The beautiful UK seaside town where locals fume it turns into Benidorm at the weekend

Whitby, a picturesque seaside town in North Yorkshire, is known for its charming streets, historic abbey, and the serene beauty of its coastline.

But despite its tranquil reputation, the town transforms drastically during the weekends, much to the dismay of its residents.

While this influx of tourists brings in millions of pounds to Whitby’s economy, not everyone is thrilled. In fact, the locals are far from pleased.

Many residents feel that their town, beloved for its quiet charm, has been overwhelmed by the sheer number of visitors and the resulting chaos.

Lily Blackman, a 38-year-old bakery manager in Whitby, is one of the many locals who are frustrated by the transformation. Despite the financial benefits that tourism brings to her store, Lily is exasperated by the impact it has on her daily life. She’s particularly critical of the holiday homes that visitors flock to during the weekends.

“I’ve noticed there are a lot of empty homes near where I live not doing anything,” Lily told the Telegraph. “But on the weekend it’s like Benidorm, with parties until 5 am. You can never park anywhere. These places all sleep about 12 people so they all bring four cars. The people who are staying don’t care about noise—last year was horrendous through summer.”

The surge of holiday lets in Whitby is fueling tensions between locals and tourists. Many residents believe that the explosion of holiday homes is contributing to a housing crisis in the area.

Properties that were once affordable family homes are now being snapped up by investors to convert into short-term rentals, leaving fewer options for those who live and work in Whitby.

However, locals feel that efforts may be too little, too late, as the town continues to struggle with the challenges posed by its popularity.

Alison Hume, Whitby’s new Labour MP, echoed these sentiments, pointing out the detrimental effects of the booming holiday let market.

“While second homes and short-term lets were important to our local economy, the benefits are now outweighed by their impact on local residents,” she stated.

Hume, who lives in Whitby, has witnessed firsthand how smaller villages nearby, such as Robin Hood’s Bay, have been “totally hollowed out” by the rise of holiday lets.