At Whitby Museum we have a dedicated special exhibition room with a programme of exhibitions designed to complement and enhance our main gallery. Special exhibitions usually run for a full year.
Our Costume Gallery also has annually changing exhibitions highlighting differing areas of our costume and textile collection.
Throughout the year we stage events and talks linked to our collection. Regularly visit this page or our social media channels for the latest updates.
Exhibition
Curiouser & Curiouser
Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 29 November 2026 Tuesday to Sunday 10am-4:30pm, last admission 4pm.
‘Curiouser and Curiouser: The Creepy, Captivating, Magical and Mysterious at Whitby Museum’ Whitby Museum curators have chosen a selection of...
Exhibition
Alice in Whitby
Tue, 3 February 2026 - Sun, 29 November 2026 10am- 4:30pm Tuesday to Sunday. Last admission 4pm
A re-imagining of characters in Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ through the Whitby Museum costume collection. Letting their imagination run...
Mini-Exhibition
Cherished Teapots
Sun, 22 February 2026 - Sun, 29 November 2026 10am- 4:30pm Tuesday to Sunday. Last admission 4pm
A feature of many British homes, and witness to many great life events, the humble teapot can often be overlooked....
Mini-Exhibition
Gunner Robert Watmore
Sat, 28 February 2026 - Sun, 29 November 2026
The only serving military personnel to be killed in Whitby during the Second World War, Gunner Watmore’s name was forgotten...
Exhibition
Exhibition: Fantastic Archives and where to find them…
Fri, 10 April 2026 - Sun, 6 December 2026 Exhibition Opening Date - TBC
In 2023, Whitby Museum were awarded Heritage Lottery funding for a project to raise the profile of the library and...
Event
Behind the Scenes Tour
Sat, 27 June 2026 10-4, guided tour 10:30am
Our Library and Archive will be open on Saturday 27th June 10-4 so pop in and find out about our...
Children's activity, Event
Nature Detectives Festival in Pannett Park
Tue, 21 July 2026 11am- 3pm
River Esk Connect (ReConnect) will be back in Pannett Park with kids activities to get you closer to nature. More...
Event, Theatrical promenade performance
Dr Merryweather and his Tempest Prognosticator
Sat, 25 July 2026 1pm
Catch Dr Merryweather* talking about his Tempest Prognosticator at Whitby Museum. Find out how he came up with the idea...
Event, Talk
In Search of Sea Dragons – Book signing and author talk
Sat, 1 August 2026 1pm
Join Matthew on an enthralling journey into the distant past as he recounts tales from the beaches of South Wales,...
Children's activity, Event, Meet the Curator
Whitby Fossil Day
Sat, 1 August 2026 11am-3pm
A day celebrating our amazing Whitby Fossils, suitable for all ages. Get hands on with fossils! Get hands on with...
Event, geology, Talk
The Mystery of the Whitby Garlic Stones with Dr Liam Herringshaw
Sat, 1 August 2026 3pm
Body fossils attract most of the palaeontological attention, but trace fossils – burrows, borings, tracks – are far more interesting....
Children's activity, Event
Bidi’s Interactive Family Stories
Tue, 4 August 2026 Sessions start at 10:30am and Midday
Pull up a cushion and join Bidi for these family friendly story sessions. Bidi will show interesting and curious objects...
Children's activity, Event
VJ Day Tea Party
Sat, 15 August 2026 11am -1pm
Help us celebrate VJ Day (Victory over Japan) and the end of World War II in 1945 by creating a...
Children's activity, Event
Bidi’s Interactive Family Stories
Tue, 18 August 2026
Pull up a cushion and join Bidi for these family friendly story sessions. Bidi will show interesting and curious objects...
Children's activity, Event
Curious Kids Chess Tournament
Thu, 20 August 2026 11am start estimated finish time around 2pm
A chess tournament for curious kids aged 18 and under. Children must know how to play chess to take part....
Event, Talk
Voyaging into the Ice
Wed, 16 September 2026 13:45 for 2pm start
“I have come not to do as much as other men, but more!”. A look into the stories of five...
Event, Talk
Whitby’s Lost East Side (Part 1)
Tue, 20 October 2026
A second chance to catch Photography Curator Neil Williamson’s talk on Whitby’s Lost East Side (Part 1). A photographic tour...
Event, Talk
Talk: Whitby’s Lost East Side (Part 2)
Wed, 21 October 2026 Arrive from 1:45pm for 2pm start
Part two of Photography Curator Neil Williamson’s talks on Whitby’s Lost East Side. A photographic tour around the East Side...
Event, Theatrical promenade performance
SPOOKED!
Sat, 31 October 2026 Doors 6:30pm for 7pm prompt start
‘Spooked and the story of the Whitby Mermaid’ is an immersive night of eerie magic and mystery performed by the...
Event, Talk
Hyenas in yorkshire? The Mystery of Kirkdale Cave
Wed, 18 November 2026 13:45 for 2pm start
The mystery of the faunal remains in Kirkdale Cave challenged the greatest minds of the newly emerging fields of gelology,...
