Event Information
- Give It A Go
- Give it a Go - Featured
The dates of the trip are 25th & 26th January 2026, meeting at ABACWS at 5:45am on 25th January and returning by approximately 11:45pm on 26th January.
Tickets are £83 until 19th December at 3pm. After then, they will increase to £95.
York and Whitby offer two very different sides of Yorkshire, but together they create a brilliant snapshot of one of England’s most historic and well known regions.
York – one of England’s most beautiful cities – is full of history and culture. Visit the Shambles, a bustling, beautifully preserved medieval street; York Minster, a Gothic Cathedral towering over the city; or just enjoy getting lost in the old town, enjoying traditional tearooms and exploring the snickelways – the Yorkshire name for a narrow passageway or alley.
Whitby, a dramatic coastal town, is famed for its rugged abbey ruins perched high on the East Cliff – where our hostel is situated. Explore its charming cobbled streets lined with quaint shops and traditional fish and chip shops.
Seen side by side, York and Whitby reveal the richness and variety of Yorkshire, from medieval streets to sweeping sea views.
What’s included?
✨ Travel in an executive coach, with air conditioning, a toilet and reclining seats and a comfort stop en-route
🗓️ Two days break, with time in both York and Whitby
🏰 One night’s accommodation in YHA Whitby, next to the Abbey with wonderful views to town
🕒 Free time
👥 An experienced Give it a Go trip leader
🧳 Luggage Storage
🍳 A full English breakfast
👻 An optional ghost tour of Whitby (additional cost of £7)
The Hostel
You will stay in a dormitory room at the YHA Whitby, one of their flagship hostels.
The location couldn’t be better. The hostel is located right next to the Abbey, at the top of the famous 199 steps, dating from at least 1370AD and even mentioned in Dracula by Bram Stoker. Don’t worry, the coach will park next to the hostel, so you won’t need to drag your luggage up them!
There is free Wi-Fi in the ground floor near reception and in the café bar. After checking out, the hostel will store luggage on the Sunday morning during your free time in Whitby.
We will try to accommodate requests for being in same sex rooms or rooms with friends as best we can but this cannot be guaranteed.
The Itinerary
Day 1
We’ll arrive in York around midday, where you’re free to explore the city – you could visit York Minster, the Shambles and its famous ghost shop, the Viking museum or even the chocolate story…
At around 4pm, we’ll head to the hostel in Whitby, where we’ll check in and you’ll have free time to explore the town and grab some dinner.
In the evening, there will be the option of joining a ghost tour in Whitby. Our guide, Gill Locker, who grew up in Whitby hearing these tales passed down through generations, has devoted her time to crafting them into rhymes for a fun and unique ghost tour.
Day 2
Wake up to an included full English breakfast to set you up for the day.
After this, explore more of Whitby in the day. The Abbey itself is right next to the hostel and, although it will be shut during our trip, it’s most impressive viewed from a small distance. Around midday, we’ll head back to York where you’ll have time to pick up where you left off.
In the early evening, when shops & attractions are shutting, we’ll leave York to return to Cardiff.
Is there anything else that I need to know?
You do not need a passport or visa for this trip.
Should you wish to buy travel insurance, which we would recommend, you will need to arrange this yourself.
You will be send a link to a typeform to let us know your personal details. Please fill this out as soon as possible so that we have all the information we need. This should not take more than about 5 minutes.
You will be required to bring towels and toiletries. Alternatively, towels can be hired from the hostel for £2.50.
Each person will be provided with a key card to their room. There would be a £5 fine for not returning your key card.
You can buy a ticket online or in person from the finance office. The finance office is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Union and is open weekdays 10am – 4pm. From the stairwell turn left, past the toilets and left again. The finance office is at the end of the corridor, clearly marked by an orange sign. The Give it a Go desk is located along the corridor and is clearly marked, so do speak to us if you have any questions!
If you want to discuss anything further or have additional questions, please email giveitago@cardiff.ac.uk and we will always be happy to help.
Terms and Conditions
If you can no longer attend, you may be able to get your money back if you can either find a replacement or if we have someone willing to go from a waiting list. Terms to this are below:
- There will be £10 admin fee for the person unable to attend.
- The person replacing you may have to be the same sex, depending on rooming requirements at the time. Please check with giveitago@cardiff.ac.uk if this will apply at the time you are looking at transferring a ticket.
- Transfers need to go through Give it a Go. Only people with named tickets will be allowed on the trip.
- The earlier you contact us, the more likely a ticket transfer is.
- Ticket transfers are never guaranteed
If the trip cannot go ahead due to a force-majeure (such as a lockdown or natural disaster) you would be provided with a full refund. We would also try and reschedule, so it may be possible for you to simply transfer your ticket to the new date instead.
In the event of a force-majeure where the trip can go ahead but we need to make changes, alternative arrangements of an equivalent or higher standard to the initial booking may be made.
The trip is subject to minimum numbers. If it does not meet minimum requirements, the trip may be unable to go ahead. In this case a full refund would be provided.
A cooked and continental breakfast on 26th January is included. All other meals are at your own expense. The self-catering kitchen is not accessible to our group.
Entry to attractions is only included where stated. Should you with to enter other attractions, this would be at your own cost.
Please be on time for the coach. If you are late and the coach leaves without you, we are not responsible for your transportation and you will not receive a refund. This applies each time we use the coach. If you do not wish to take the coach for any journey, please let the trip leader know. If you are not taking the coach from the Student Union to York, please email giveitago@Cardiff.ac.uk or you may forfeit your place.
You will need to bring your Cardiff student card and show it to the hostel. Alternatively, any valid form of ID is acceptable – e.g. driving liscence, passport, residency permit, travel card. Photos of these ID’s are also acceptable. If you have any questions about ID, pleas contact us at giveitago@cardiff.ac.uk
The itinerary and estimated timings are subject to change.
Most rooms are accessible with step free access. However, if you require a room with step-free access, please contact us prior to booking.
The ghost tour will proceed in poor weather, including rain, so we recommend bringing appropriate clothing. If needed and possible, the time of the tour may be moved in order to go ahead in better weather. In the event that the weather is too adverse to proceed you will be refunded for the ghost tour. If the tour goes ahead and you decide to not attend, you will not be eligible for a refund.
Image Credit: Karl Moran on Unsplash