Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage

Staithes Festival has established itself as one of the friendliest festivals on the coast – a must-see event in the regional arts calendar.

Festival 2024 is on Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 September, with preview night 7pm-8.30pm Friday 13 September

Doors of cottages are thrown open as pop-up art galleries in a unique selling exhibition. 

Celebrating the history and heritage of Staithes with a programme of walks, talks, photographs, and film shows.

North York Moors, Scarborough Borough Council and Welcome to Yorkshire
Staithes Harbour

Glenn Kilpatrick www.whitby-photography.com

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.