Top hats, breastplates, and futuristic Victorian attire filled the seaside town of Whitby as enthusiasts gathered for the biannual Steampunk weekend. The event, held twice a year in July and February, celebrates a sub-genre of science fiction inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery, envisioning a future where steam and clockwork technology dominated.
The festival, which began in 2017, features over 80 trade stalls, a retail emporium, and various talks. Attendees arrive in elaborate costumes that blend Victorian aesthetics with science-fiction elements. The coastal town of Whitby is a popular destination for steampunk and gothic fans, partly due to its connection to Bram Stoker's Dracula, with the author having visited the area in 1890, which inspired locations in his novel such as Whitby Abbey.