Accessibility
At Staithes Museum, we believe that everyone in our community has the fundamental right to engage with, utilise, and enjoy our collections and services.
We acknowledge that there are many barriers to accessing our museum and its resources, but we are dedicated to making all aspects of our museum as accessible as possible within our available resources. This includes ensuring accessibility to our buildings, collections, events, exhibitions, educational programs, and online resources.
We believe that accessibility is not only for our visitors, but also for our staff. We pride ourselves on our efforts to improve the accessibility of the museum, and to create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to our mission.
Staithes Museum is also committed to enhancing public access to our collections and the information associated with them. By doing so, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the items we hold and the cultural heritage of Staithes.
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What to expect at Staithes Museum
Our accessibilty guide is available to download here. This is a clear, step-by-step guide that tells you everything you need to know before you arrive — including how to get here, parking options, entrance steps, and what’s inside the museum. It describes how long a visit typically takes, when we’re busiest, and what the layout is like. It’s useful for anyone who likes to plan ahead, especially if you have access needs or haven’t visited Staithes Museum before.
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My Visual Story
A visual story is a photo-supported guide that shows what the museum looks like, and gently explains what you might hear, see or feel. It’s designed to support autistic visitors, people with sensory processing needs, and families who’d like to prepare children before a visit.
It includes things like:
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The sound of the automatic door and video playing upstairs
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Gentle background noises like a ticking clock
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Clear explanations of mannequins and exhibits that some people may find surprising
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Reassurance that you can take breaks, wear headphones, and be yourself while visiting
You can access it here.
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Accessibility Policy
Our accessibility policy is still in progress, but it can be viewed here. We welcome any public suggestions or comments.
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Large Print Binders
If our exhibition labels are difficult to read due to the font size, we have printed out large print versions of the labels, and added them to binders, which can be borrowed at any time from the front desk.
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Audio Description of our exhibits
We are currently working on an accessible audio guide, with descriptions of the museum exhibits, and of our images and objects. This will be available soon!
Get in Touch
If you have any questions or requests, please get in touch.
What to expect at the Staithes Museum
When visitors arrive in Staithes, they’ll find the journey into the village part of the adventure. Whether walking down the steep bank from the X4 bus stop or parking at Bank Top car park and making the 10-minute descent on foot, the approach offers a glimpse of the historic fishing village nestled below. For those driving, there’s space to briefly stop at the bottom of the hill to drop someone off near the museum.
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Once inside, visitors enter through a sloped entrance with a few steps, where they’re welcomed into a charming space full of stories. The museum opens with a cobbled corridor and an introduction to Staithes’ fishing past, complete with barked rope, oars, boots, and even a whalebone. A replica 18th-century street peeks out to the left — a tribute to the one where a young Captain Cook once lived and worked as an apprentice.
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The ground floor corridor continues with exhibits of fishing gear labelled in Staithes dialect and original hymn sheets from the building’s days as a chapel. Turning right, visitors encounter the museum and craft shops — run by friendly volunteers who often share stories or chat about Staithes’ history. At the corridor’s end, a Victorian mourning dress, a school desk from the old village school, and Captain Cook’s original shop shutter round off the downstairs collection.
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Climbing the stairs to the upper floor, visitors can pick up one of three themed quizzes, suitable for all ages and reading levels. Upstairs, the gallery unfolds in a recommended clockwise loop. Starting with displays of coins, carvings, scrimshaw, and fossil collections, the exhibits also include Cook-related artefacts (like a taxidermied turtle), ship models, local portraits, and paintings by the Staithes Group. Visitors can also explore exhibits on Dame Laura Knight, Methodism in Staithes, and the village lifeboat tradition. Towards the end of the gallery are displays about the railway and mining industries, along with a quiet video on lobster-pot making.
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To leave, visitors follow the signs to exit on the far side of the gallery, pass a donation point, and descend the curved staircase into the main gift shop. From there, they return to the entrance area and exit through the automatic doors — stepping back into the streets of Staithes with the museum’s stories in their minds.
If you're planning a visit and want practical details — from parking and steps to noise levels and quiet times — you can click [here] to view or download our simple Accessibility Guide. It's designed to help all visitors know what to expect and feel welcome.