There are few places on earth more perfectly suited to a vampire gathering than Whitby Abbey — the ancient clifftop ruin in Yorkshire, England, that inspired Bram Stoker’s immortal creation, Count Dracula. And in 2022, in honour of the 125th anniversary of Stoker’s masterpiece, English Heritage turned this iconic gothic landmark into the stage for a world record that is as theatrical as it is historic.

A magnificent 1,369 participants, draped in capes, fangs, and the full regalia of the undead, assembled at Whitby Abbey to claim the title of the Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Vampires, officially certified by the World Records Authority. Following a strict verification and costumes approval process overseen by WRA’s official adjudicators, this new international standard was set with the precision and rigour befitting a record of this scale.

English Heritage, the organisation entrusted with the stewardship of over 400 of England’s most historically significant sites, conceived this record attempt as a fitting tribute to literary history. Whitby Abbey’s connection to Bram Stoker runs deep — it was here that the Irish author spent time and drew inspiration for the dramatic gothic setting that would frame one of literature’s most enduring characters.

The World Records Authority is honoured to present the official Certificate of Record to English Heritage for this unparalleled achievement in gothic history. This record stands not only as a celebration of creative expression and costume artistry, but as a tribute to the lasting cultural legacy of one of the greatest works of Victorian fiction ever written.

One hundred and twenty-five years after Dracula first stalked the pages of literature, the spirit of Whitby Abbey proved very much alive — and undead.