Things to Do, Attractions, Museums
Captain Cook Museum, Whitby

17th Century House on Grape Lane









About Us
Adventure, endurance, extraordinary seamanship and survival against the odds mark the Cook story.
It began at the handsome 17th century harbourside house now the Captain Cook Memorial Museum.
This is where the great explorer, James Cook, came to serve his apprenticeship in Whitby in the year 1746. It belonged to Cook's master, the Quaker ship owner, Captain John Walker. When the young Cook was not at sea, he lodged here in the attic with Walker's 'other family' of apprentices.
Cook’s voyages were the 18th century equivalent of today’s missions to Mars. For ten years Cook and his crews explored the unknown, uncharted waters of the Pacific, the South Atlantic, and the Arctic Oceans. Danger was ever present.
The thought-provoking collection of original paintings and drawings, letters in Cook’s own hand, ship models, maps and fascinating objects gathered on the voyages illustrate the Cook story.
New special exhibition every year. For 2023 'Ice! Exploring the Far South'. We should think of Captain Cook as a polar explorer! 250 years ago, with two ships, Resolution and Adventure, Cook crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time ever. The exhibition gives a sense of the extraordinary conditions confronting the small Whitby-built ships, and the work carried out – on ice, the temperature, the formation of icebergs, the varied Antarctic phenomena as well as birds and mammals seen
We are maintaining anti-Covid measures, screens and extra cleaning. Face coverings are now a personal choice. We are encouraging visitors and staff to continue to use hand sanitiser and to keep to prudent social distance.
Specially for children, Museum Activity Trail, activity cards.
Display your drawings in the Museum.
Free entry for children.
Free house guide (in 6 languages).
Gift shop.
To view our website, please click HERE.
For public transport info click here.
Opening Times
Saturday 11 February - Friday 31 March, 1030 - 1500
Saturday 1 April - Monday 6 November, 0945 - 1700
Open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays in November, 1030 - 1500 (From Tuesday 7 November)
Last admission half an hour before closing
Adult £8.50. Child up to 16 free
Arrangements correct at time of writing. Covid is still around. Government Guidelines may change
Please check our website for current opening times HERE
Facilities
- Disabled toilets
- Facilities for hearing impaired
- Facilities for visually impaired
- Wheelchairs available
- Credit cards accepted (no fee)
- Children welcome (free Explorer’s Guide)
- Contactless payment possible
- Face masks encouraged for visitors and staff
- Online booking available (not essential)
- Courtyard garden and outside seating
- Education/study area
- Facilities for educational visits
- Groups welcome
- French signs/guides
- German signs/guides
- Spanish signs/guides
- Dogs not accepted (except guidedogs)
- Gift shop
- Passenger lift to first floor
- Smoking not allowed
- Regional Tourist Board Member
- Groups welcome
- Coach parties accepted
- COVID-19 measures in place
- Clear signage
- Deep cleaning between visitors
- Hand sanitizer available to visitors & staff
- Hygiene screens in place
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
- Staff required to regularly wash hands
Location
Nearby Businesses

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