The small and quaint fishing town of Whitby on the coast in northern Yorkshire in England, can mould itself to fit many bills.
Whitby has a fairly small town centre, which means chances are you will be seeing the same people more than once. Sometimes the guy who served you coffee in the morning will stop you in the street in the afternoon to ask you how your day is going. If your biggest mission is to blend in with the crowd you might find the town too small.
Whitby makes a good base if you enjoy hiking along the coast. Three miles north is the village of Sandsend, which can be reached by an hour-long stroll on the beach, and six miles south is the tiny village of Robin Hood&rsquos Bay. If you&rsquod rather stay in town and explore its history you will enjoy Whitby Abbey or the Church of St Mary. If you plan to see them up close, you will either have to climb the 199 steps up or take the Donkey Road, the steep cobblestoned path to the top.
The ocean breeze that gushes in from the east will play havoc with your hair. It won't invite you to lie down on the beach. Add this to the yearly average temperature of 12 Celsius. It&rsquos not the Bahamas but it is refreshing.
The information
How to get there From London you can take the train via York. Megabus and National Express offer cheaper tickets to Leeds or York, with a local bus to Whitby.
Where to stay The YHA behind the Abbey is the cheaper alternative, with reasonably priced dorms and private rooms. If you want a more exclusive place to live, there are several cottages throughout town to choose from.