When is Whitby Museum open?

Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4.30pm, last admission 4pm. It is closed Mondays; check seasonal notices.

Is it the Captain Cook Memorial Museum?

No. Whitby Museum is in Pannett Park and includes Cook material in a wider collection. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum is on Grape Lane.

There are four Blue Badge spaces at the rear but no other public museum parking.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

There is level rear entry, a lift in the New Wing and accessible toilets. Contact the museum for detailed access arrangements.

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Whitby Museum in Pannett Park: a visitor guide

By Jon Cosson · Updated 1 November 2026 · Checked 1 November 2026

Whitby Museum in Pannett Park brings together fossils, jet and the town's maritime story. Cook material and the Hand of Glory sit within a wider local collection, separate from the Captain Cook Memorial Museum on Grape Lane.

Before you go: the practical facts

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Opening: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4.30pm, last admission 4pm. Closed Mondays; check seasonal notices.
Admission: Admission is charged. Follow the museum's current ticket information rather than a copied price.
Parking: Four extra-wide Blue Badge spaces at the rear; no other public museum parking.
Dogs: Only registered assistance dogs in the museum, gallery and Pannett Park, according to the museum's visiting page.

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Fossils, jet, Cook and the Hand of Glory

The museum's collection pages confirm marine fossils, jet and jewellery, maritime heritage and Cook material. The Hand of Glory was given to the museum in 1935. Its alleged powers belong to folklore, not an established explanation of the object.

Pannett Park and accessible entry

The museum shares its building with Pannett Art Gallery. Rear entry is level, using an entry phone. The main hall and gallery are on one level; the New Wing has three levels connected by stairs and a lift. There are three accessible toilets and a free manual wheelchair; arrange availability ahead.

Getting there

The museum suggests nearby town parking and the Leisure Centre for visitors without a Blue Badge. Use the Whitby parking guide and read local signs. The museum's two pages give different rear-entry postcodes, so confirm the correct entrance directly if you need accessible parking.

Whitby Museum in Pannett Park: a visitor guide: questions

When is Whitby Museum open?: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4.30pm, last admission 4pm. It is closed Mondays; check seasonal notices.
Is it the Captain Cook Memorial Museum?: No. Whitby Museum is in Pannett Park and includes Cook material in a wider collection. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum is on Grape Lane.
Where can I park?: There are four Blue Badge spaces at the rear but no other public museum parking.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?: There is level rear entry, a lift in the New Wing and accessible toilets. Contact the museum for detailed access arrangements.

Sources checked 1 November 2026: Museum visiting; Access; Collections; Hand of Glory; Maritime heritage.

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