The Mirror
·Aug 2026
UK seaside town locals say overcrowding is a 'nightmare' and they 'can't walk down the street'
Whitby, a Yorkshire seaside town of around 13,000 residents, is experiencing intense tourism, with an estimated 3,275 commercial holiday lets and up to two million visitors annually. Residents say overcrowding, traffic, parking problems and soaring property prices driven by second homes have made the town increasingly unaffordable and difficult to live in. Local businesses acknowledge that tourism supports year-round income, but residents and councillors argue its benefits are unevenly distributed and that services such as healthcare and schools are under pressure. North Yorkshire Council is considering limits on new holiday lets, a policy prioritising permanent residences, improved parking and transport, and routine pedestrianisation of the Swingbridge and nearby harbourside.