Whitehaven is a gem of a town, located on the west coast of Cumbria, formerly Cumberland, in the borough of Copeland. The town has a rich heritage, and celebrates the fact with a number of exciting tourist attractions.

The harbour in Whitehaven dates from 1633 when the first pier was built. During the golden years, Whitehaven became the second largest port, in terms of shipping, in the kingdom. Over this time, more than 1,000 vessels were built in local shipyards, and important trading links were established with the New World.

It was the Lowther family that began the transformation of Whitehaven by opening large coal mines and building a stone quay (Old Quay) in 1634 - one of the oldest remaining coal wharves in England - to ship the coal.

Sir John Lowther, planned (he was inspired by Sir Christopher Wren's designs for the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666) the layout of the streets, and Whitehaven became the first post-Renaissance planned town in Britain. Streets were laid in a grid pattern with St Nicholas Church sitting in the middle. The Lowther family created straight streets, stone houses with blue slate roofs, and grand public buildings. Although some of the town centre was rebuilt in the 1900's, many 17th and 18th century buildings remain. There are 250 listed buildings in Whitehaven-the best historic homes are found in the Scotch Street/Roper Street area. Whitehaven is the most complete example of planned Georgian architecture in Europe.

• Daniel Defoe said of Whitehaven:
  "It has grown up from a small place to be very considerable by the coal trade, that it is now the most eminent port in England for shipping off of coals, except Newcastle and Sunderland and even beyond the last. They have of late fallen into some merchandising also, occasioned by the great number of their shipping, and there are now some considerable merchants; but the town is yet but young in trade".

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