theworldbyemstagramRobin Hoods Bay is a beautiful fishing village in the North York Moors National Park. Nestled on the North Yorkshire heritage coast, Robin Hoods Bay is found in a beautiful part of the UK.
North Yorkshire is home to some great spots such as the city of York, the Yorkshire Dales, and Harrogate.
Robin Hoods Bay is definitely a UK hidden gem that should be on anyone’s UK travel itinerary.
In this Robin Hoods Bay guide you’ll find some top recommendations for staying and eating in Robin Hoods Bay, as well as some of the best things to do during your Robin Hoods Bay holiday.
The Ultimate Robin Hoods Bay Guide
Where is Robin Hoods Bay?
Robin Hoods Bay is found in North Yorkshire, England, hidden in the cliffs of the North York Moors National Park.
Robin Hoods Bay comprises two parts, the upper and lower village. The lower village is mainly car free.
Getting to Robin Hoods Bay
Robin Hoods Bay can be easily accessed by car, via the main A171 road. This road connects Whitby to Robin Hoods Bay. Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay are only around 5.5 miles apart. A 20 minute bus connects the two coastal beauty spots.
Robin Hoods Bay Postcode – YO22 4RE
Parking in Robin Hoods Bay
There are two public car parks in Robin Hoods Bay, both of which are pay and display.
Station Car Park – what.3.words ///gong.insulated.tabs
Bank Top Car Park – what.3.words ///spacing.aliens.hotdog
Some accommodation in the Lower Bay comes with a parking permit for the private Fisherhead Car Park. Car park charges don’t apply overnight, but do during the day.
I parked my car for free in Station Car Park after 6pm, then moved it onto one of the nearby streets in the morning to avoid parking charges.
Places to Eat in Robin Hoods Bay
The Cove Cafe
No Robin Hoods Bay guide could be complete without a coffee shop recommendation!!
The Cove is the perfect place for a morning coffee. With an outdoor terrace that overlooks the North Sea, it’s the perfect way to start a day in Robin Hoods Bay.
They also serve food here, with vegan and gluten free options on the menu. The cafe is uniquely situated in a former chapel that’s been converted.
The Cove Chapel here is a licensed wedding venue, and also a popular events space.
Make sure you check what’s on in Robin Hoods Bay before you visit – there might be something right up your street at the Cove!
Maid Marion’s Fisheries
You can’t go to a British seaside destination and not visit a fish and chip shop!
One of my favourite things to do when visiting the UK coast is to grab a takeaway and sit by the harbour or the seafront.
Maid Marion’s is just a stone’s throw from the sea front down in the village.
Fish Box Robin Hoods Bay
Fish Box is another great fish and chip stop in RHB. They offer eat in or takeaway.
The restaurant has stunning panoramic views of the bay, and is really close to Robin Hood’s Bay car park.
The Bay Hotel
With a varied menu offering small plates to delicious meals, the Bay Hotel is the perfect spot for a home cooked meal overlooking the sea.
If you’re staying in one of the nearby cottages, they offer takeaways on request.
Places to Stay in Robin Hoods Bay
Budget Robin Hoods Bay Accommodation
If you’re on a shoestring budget on your RHB trip, then there’s a YHA hostel at Boggle Hole.
The hostel is tucked away in an old smugglers cove, and overlooks the beach. There’s both private and shared rooms on offer.
Boggle Hole is a popular wild swimming spot, so why not start your day with a fresh dip?!
Mid Range Accommodation in Robin Hoods Bay
When looking for somewhere to stay in Robin Hoods Bay my go-to is always booking.com.
There’s some great bed and breakfasts in Robin Hoods Bay that you can find on booking.com.
When I visited RHB, it was the summer holidays, but I was lucky enough to get a great rate at a B&B.
I stayed at the Grosvenor Hotel Robin Hoods Bay for £50, which included breakfast – not bad for the middle of August!
Another popular hotel in RHB is the Bay Hotel. There are 3 rooms on offer, with rates starting at £100 a night, including breakfast.
There’s an abundance of self catering holiday cottages dotted throughout Robin Hoods Bay, so you’ll never be short of an option of somewhere to stay. Just make sure you book well in advance if you’re planning on visiting in peak time!
Other Places to Stay in Robin Hoods Bay
Have a search on AirBnB for some alternative and unique stays in Robin Hoods Bay.
AirBnb is the best place to search if you’re travelling in a group and are after a whole property.
Things to do in Robin Hoods Bay
There are some brilliant things to do in Robin Hoods Bay. To make it easier I’ve included a map of all the Robin Hoods Bay Attractions.
As Robin Hoods Bay is a small fishing village, it’s easy to navigate and get around the local attractions.
Some of the best things to do in Robin Hoods Bay involve a walk along the coastal path, or a short drive, so it’s best if you have a car and a good pair of walking boots packed for your Robin Hoods Bay trip.
Robin Hoods Bay Map
1. Coastal Walk via Boggle Hole
First on my list of things to do on this Robin Hoods Bay guide is a coastal walk via Boggle Hole.
Boggle Hole is found about 1 mile south of Robin Hoods Bay, and is definitely one of the best photo spots in Robin Hoods Bay.
The best way to get to Boggle Hole is by taking the picturesque coastal walk along the Cleveland Way.
Boggle Hole is actually thought to be one of ‘North Yorkshire’s best kept secrets’..until now that is!
The area is now protected because of the huge range of fossils you can find here. Boggle Hole is found in front of an old watermill which has been coveted into the YHA Hostel.
Even if you aren’t staying at the hostel you can still pop in and enjoy a drink at the cafe, with a view of this unique spot.
2. Robin Hood’s Bay Museum
The Robin Hoods Bay Museum is full of local history, with displays on shipping, geology and fishing in Robin Hoods Bay over the years.
The museum is run by local volunteers so is free to visit, but donations are encouraged.
All the volunteers have lots of passion for the area and are eager to share with tourists from all over.
3. National Trust Old Coastguard Station
You can find the Old Coastguard Station on the slipway at Robin Hoods Bay, opposite the Bay Hotel.
It’s a National Trust owned building, one of their many Yorkshire Coast attractions.
Although it’s only a small building, it has a lot of history. It’s open to the public with an exhibition room on the ground floor.
The exhibition has interactive installations teaching visitors about tidal and wave action. There’s also information on wildlife and geology. There’s even a real rock pool here with living sea creatures.
The Old Coastguard Station is open seasonally from March through to October. Entry is free for National Trust members, or £1 for non-members.
4. Old St. Stephen’s Church
A church has sat on this spot for over 1000 years, but St. Stephen’s Church as it is today dates back to 1822.
The graveyard of the church is a burial place for local families, farmers and mariners. There’s also memorials here to victims of shipwrecks. Some victims came from as far as Brazil!
You can look inside from the church for free, but donations are welcome.
5. Visit Falling Foss Tea Garden
Another great place to visit near Robin Hoods Bay is Falling Foss Tea Gardens. It’s only 11 minutes by car from RHB, or 15 minutes from Whitby.
The tea gardens are perfectly situated next to the Falling Foss waterfall. You can admire it from above, or walk down to see it at the bottom.
The closest car park to Falling Foss is the Forestry Commision Car Park. It’s only 5 minutes to walk from here to the tea garden, and parking is free!
A local farmer has set up ‘overflow’ parking just up the road. This costs £3 for the day, and is around a 15 minute walk from Falling Foss.
The tea gardens are beautiful, but are completely outdoors which doesn’t always agree with the British weather!
For this reason it is only open seasonally from April to September, weather permitting.
But if the weather is on your side, I’d really recommend paying them a visit. They sell homemade cakes and sandwiches, as well as hot and cold drinks.
6. May Beck and Falling Foss Waterfall Walk
If you’re heading to Falling Foss you may as well take advantage of a nearby woodland walk through the North York Moors National Park, one of the best things to do around Robin Hoods Bay.
Either start the walk at Falling Foss, or park for free at May Beck car park (what.3.words – ///healthier.skate.splat) and follow the signs to Falling Foss.
The May Beck circular walk is 2 miles, and easy to complete even on a hot summers day, as it’s well shaded by the woodland.
It follows the steam for the whole way, so you could even go for a paddle!
Falling Foss is perfectly situated on this walk, so you can drop in for a drink and snack pit stop on the way!
7. Robin Hoods Bay Ghost Walk
It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that the nightlife in Robin Hoods Bay isn’t the liveliest! But if you’re a bit of a night owl, and like all things dark and mysterious, a ghost walk in Robin Hood’s Bay might be for you!
The Original Robin Hoods Bay Ghost Walk goes from the slipway outside the Old Coastguard Station at 8pm.
You can check the board here for the dates for ghost walks, or have a look at their website.
Prices are £8 for adults and £4 for children (under 14s).
8. Coastal Walk to Whitby
The Robin Hoods Bay to Whitby walk is around 7 miles. The path linking Robin Hoods Bay and Whitby is well signposted from the village, so you can’t go wrong.
If you don’t fancy walking all the way back, you can just jump on the bus.
9. Day Trip to Whitby
Whitby is definitely one of the best places to visit near Robin Hoods Bay, so why not spend a whole day there?!
There’s some great things to do in Whitby including climbing the 199 steps to visit Whitby Abbey, or having a walk on the beach.
If you don’t fancy walking there you can get the bus. Catch the X93 MAX bus from Thorpe Lane in Robin Hoods Bay. It should only take around 20 minutes to get from Robin Hood’s Bay to Whitby.
10. Go Hiking in North York Moors National Park
As one of the UKs 14 National Parks, the North York Moors have plenty of opportunities for a good hike.
So if you’re visiting Robin Hoods Bay, make sure you pack some hiking clothes – and prepare for all weather conditions!
There’s some great North York Moors walks near Robin Hoods Bay including Gisborough Moor, Wainstones, Farndale Daffodil Walk, and Roseberry Topping.
11. Just wander around!
One of the best things to do in Robin Hoods Bay has to just be letting yourself have a wander.
Whilst it’s only a small place there’s lots of lovely little streets to wander through, as well as having a wander along Robin Hoods Bay beach, and maybe grabbing an ice cream on a nice day!
If you are planning to head to the beach it’s a good idea to check the tide times at Robin Hoods Bay. You don’t want to get there to find it’s high tide!!
12. Day Trip to Knaresborough
Finally on my Robin Hoods Bay guide is taking a trip to Knaresborough. It’s around a 90 minute drive from Robin Hoods Bay. It’s only a small market town, but there’s still lots of great things to do in Knaresborough.
From Knaresborough it’s only another 15 minutes to drive to Harrogate.
So that’s my Robin Hoods Bay guide! Hopefully this has given you some ideas of what to do and where to go when you visit Robin Hoods Bay, and now you’re feeling inspired to plan a trip to North Yorkshire!
If you are looking for some other great places to visit near Robins Bay, here are some of my other guides:
