Planning Your Visit
Staithes is a delightful coastal village, 10 miles north of Whitby with cobbled streets and quirky cottages, many up narrow alleyways and steep steps.
Public Transport
Staithes is served by the X4 bus between Whitby and Middlesbrough. Take advantage of £2 cap on fares. See Arriva buses for details. The nearest railway stations are Whitby or Saltburn, then get a taxi which costs roughly £22.
Gallery Opening Times
Preview Evening: Friday 7-8.30pm (not all galleries)
Saturday & Sunday 10-5.30pm
Festival visitor parking
No visitor parking at the bottom of the old village. Official festival event parking in the field at the end of Cowbar Lane. Take the exit marked Cowbar off the A174 opposite Boulby Mine and follow the signs through the layby. Park as directed by stewards. There is no parking on grass verges. Cost £5 per day. Card payments preferred.
Free shuttle bus from the car park
Get here via a 15-minute walk along Cowbar Lane and down Cowbar Bank into the village, OR the festival is providing free continuous shuttle minibuses to Staithes Lane at the top of the village. Drop off at the village hall gallery, and Bank Top council car park. 10am-6pm.
Free taxi down to the village
We’re providing a free taxi from Welcome 2 Staithes in Bank Top car park to Chapel Yard at the bottom of the village 10.30am-4.30pm. Priority for those with disabilities.
Information
The festival HQ is in the High Street opposite Staithes Gallery. Go there for programmes, directions, questions about the festival, to report any suspicious activity, health and safety, emergencies. Vulnerable persons / lost children will be accommodated here until they are collected by their guardian / parent.
Vulnerable adults / lost children:
Guardians / parents are offered free wristbands for contact details if they become separated. Go to Festival HQ in the High Street.
Stewards
Festival stewards will be in official festival t-shirts with Crew on the back, and happy to answer questions / provide help or safety advice. Parking stewards will be in high viz where there’s traffic. Our stewards have been trained to be extra vigilant looking out for any suspicious activity or unattended bags / rucksacks. Please keep yours with you at all times.
First aid
First aiders will be patrolling the village 10am-8pm, or find them at festival HQ in the High Street opposite Staithes Gallery. Whitby Urgent Treatment Centre, Springhill, Whitby 8am-8pm. Redcar Urgent Treatment Centre, Redcar Hospital, West Dyke Road 8am-9.30pm : A&E James Cook Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesborough.
Access
There is limited access to Staithes village. The High Street has uneven cobbles, and many of the cottages are in narrow ginnels and alleyways with steep steps.
Toilets
Top of the village at Welcome 2 Staithes in the council car park / in the old village on the seafront / portaloos (incl accessible) on Cowbar staith / portaloos in the event car park on Cowbar.
Litter
We care about our coast. Please look after the environment and use the litter bins and bags provided. Recycle where you can.
Nearest cashpoint
Co-op, Whitby Road, Staithes, or the Co-op in the marketplace at Loftus. Might be a good idea to bring cash with you, as these have been known to run out.
Safety on the beaches
BEWARE of the dangers of rocks falling from the cliffs. Take extra care with the tides, and whilst on the piers.
Photography
Professional photography will be taking place throughout the festival for marketing purposes.
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.