Planning Your Visit

Staithes is a beautiful coastal village, around 10 miles north of Whitby, with cobbled streets, narrow ginnels and quirky cottages, many reached by steep steps. Please allow a little extra time for your visit, especially during busy periods.

Gallery Opening Times

Preview Evening: Friday 6:00pm–9:00pm (not all galleries will be open)
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00am–5:30pm

Getting Here

Staithes is served by the X4/X4A bus service from Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough. We strongly encourage visitors to use public transport wherever possible. Single bus fares are currently capped at £3 on participating services in England, although we recommend checking with the operator before travelling.

The nearest railway stations are Whitby and Saltburn, with taxis available onwards to Staithes.

Clear signed walking routes from car parks and bus stops into the village will be in place.

Festival Visitor Parking

There is no visitor parking in the lower part of Staithes village.

Official festival parking is in the field at the end of Cowbar Lane, TS13 5BA, approximately one mile north of Staithes on the A174. Please take the exit marked Cowbar off the A174 opposite Boulby Mine and follow the festival signs through the lay-by.

Parking costs £5 per day, with card payments preferred. Please park as directed by stewards. There is no parking on grass verges.

Accessible Parking

A designated accessible parking area will be available in the festival field at Cowbar.

From there, a free shuttle bus will run to the top of Staithes Bank, with a free festival taxi available to the bottom of the village for visitors who need extra assistance.

Please note there are no designated accessible parking spaces within Staithes village itself.

Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the walk down Cowbar Bank into the village and return to their vehicles the same way.

Free Shuttle Bus

A free continuous shuttle bus service will run on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 6:00pm, transporting visitors to the top of the village.

Drop-off points include:

• Village Hall
• Bank Top Car Park on Staithes Lane

Free Festival Taxi

As the hill down to the lower village is steep and the cobbled streets uneven in places, a free festival taxi service will be available on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 6:00pm to assist those who need support travelling up and down the bank.

This service is intended for visitors with limited mobility, or anyone who may struggle with the walk.

To protect residents and maintain emergency access, on-street parking on Staithes Lane, nearby estates and Cowbar verges will be discouraged and clearly signed, with cones in place. Visitors are kindly asked not to drive down Staithes Bank.

Accessibility

Access within Staithes village is limited in places. The High Street has uneven cobbles, and many cottages and galleries are reached via narrow ginnels, alleyways and steep steps.

Visitors with mobility needs should be aware that some areas of the village may be challenging.

Festival Information Point

Festival HQ is in the High Street opposite Staithes Gallery.

Please go there for:

• programmes
• directions
• festival information
• health and safety concerns
• emergencies
• reporting suspicious activity
• lost children or vulnerable persons




Lost Children and Vulnerable Adults

Parents and guardians can collect a free wristband from Festival HQ to add contact details in case they become separated from children or vulnerable adults.

Anyone who becomes separated from their group should go to Festival HQ until they are collected.

Stewards

Festival stewards will be wearing official festival T-shirts with “Crew” on the back and will be happy to help with directions, questions and safety advice.

Parking stewards will be in high-visibility clothing where there is traffic.

First aid

First aiders will be patrolling the village 10am-8pm, or find them at festival HQ in the High Street opposite Staithes Gallery. 

Nearby urgent treatment centres:

• Whitby Urgent Treatment Centre, Springhill, Whitby – 8:00am–8:00pm
• Redcar Urgent Treatment Centre, Redcar Hospital, West Dyke Road – 8:00am–9:30pm
• A&E: James Cook Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough




Toilets

Toilets are available:

• at the top of the village / Bank Top Car Park
• in the old village on the seafront
• in portable toilets on Cowbar Staith, including an accessible toilet
• in the event car park on Cowbar

Cash

The nearest cashpoint is at the Co-op on Whitby Road, Staithes, or the Co-op in the marketplace at Loftus.

It may be helpful to bring some cash, as local cashpoints have been known to run out.

Litter

We care about our coast. Please help us keep the village tidy by using the litter bins and bags provided, and recycle where you can.

Beach Safety

Please take care around the beach and harbour:

• beware of falling rocks from the cliffs
• take extra care with the tides
• be cautious on the piers and slipways

Liability

The festival cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or injury sustained by anyone visiting the village, or any artist’s gallery, studio, workshop, exhibition, event, walk or talk. Everyone participates and visits Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage entirely at their own risk.