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 from Whitby and the X93 from Middlesbrough. Take advantage of £2 cap on fares. See Arriva buses for details. The nearest railway station is Saltburn, then get a taxi which costs roughly £22.
Gallery Opening Times
Preview Evening: Friday 7pm-8.30pm
Saturday & Sunday 10-5.30pm
Visitor parking at Cowbar
NO visitor parking at the bottom of the old village. DO use the two visitors’ car parks in fields at Cowbar, on the north side of the village. To get there, take the exit marked Cowbar off the A174 opposite Boulby Mine and follow the signs. Park as directed by official stewards. Parking charge is £5 per day. Card payments preferred. Once parked, it’s a ten-minute walk along the road and down the steep hill into the village. No parking is allowed on the grass verges.
Parking at the top of Staithes village
There are council and private car parks. Do not park in residents’ bays and on verges.
Information
The festival HQ is in the High Street opposite Staithes Gallery. Go there for programmes, directions, questions about the festival, health and safety, emergencies. Lost children will be accommodated here until they are collected by the parent / guardian.
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.
Free taxi shuttle
To enable those who need it go up and down Staithes Bank between the bottom and top of the village. Runs 10.30am-4.30pm. Pick up and drop off are at 1. the Village Hall in Cliff Road, and 2. Chapel Yard in the High Street.
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 the Gateway Centre in the council car park. In the old village on the seafront. Portaloos (incl accessible) on Cowbar staith.
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.
First aid
First aiders will be patrolling the village, or 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.
Lost children point
Please come to the main festival HQ/gazebo in the high street opposite Staithes Gallery.
Safety on the beaches
BEWARE of the dangers of rocks falling from the cliffs. Take care with the tides, and whilst on the piers.
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.