North Yorkshire Moors Railway - (Whitby Station)

Steam trains still run from Whitby Station along one of England's most scenic railway lines, and it's genuinely worth putting on your itinerary if you're staying in the area. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway operates heritage services through the Yorkshire countryside, pulling you inland from the coastal town towards Goathland and beyond - the route climbs through proper moorland with views that justify the ticket price alone.

You'll board at Whitby Station itself, which sits a short walk from the harbour. The experience is the draw here: restored carriages, the smell of coal smoke, the actual rhythm of Victorian rail travel. It's not theme-park stuff - these are real trains on a working line. Allow two to three hours for a round trip depending on where you fancy getting off. Families with kids tend to love it, particularly if they've read or watched anything with trains in it. Walkers often use it strategically, jumping off at Goathland to explore the moors on foot and catching a later service back.

If you're camped at Whitby Cliff Top Touring Park, you're less than a mile away - genuinely convenient. The railway runs seasonally, so check ahead before planning your trip around it. Admission isn't free, but costs are reasonable for what you get. It's one of those activities that fills a rainy afternoon or breaks up a week of beach time without feeling like you're compromising on the proper Yorkshire experience.