Name: Captain Cook Memorial Museum
Rating: 5.0

Captain Cook Memorial Museum

Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Grape Lane, Whitby YO22 4BA, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

Website

Contact

Message

Description

Captain Cook Memorial Museum is a history museum in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. The museum building, Walker's House, belonged to Captain John Walker, to whom James Cook was apprenticed in 1746. Having lodged there as an apprentice, Cook returned to visit in the winter of 1771–72 after his first voyage.

An award winning museum in the historic house where James Cook served his apprenticeship and became a sailor. The museum tells of Cook's ground breaking voyages of discovery with an extensive collection of art and artefacts.

Prices starts from £11.00 for Adults, Free for Children (Up to age 16 yers). If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

The House on the Harbour: The Museum is housed in a 17th century house on the harbourside. In 1746 James Cook, then aged seventeen, came here to be apprenticed to Captain John Walker. This is the sole surviving building which can with certainty be connected to Cook.
Collections: The Museum has original letters, both from Cook and others, telling parts of the story. They include a note written by King George III expressing his regret at the news of Cook's death.
Art of the Voyages: You will find much original voyage artwork - watercolours, pencil drawings and sketches. Equally you will see Thomas Gainsborough's evocative portrait of Lord Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty, supporter and admirer of Cook.
Recent Acquisitions: John Webber, A Man of Krakatoa Pencil on paper, 1780. Acquired in 2022, this sketch by official artist, John Webber, is most likely to be an ‘on the spot’ sketch of a figure that Webber might include in a more finished watercolour later. The figure’s posture, the swiftly drawn lines and the forward leaning stance are particularly characteristic of sketched figures in Webber’s work.
Florilegium Collection: Banks’ Florilegium is the collection of botanical prints showing some of the plants collected by Joseph Banks on Cook’s first voyage around the world (1768 – 1771). Accompanying Banks was the Swedish botanist Daniel Solander, a former student of Carl Linnaeus, who helped describe and name the plants. Altogether Banks collected over 30,000 specimens, many of which had not been seen or described.

Facilities

Parking: Use the Park & Ride on A171. This deposits you in the town centre near the railway station, 10 minutes walk from the Museum. Use the Council pay and display car parks. Parking on the West Cliff is limited currently to 3 hours. Disabled parking spaces in the nearest car park, Church Street, 100 yards from the Museum.
Food & Drinks: We do not provide refreshments, being in the middle of town where there is varied and ample provision.
Dogs: Guide Dogs and other registered assistance dogs may come in, provided they have the correct identification, are wearing the appropriate jacket, and are 'on duty'. Other dogs should remain outside in the courtyard on a leash.

Website

Contact

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adults: £11.00
Accompanied Children: Free (Up to age 16) Free entry for children is a huge benefit for families.
Groups: School groups pay an entry fee of £7.00 per child (adults free).

Pricing URL: https://www.cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk/visiting-us/opening-times

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Opening times 2026: Open daily
Sat 7 February to Fri 27 March: 10.30am - 3.00pm
Sat 28 March to Sunday 1 Nov: 10.00am - 5.00pm
November: Tuesday and Thursday: 11.00am - 3.00pm
Winter Closure: From December to Half Term February

Address: Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Grape Lane, Whitby YO22 4BA, UK

Post Code: YO22 4BA

Council: Whitby Streonshalh

County: North Yorkshire

Nearest Railway Stations: The North York Moors Railway runs steam trains from Pickering into Whitby.
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.
Nearest Airports: Durham and Tees Valley, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford.
Nearest Seaports: Hull (from the Netherlands), Newcastle/North Shields (from Scandinavia)
Parking: Use the Park & Ride on A171. This deposits you in the town centre near the railway station, 10 minutes walk from the Museum. Use the Council pay and display car parks. Parking on the West Cliff is limited currently to 3 hours. Disabled parking spaces in the nearest car park, Church Street, 100 yards from the Museum.