Planning Your Visit
Staithes is a beautiful coastal village around 10 miles north of Whitby, with cobbled streets, narrow ginnels, quirky cottages and steep steps. Please allow extra time for your visit, especially during busy periods.
Essential Visitor Information
Art Trail opening times
Preview Evening: Friday 11 September, 6pm–9.30pm
Please note not all galleries will be open during the Preview Evening.
Saturday & Sunday Art Trail: 10am–5.30pm
Live music and events may continue into the evening.
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.
Clearly signed walking routes from car parks and bus stops into the village will be in place during the festival.
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.
Free Shuttle Bus
A free continuous shuttle bus service will run on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm, transporting visitors to the top of the village.
Drop-off points include:
- Village Hall
- Bank Top Car Park on Staithes Lane
Visitors are also welcome to enjoy the walk down Cowbar Bank into the village and return to their vehicles the same way.
Free Festival Taxi
As the hill down to the lower village is steep and the cobbled streets are uneven in places, a free festival taxi service will be available on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
This service is intended for visitors with limited mobility, or anyone who may struggle with the walk up or down Staithes Bank.
To protect residents and maintain emergency access, visitors are kindly asked not to drive down Staithes Bank.
On-street parking on Staithes Lane, nearby estates and Cowbar verges will be discouraged and clearly signed, with cones in place where required.
Accessibility
Access within Staithes village is limited in places. The High Street has uneven cobbles, and many cottages and galleries are reached by 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 will be on 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
Please respect the village
Staithes is home to residents as well as festival venues. Please help us keep access clear, follow festival signage, use the official parking, and take care on the steep banks, cobbles and steps.
Visitors are asked to take care when moving around the village and to follow festival signage, steward guidance and any safety instructions in place during the weekend.
Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage, injury or accidents caused by visitors not taking reasonable care, ignoring safety advice, or entering restricted or clearly unsafe areas.