Count Dracula in Whitby
Bram Stoker Inspiration

Find out more about Bram Stoker and Dracula in Whitby.

Where to find his inspiration, what to see, where to find Dracula today... Whitby Gothic Weekend.... find out more....

Everyone, but everyone, knows Dracula - that much copied vampire count of countless films (pun intended!)

Count Dracula was the invention of writer Bram Stoker - a great novel (and now film) - well worth reading, I do love this book and film.

What you might not know, is that Whitby is the setting for the original Dracula novel.

• In March 1890, aged 42, Bram Stoker began making the first notes for his Dracula novel
• In that Summer, he spent his holidays at Whitby.
• In the novel, Chapter 6 begins with Mina's description of Whitby - a real life Whitby, not an imaginary one!
• There is some discussion over the site of a grave of a suicide victim.
• Chapter 7 sees a (fictional) newspaper cutting on the suject of a sudden storm over Whitby - and a ship grounding itself in the harbour.
• A dog (Count Dracula) makes straight for the cliff, and up towards the churchyard. Count Dracula take up his residence in the suicide's grave.









• There is, in fact, a reputed suicide's grave at the churchyard for real - marked with a skull and crossbone. This surely inspired Bram Stoker.

  You can still see the grave today. Look out for the gravestone with skull and crossbones on, near to the top gate in the graveyard.

  More about St Mary's Church

• If you are familiar with Whitby, you will, no doubt, really enjoy the descriptions of Whitby in the opening chapters of the book.

It may make some excellent holiday reading....

Read the Book

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Watch the Film

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Quite an industry has built up around Count Dracula, the gothic Whitby abbey itself and the town of Whitby...

Don't miss the Dracula Experience in town, too, right on the harbour-front, overlooked by the Abbey - a fun-filled spook-fest!

More about The Dracula Experience

Whitby has surely become the undisputed Goth capital of Britain - there are countless gothic shops in Whitby, a dedicated Gothic hotel - and a massive celebration of all things goth, which happens twice a year...

...the famous 'Whitby Gothic Weekend' - around Halloween and in late April (or Easter) every year.

This has now expanded to take in Gothic fringe events, too

If you are at all interested in anything Goth, do take time, at least, to visit some of the many goth shops in town, or schedule your visit for one of the Whitby Gothic Weekends.

Remember that accommodation does book up very quickly at these times, though.

We stayed in the gorgeously Gothic Bats and Broomsticks Gothic Guest House which caters specifically for guests with an appetite for the Gothic side of Whitby...

We found it a beautiful hotel, with a great fun and quirky twist - highly recommended to Goths and non-Goths alike!

See the photos and read the review of our stay at Bats and Broomsticks Gothic Bed and Breakfast in Whitby here...

Find out more about Goth Weekend 'Fringe' events

Find out more about the Bram Stoker International film festival in Whitby

Find out more about The Dracula Experience

Find out more about Whitby Abbey

Find out more about St Mary's Church

Find out more about Whitby Tourist Information

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