Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Grap Lane, Whitby

Details

Accessibility

2025-

"The Museum

The Museum is housed in a Grade 1 listed building, built in 1688 on four floors with lots of small rooms. In consultation with English Heritage and Whitby Disability Action Group, we have made it as accessible as we can within these limitations.

As well as the historic room on the ground floor, wheelchair users access the first floor via a specially installed lift. A DVD of the upper floors and the attic is available to view at the Museum.

This is updated every year to show the year's special exhibition.

Disabled parking spaces in the nearest car park, Church Street, 100 yards from the Museum.

Main Entrance, Reception and Shop

• Short ramps connect the differing levels of the street entrance, the courtyard and the ground floor rooms of the Museum.

• Wheelchair users are able to negotiate them.

• There are handrails where appropriate.

• The reception area doubles as a shop. Staff are happy to assist if requested.

• Stair access to the first floor is supplemented by a lift from reception which takes one wheelchair and carer at a time.

• There are two WCs in the museum, one of which is accessible.

Brief description

"Founded in 1985, the Museum opened in 1987 in the historic building in the heart of Whitby where the young Cook served his apprenticeship. In 2001-02 the site expanded to take in the harbourside courtyard and cottage wing. In 2016 we acquired a room in the adjoining building to use as an Education Centre.

The collections continue to grow through purchases, donations and loans from other museums. We now have a very significant collection of original material relating to Cook and his associates. We have benefitted from collaboration over the past three decades with the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin, comprising loans of ethnographic material not previously seen in Britain.

Entirely independent, the Museum is self-financing through income from admission tickets, retail sales and occasional project grants. A dedicated team of unpaid volunteers, Trustees and Management team support a very small staff in caring for the house, the collections and welcoming our visitors."

https://www.cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk/the-museum/about-us 

Address

Grape Lane, Whitby YO22 4BA.

Email

2025- 

info@cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk

Phone

2025-

01947 601900

Website

https://www.cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk/

Directions

Whitby is on the coast of Yorkshire 250 miles (400 kms) from London and just under 50 miles from York. Lat: 54°29'13.0"N 0°36'43.3"W

Opening Times and Admission Prices

2025-

Opening times 2025 - Daily
Sat 8 Feb - Fri 28 March 10.30am - 3.00pm
Sat 29 March - Sun 2 Nov, 9.45am - 5.00pm
Last admission: 30 minutes before closing time

Admission Prices

Adult £11.00

Accompanied Children free – up to age 16

https://www.cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk/visiting-us 

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

Transport

Park & Ride

On A171 on west side the town, just past junction with A169. Operates from the start of the Easter school holiday to the end of October.

See https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/whitby-park-and-ride for times and fares.

Town centre car parks - see http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/whitby. The Museum is on the east side across the Swing Bridge over the River Esk, take immediate right turn onto Grape Lane. Museum is on the right at the end.

Nearest Railway stations

The North York Moors Railway runs steam trains from Pickering into Whitby. See http://www.nymr.co.uk/ for current trains and timetable.

York, Northallerton, Darlington. (East Coast and Grand Central main lines).

If you have time, try the Esk Valley Railway line which runs between Middlesbrough and Whitby Station. The journey takes a very pleasant 1½ hours through lovely countryside.

Amenities