Whitby

There’s nothing better than fish and chips by the sea in the summertime. Its freezing and windy, the sky looms grey- but in those brief few hours when it is not raining, and you're holding a warm package of deep fried goodness to your chest (so the seagulls don't pinch a chip or two)- its magic. Whitby, a seaside town located in North Yorkshire, will almost definitely be grey but can promise a massive selection of gorgeous fish and chips with views to match.

There are over 30 fish and chip shops in Whitby:

We went to The Moon and Sixpence.

TripAdvisor score: 4.5/ 5 stars (1,625 reviews)

Cost: £11 per person

The view outside:

The view inside (even more spectacular):

A huge helping of chunky chips and battered cod served with mushy peas and tartar sauce (this is the regular size). The fish batter was crispy, just as it should be, with no sog in sight. This was a no-frills, just-good-food lunch.

Whilst you're at the seaside, you might as well grab some rock. There are tons of sweet shops selling the stuff, and whilst its basically just a glorified stick of sugar, it is tradition. Cheap and cheerful, at just 4 sticks for £1, try out different flavours. We had jaffa cake, rainbow, gin and tonic and mojito (disappointingly non-alcoholic).

After you've walked along the pier and fought off the seagulls, make sure you cross the bridge and check out the old town. Climb the steps up to the church and abbey for some coastal views- It is steep but worth it.

We found this cafe, Sanders Yard for some well earned coffee and cake. Its a lovely place, decorated with fairy lights and plants, tucked down a side alley away from the slow-moving tourist traffic on the main high street.

The cake slice was hefty and very chocolatey too! Definitely worth a visit.

Happy exploring!