Cholmley House

The house sits on the clifftop overlooking Whitby harbour, and it's the sort of place that rewards a proper look around rather than a quick snap for Instagram. Cholmley House is a seventeenth-century townhouse run by English Heritage, and stepping inside is like walking into someone's actual home - there's real furniture, real clutter, the sense that someone lived here and mattered. You'll find period rooms stuffed with objects that tell you how the Cholmley family actually spent their days, not some sanitised version of history.

It works best for people who enjoy domestic history and aren't after constant activity. Families with patient kids will get something out of it, but if yours need hands-on exhibits or a gift shop to stay engaged, look elsewhere. History buffs will find plenty to unpick - the building itself is genuinely interesting, and the views across the harbour are worth the climb alone. Allow an hour to do it justice, maybe ninety minutes if you're the sort who reads every label.

The real draw is how it sits within Whitby's wider pull. You're a stone's throw from Whitby Abbey itself, which dominates the skyline, and the town centre's narrow streets are brilliant for wandering. If you're staying at Whitby Holiday Park or Broadings Farm just down the road, this pairs nicely with an afternoon exploring the harbour and the 199 steps up to the abbey. Go on a quieter weekday if you can - autumn's particularly good when the crowds thin out and the light hits those old windows properly.