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About
Whitby Museum is Whitby’s treasure trove!
Here you can explore stunning collections of local fossils, natural history, model ships, carved jet, toys, costumes & social history. In fact there’s something for everyone!
The Museum was founded almost 200 years ago by the Whitby Literary & Philosophical Society, a registered charity, which still runs the Museum today and rely on the dedicated work of its’ volunteers to help upkeep this stunning collection.
Our collection of over 80,000 artefacts, donated over 2 centuries is of local, national & international interest. As well as our permanent collection we have special exhibitions:- Our exhibition room has a changing programme of stunning exhibitions; recent exhibitions have included “Whitby and the Cosmos: The Search for Dark Matter” and "Chronicle of Curiosities" modern art and ceramics inspired by our collection. The costume gallery has a new exhibition each year to highlight differing aspects of the collection; recent exhibitions have included “Piers, Promenades and Picnics”; “From Fancy Shoes to Fishermens Boots: Footwear Through the Ages” and “The Cost of Fashion: The Impact that the Fashion Industry has had on our Environment”.
Children will be fascinated by the massive wall mounted marine reptile fossils & everyone is sure to want to see the gruesome Hand of Glory!
As you wander around our exhibits discover how leeches helped predict the weather in Victorian times & marvel over the intricate hand carved jet models & jewellery.
Find out about Whitby’s maritime past from the adventurous Captain Cook to the famous Scoresby whaling family.
Did you know that mammoths & rhinoceros wandered these parts during the Ice Age?
Take a look at the Kirkdale Cave exhibit to find out more.
Literary and Philosophical Society
A very warm welcome to the Whitby Literary & Philosophical Society.
Guide Prices
Adults £6.00
Student (on production of an NUS card) £4.00
Children (under 16 years old) Free
School Parties £5.00 per accompanying adult
Children - free
Facilities
Accessibility
- Disabled access
- Disabled toilets
- Wheelchairs available
Booking & Payment Details
- Credit cards accepted (no fee)
Catering
- On-site catering - Currently closed due to Covid
- On-site light refreshments - Currently closed due to COVID
Children
- Baby changing facilities
- Children welcome
COVID-19 Response
- 2m distancing in place
- Capacity limit
- Clear signage
- Contactless payment only
- COVID-19 measures in place
- COVID-19 risk assessment completed
- COVID-19 staff training completed
- Face mask essential (not provided)
- Face masks available for visitors
- Face masks required for staff in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to visitors & staff
- Hygiene screens in place
- Open now
- Queuing system
- Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
- Staff required to regularly wash hands
Groups
- Facilities for educational visits
Meeting, Conference & Wedding Facilities
- Facilities for conferencing
Property Facilities
- Dogs not accepted (except guidedogs)
- Gift shop
- Onsite Catering
- Passenger lift
- Public toilets
- Smoking not allowed
Target Markets
- Accepts groups
- Coach parties accepted
Map & Directions
Road Directions
Road
The main roads into Whitby are A171 from Scarborough A171 from Guisborough and Teesside A64 from York, A169 from Malton through Pickering onto the A171 Parking On street parking is available on St Hilda’s Terrace (parking disc required) and there is a large car park at West Cliff (entrances at both West Cliff and Whitby Leisure Centre) for coaches and cars. The Museum is less than 5 minutes walk from this car park and Pannett Park may be entered on foot at the top of Chubb Hill near the roundabout with St. Hilda’s Terrace.
There is parking at the Museum for disabled visitors via the St Hilda’s Terrace entrance, if using sat nav to access this entrance please use the postcode YO21 3AE. Alternatively, between 7 April and 3 November a park and ride facility is available situated just outside Whitby at the junction of the A171 and B1460 (postcode YO21 1TL).
The nearest park and ride bus stop is situated on St Hilda’s Terrace, a 2 minute walk to the Museum. For more information see https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/whitby-park-and-ride
Public Transport Directions
Rail
Whitby is on the line from Middlesbrough. However there are only a limited number of trains every day and intending rail visitors are advised to contact Rail enquiries for details. The station is about 10 minutes walk from the Museum.
Coach Drop Off point Coaches may drop off visitors either at the top of Chubb Hill or opposite the main Pannett Park gates in St Hilda’s Terrace. The Town open-top tour bus and the Park and Ride bus drops passengers nearby.
