Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage

The Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage, takes place in September and is a great free event for any visitor to the Yorkshire Coast.

Staithes Festival of Arts


Last Saturday (12th September 2026), Liv, my daughter, and I headed to Staithes to check out the Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage. 


I didn’t really know what to expect, but I knew Staithes was a lovely village to explore, and it is only about a 35-minute drive from Robin Hood’s Bay  So it makes a great day trip if you are staying at Dock Cottage or Sherwood House.

Getting to Staithes


Staithes is quite similar to Robin Hood’s Bay when it comes to parking. The main Bank Top car park is at the top of the village, with the village itself winding steeply downhill towards the harbour and sea.


I thought I would simply park at the top and walk down into the village, but I wasn’t prepared for just how many visitors the festival attracts. During the festival, Bank Top parking is reserved for visitors requiring accessible parking.


General visitor parking is at Red House Farm, Cowbar Lane, Staithes, TS13 5BA. 

It was really easy to find, as it was well signposted, and parking was in a field. It cost £5 per car, payable by card or cash, and this included the shuttle bus into Staithes.


Alternatively, you can walk along the coastal path from the car park, which takes around 15 minutes. There is also a toilet at the car park.


The shuttle bus ran from 10am until 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday and was really well organised. We only had about a 10-minute wait for ours.


For anyone with health or mobility issues, there were also free taxis from the shuttle drop-off point by the village hall down into the lower village.


Alternatively, you can also get there by public transport. The X93/X94 runs from Thorpe Lane in Robin Hood’s Bay to Whitby, where you can then take the X4 to Staithes.

Exploring the festival


Once we arrived in Staithes, there was so much activity and so much to see and do.


I would definitely recommend picking up a programme when you arrive so you don't miss anything. Then follow the numbered signs through the village and into the cottages, where you discover the pop-up art galleries as you make your way towards the sea.


Everywhere you turn there seems to be another gallery to explore, and everything was very well signposted.


The pop-up art galleries in the local cottages have an amazing variety of work on display, including paintings, prints, ceramics, textiles, sculpture and photography.

There were more than 100 artists exhibiting across 67 venues, and the festival isn't just about art. There were also heritage talks, music and workshops taking place throughout the weekend.


Liv and I went to a really interesting talk in the village hall about Dark Matter, given by Boulby Underground Lab scientist Chris Toth.  There is a charge for these talks (£4).


Other talks included A Forgotten Navy, Captain James Cook, Gertrude Bell and Staithes Stories. Advance booking was recommended as places were limited, although we managed to walk in and pay on the day.

Staithes Museum


While you are wandering down through the village, make sure you pop into the Staithes Museum.


Entry is free and dogs are welcome.


The museum is a real little treasure trove of local history and heritage, with craft and gift shops inside too. 


You can also watch a walking tour of the village with local historian Bill Hinchley.


I always think one of the nicest things about visiting places like Staithes is finding out a little more about their history. Like Robin Hood's Bay, Staithes has a fascinating past, and you can really see it in the old buildings and narrow streets as you wander through the village.

Food & Drink


There are lots of places to stop for a drink or lunch. Liv and I went to the Old Watch House pop-up café, where we had steak cobs with a beautiful view out to sea.


There are also lots of local businesses in the lower village, including The Royal George and The Cod and Lobster, which were serving food and drinks.


You'll also find a lovely mix of cafés, tearooms and local food businesses, including Cobbles by the Bridge, Dotty's Vintage Tearoom and Reyt Good Fudge on the High Street, as well as Sea Drift Café down by the harbour.

Although the Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage has now finished for 2026, it is definitely worth keeping an eye out next years dates.  


This year was the 12th festival, and with so many artists, galleries, talks and events packed into the village, it really is a lovely way to spend a day.

Visiting Staithes


If you are staying at Dock Cottage or Sherwood House in Robin Hood's Bay, Staithes is an easy day trip. You can spend the morning exploring the village and galleries, stop for lunch by the sea, and then make your way back to Robin Hood's Bay in the afternoon.


And if you aren't visiting during the festival, Staithes is still well worth a visit at any time of year. The winding streets, old fishermen's cottages, harbour and dramatic coastline make it one of those places where you can happily spend a few hours simply wandering around.

If you like discovering local artists and makers, another event to look out for is North Yorkshire Open Studios, when artists and makers open their studios to visitors.


The 2026 winter event takes place on 7th–8th November 2026, 11am–4pm, with the summer event running on 5th–6th and 12th–13th June 2027, 10am–5pm.   You can find more information on the North Yorkshire Open Studios website.


And, of course, keep an eye on the Staithes Festival website for details of the next Festival of Arts and Heritage.


For us, it was one of those lovely days out where we weren't really sure what to expect, but came away thinking how much we'd enjoyed it.


So, if you're staying in Robin Hood's Bay and fancy exploring a little more of the Yorkshire coast, I'd definitely put Staithes on your list!