy Seahorse are equally impressive. For a sumptuous meal during your visit, head to Moutreys for delicious wood-fired pizza.

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  • 2

    Flowergate

    Browse this shopping strip for vintage stores and cafés

    Flowergate
    • Shoppers

    Flowergate is a hilly shopping street lined with wonderful boutiques and souvenir shops catering to locals and visitors alike. Accessible from New Quay Road along Whitby’s harbourfront, you’ll find its windy path adorned with enthralling stores dedicated to antiques, vintage clothing and fine goods.

    If you’re excited to shop thrift clothes, stores like Whitby Vintage and the Mind Charity Shop feature an eclectic variety of old-school fashion that levels up your personal style. Once you’re finished wandering the stores, Sherlocks Coffee Shop and Emma’s Diner are great options for coffee, pastries and burgers in a warm setting.

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    photo by Pauline E (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

  • 3

    Whitby Antiques & Collectables Emporium

    Explore a tremendous variety of antique goods

    Whitby Antiques & Collectables Emporium
    • Shoppers

    Whitby Antiques & Collectables Emporium is where visitors can get up close with an impressive array of vintage goods that deserve a new home. From enticing jewelry and glassware to millennia-old fossilized seashells, there’s no shortage of unique items to explore in this sprawling bazaar.

    Set at the harbor end of Flowergate, the Whitby Antiques & Collectables Emporium is surrounded by first-class dining options. Head to Java Cafe for outstanding breakfast and lunch dishes, while The Little Angel is a top-notch pub offering authentic British ales, hearty cuisine and performances from local musicians.

    Location: Halls Place, 6 Flowergate, Whitby YO21 3BA, UK

    Open: Daily from 10.30 am to 4 pm

    Phone: +44 (0)1947 228216

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  • 4

    Whitby Open Market

    Visit this open-air market as you soak up the waterfront

    Whitby Open Market
    • Shoppers

    The Whitby Open Market is the ideal place to shop outdoors during your stay in town. Held Tuesdays and across the weekend in front of the Old Town Hall dating from 1788, a small collection of stallholders present their goods to passersby whenever the weather permits.

    Featuring handmade jewelry, local fashion, antique goods and delicious snacks, this appealing market is the perfect stop while you explore the harbor. With a tasty selection of restaurants, pubs and cafés nearby, this low-key market makes for a stellar morning or afternoon trip.

    Open: Tuesday and Saturday from 8.30 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm

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  • 5

    The Ebor Jetworks

    Learn everything there is to know about beautiful jet gemstones

    The Ebor Jetworks
    • Shoppers

    The Ebor Jetworks offers the chance to admire one of Whitby’s most famous icons – jet. This incredible black gemstone has been in use since the bronze age, with craftspeople shaping tools from its soft stone. At this popular store, you’ll find some of the most impressive examples for purchase.

    In addition, the family-owned Ebor Jetworks also has a fascinating jet workshop where you’ll watch as 3 generations of jewelry makers capture what makes this alluring gem so special. Head in-store to discover a massive range of jet products made with great respect to the industry’s age-old traditions.

    Location: 138 Church St, Whitby YO22 4DE, UK

    Open: Daily from 10.30 am to 7 pm

    Phone: +44 (0)1947 603113

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    photo by Jeff Buck (CC BY-SA 2.0) modified

  • 6

    W Hamond

    Discover high-end jet products alongside an enchanting museum

    W Hamond
    • Shoppers

    W Hamond is recognized as the original jet store in Whitby, having first opened its doors to customers in 1860. Helping the town stake its claim as the go-to destination for jet in Yorkshire, visitors can now explore a wide-ranging collection of jet-based jewelry, including rings, bracelets, necklaces, charms and cufflinks.

    Just a few doors down in the renovated Wesley Hall, W Hamond’s Museum of Whitby Jet presents a captivating collection of antique jewelry and ornaments. Here, you’ll get to know the wonderful legacy behind the black gemstone and how the storefront has remained at the industry’s forefront for over 150 years.

    Location: 112 Church St, Whitby YO22 4DB, UK

    Open: Daily from 9.30 am to 6 pm

    Phone: +44 (0)1947 603330

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  • 7

    Natural Wonders

    Explore authentic fossils and attend a local expedition

    Natural Wonders
    • Shoppers

    Natural Wonders provides visitors to Whitby with a chance to purchase remarkable fossils collected along the aptly named Jurassic Coast. Many of the store’s items date back millions of years. The owner is a respected paleontologist who has sold these highly specialized antiques for over 20 years.

    In addition, the store regularly hosts fossil hunting expeditions where you can learn how to search for your own fossils and what makes these discoveries so incredible. Situated on Grape Street near the Captain Cook Museum, Natural Wonders is the perfect spot to experience this much-loved local pastime.

    Location: 20 Grape Ln, Whitby YO22 4BA, UK

    Open: Daily from 10.30 am to 5 pm

    Phone: +44 (0)1947 821363

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  • 8

    Den of Antiquity

    Rummage through ancient goods before admiring the waterfront

    Den of Antiquity
    • Shoppers

    Den of Antiquity presents shoppers in Whitby with an enchanting collection of venerable goods dating back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Across a range of ancient artifacts, there’s everything from 4th-century Greek skyphos wine cups to Byzantine silver rings featuring cryptic monograms.

    Alongside time-honoured coins and fossils, Den of Antiquity is a striking destination for historical items you won’t find anywhere else. From the store’s location overlooking the waterfront, there’s also a great selection of clothing stores, cafés and tourist experiences, including coastal cruises and Dracula-inspired guided walks.

    Location: 7 St Ann's Staith, Whitby YO21 3PW, UK

    Open: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm

    Phone: +44(0)1947 600460

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  • 9

    The Whitby Jet Heritage Center

    Admire sought-after examples of authentic jet jewelry

    The Whitby Jet Heritage Center
    • Shoppers

    The Whitby Jet Heritage Center presents an exceptional range of jet jewelry made using traditional methods to produce Victorian-era and contemporary products. Led by a third-generation carver who only uses genuine Whitby jet, the level of craftsmanship on display is bound to impress even the most discerning buyer.

    Set inside a workshop dating from 1876, this suitably historic location is where the owner hand-carves every piece of jewelry in the store. Set close to Whitby’s famous 199 Steps landmark, the Whitby Jet Heritage Center is a must-visit destination for those keen to admire rare, upscale jet jewelry.

    Location: 123B Church Ln, Whitby YO22 4DE, UK

    Open: Daily from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm

    Phone: +44 (0)1947 821530

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    photo by Andrew Diack (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified

  • 10

    The Green Dragon

    Peruse over 300 beers and take a break in the tap room

    The Green Dragon
    • Nightlife
    • Shoppers

    The Green Dragon is the top destination for craft beer and cider fanatics exploring Whitby, featuring over 300 Yorkshire-made and international brews that pack a powerful punch. Alongside an impressive range of gluten-free beers, you won’t have a problem finding a tasty bottle or 2 to take home.

    However, The Green Dragon is more than just a bottle shop. There’s also a superb tap room where you can sample an ever-rotating list of kegged beverages. Alongside thoughtful gift sets, merchandise and events, every serious beer connoisseur should make a trip to this celebrated boozy paradise.

    Location: 4-5 Grape Ln, Whitby YO22 4BA, UK

    Open: Monday–Thursday from 11 am to 5 pm, Friday from 11 am to 8 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 8.30 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm

    Phone: +44 (0)1947 820530

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Hudson Brown | Contributing Writer