Quick answer
Whitby Museum is an indoor museum in Pannett Park, Whitby, full of fossils, model ships, toys and jet, so it suits a rainy day. Under 18s in full-time education go free, and adults pay £9 for a ticket valid for 12 months. It opens Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm, last admission 4pm, and is closed on Mondays. The museum says it closes in December, but on 13 November 2026 it had not published the closing date or a reopening date. The museum does not suggest a visit length. Some objects, such as a mummified human hand, may upset young children.
Is it right for my child?
- All ages: the families page says there is something for all ages. No minimum age is given.
- What children may love: the museum describes gigantic fossils on the walls, dinosaur footprints, model ships, old toys, whaling history and Whitby jet. Captain Cook features too.
- Things to do: Clarence the crocodile, the mascot, points out items of interest. The visual story mentions quizzes and drawing.
- Spooky objects: the collection includes the Hand of Glory, a mummified severed human hand. The visual story says some things may look a bit scary.
- Light and noise: the visual story says much of the museum is dimly lit. It is usually quiet, though larger groups can make it noisy.
Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist
- Check the date in December. The museum says it closes in December but had not published the date on 13 November 2026.
- Remember it is closed on Mondays. Opening is Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm, with last admission at 4pm.
- Keep your ticket slip. Admission is valid for 12 months, and the annual admission slip must be shown on later visits.
- With a pushchair or wheelchair, use the rear entrance. The front entrance has 14 steps; the rear is level, with an entry phone.
- Leave the dog at home. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the museum, art gallery and Pannett Park.
Prices and tickets
Adults pay £9.00, and children under 18 in full-time education go free. All admission fees are valid for 12 months.
- Students: £5 with an NUS card or ID. Groups of ten or more pay £5 each.
- Carers: free. The access page says a registered carer is admitted free when a visitor needs them to visit.
- Other discounts: Art Fund members and Whitby residents go free with proof, and Blue Light Card holders pay £5. The visit page lists other schemes.
The official pages do not mention booking for a normal visit.
Pushchairs, babies and toilets
- Pushchairs are welcome through the level entrance at the rear. Press the intercom and a museum assistant opens the door.
- Levels: the main hall and Pannett Art Gallery are on one level. The New Wing has three floors, with stairs and a lift 78cm wide.
- Floors: the main hall has a wooden floor with metal heating grilles, which may make it uneven in places.
- Baby changing: the families page says one toilet has baby changing. The visual story places it on the lower ground floor.
- Toilets: the access page lists three accessible toilets, on the lower ground, ground and upper floors.
- Feeding: nursing mothers are welcome. Ask at reception if you would like a quieter area.
Food and drink
Flock Kitchen and Coffee is the museum’s tea room, on the lower ground floor of the New Wing, reached by stairs or lift.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10.30am to 3pm. Last food orders are at 2.30pm, then coffee and cake only until 3pm.
- Sundays: the café is closed on Sundays from the beginning of September, except Sunday 22 November.
- For children: the families page mentions special children’s packs. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options are listed; tell staff about allergies.
- Picnics: food and drink are not allowed elsewhere in the museum. The families page says there are picnic tables in the park’s community area, or you can eat anywhere in the park.
Getting there and parking
The address is Whitby Museum, Pannett Park, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1RE.
- Train: Whitby station is about 10 minutes’ walk away. The museum warns there are only a limited number of trains each day.
- Bus: the access guide names stops at Harrison’s Garage and St Hilda’s Terrace, each about a 2-minute walk.
- No public parking at the museum. On-street parking on St Hilda’s Terrace and Chubb Hill needs a parking disc.
- Car parks: the access page says Whitby Leisure Centre car park is a 5-minute walk, and charges apply.
- West Cliff car park: the visit page says under 5 minutes’ walk; the access guide says 8 minutes. The council says charges apply 9am to 6pm, 1 March to 31 October only.
- Blue Badge at the museum: four extra wide spaces at the rear, via the St Hilda’s Terrace entrance to the park. There is a 5mph speed limit in the park.
- Sat nav postcode: the visit page gives YO21 3AE for this entrance, but the access page and guide give YO21 3AG.
When to visit
- Normal hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm, last admission 4pm, closed Mondays.
- December closure: the Fantastic Archives exhibition page says it runs through to the museum closing in December. Its listing ends on Sunday 6 December 2026. No closing or reopening date was published on 13 November 2026, so check before you travel.
- Christmas: the official pages do not mention Christmas or New Year opening.
- Exhibitions: on 13 November 2026, the what’s on page gave 29 November 2026 as the end date for Curiouser and Curiouser and Alice in Whitby.
- Costume Gallery: on 13 November 2026, the museum said it would be closed on Friday 20 November 2026 for an event.
- Quieter times: the visual story suggests ringing or emailing ahead to ask whether large groups are expected.
Additional needs and disability support
The museum publishes an access page, an Accessibility Guide and a visual story.
- Visual story: Clarence shows the way in, the toilets, the lighting and the tea room. Read it with your child before you go.
- Sensory notes: films with music sometimes play in exhibition galleries; the rest of the displays are very quiet.
- Step-free route: level rear entrance, automatic doors inside and a lift to all New Wing floors.
- Space: gangways are at least 75cm wide. The museum may be unsuitable for some larger mobility scooters.
- Wheelchair: one manual wheelchair is free to use. Booking is not essential but may be advisable; call 01947 602908.
- Hearing loop: in the Normanby Room, which the guide says also serves as a small exhibition and quiet area.
- Digital guide: the free Bloomberg Connects guide offers screen reader support, transcripts and subtitles.
- No Changing Places toilet on site. The guide says the nearest is at Whitby Leisure Centre, a five-minute walk.
- Assistance dogs are welcome.
Frequently asked questions
Is Whitby Museum free for children?
Yes. Children under 18 in full-time education go free. Adults pay £9, and the ticket is valid for 12 months.
Is Whitby Museum open in December?
The museum says it closes in December, but on 13 November 2026 it had not published the date. One exhibition listing ends on 6 December, so check before you travel.
Can you take a pushchair to Whitby Museum?
Yes. Use the level rear entrance, where staff open the door. A lift serves the New Wing.
Is there a café at Whitby Museum?
Yes, Flock Kitchen and Coffee, Tuesday to Sunday 10.30am to 3pm. It is closed on Sundays from September, except Sunday 22 November.
Is Whitby Museum good for autistic children?
There is a visual story and a quiet area in the Normanby Room. Much of the museum is dimly lit, and some objects may look scary.
Is there a playground near Whitby Museum?
Yes. The museum sits in Pannett Park, and its pages describe a large play area alongside. Dogs, except assistance dogs, are not allowed in the park.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official Whitby Museum pages for visiting, access, families, Flock Kitchen and Coffee and what’s on, the museum’s Accessibility Guide and visual story, and North Yorkshire Council’s West Cliff car park record. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.
