Jet Black Jewel

Situated in the unique Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby, this boutique accommodation and cafe-bar wears its idiosyncratic heart on its sleeve. The North Yorkshire port of Whitby is many things, from Georgian heritage town to Goths' delight, and Jet Black Jewel does its best to give visitors a taste of what's wonderful about this quirky holiday destination. The one suite and eight rooms are each individually decorated and represent a folklore or historical tale about Whitby, from exiled Maharajah to Robin Hood. Hand-painted wall art sets the scene, while stripped floors, retro tiling, heritage-style bathrooms, coordinated furnishings and a light touch make for a handsome stay. And if you want to know the story behind the Whitby polar bear or the gory Hand of Glory, then the book by your bed can fill you in!

No two rooms are the same, and they vary from a fun bunk room to a top-floor suite with amazing views of the clifftop abbey. Bathrooms are en-suite (with showers); the beds are all king-sized, save for the three smaller rooms (two of which have doubles, and one is a bunk bed room). Check-in is via code (no reception); parking in town can be tricky, though you get a permit for the local street parking but bear in mind that the stairs are steep and there's no lift. The stay is also room-only, but no matter because the ground-floor cafe-bar is open from breakfast onwards, with a similarly inspired decor and wide-ranging menu that does more to sell the offbeat charms of the town to you. And, if you're really lucky, Dr. Crank, the local Ghostwalker, will call in unexpectedly to regale diners with tall tales of local legends and folklore!

Outside, you're on the indie shopping stretch of Skinner Street, at the top of the west side of town, and just a five-minute walk from the esplanade and the fabulous three-mile sandy beach below. Or, the other way, it's all downhill to the river and the swing bridge. Cross this and you're in old, 18th-century Whitby, where Captain Cook once lodged and Dracula roamed, with the famous 199 Steps and Whitby Abbey beyond. The tales are all around, just waiting to be discovered – and, lucky you, you've had a head start with a restful night at the latest jewel in Whitby's cabinet of curiosities.