RNLI Lifeboat Museum

Whitby is famous for?

Whitby (St Hilda's) Abbey, Dracula, Bram Stoker, Captain Cook, Whitby Goths, Whitby Regatta, Whitby Whaling, Fishing, St Mary's Church, Whitby Jet, Whitby Witches, Whitby Town, The Whitby Seagull, 199 Steps, Harbour, Whitby Piers, Shipping Trades, Alum Production, B&Bs, The East Cliff, Captain William Scoresby, Fisherman's Cottages, Whitby's Yards, Steps and cobbled streets, Fish and Chips, The Endeavour, Ghost Walks, Sea Food, Seaside, The West Cliff, Whitby Folk Festival, Caedmon, Frank Sutcliffe, Whitby Kippers, Lobster, Crabs and Scampi, Synod of A.D. 664, Australian 'First Fleet' supply vessels,

Do you know any other things Whitby is famous for? Let us know and we'll add it to the list, see here!

Discover Whitby's street names and their history here

Break the ice, Jury, Binge drinking, Incredible Hulk, Down the hatch, ...discover these and many more well known phrases from our maritime past here

Find out about the building styles and architecture found in the buildings of Whitby here.

Whitby in times gone by, ads from the past here

Old Whitby Ad

Whitby Lifeboat Museum (RNLI)

Pier Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3PU.

Tel: 01947 602001 or 01947 606094

Seasonal Opening March to November. Free Entry.

RNLI Museum, Whitby

Built in 1895, the double boathouse was used by the RNLI until 1957 when it was re-established as a museum. The museum has grown to contain an abundance of lifeboat material including models, paintings, medals, photographs, lifeboat kit and items from famous rescues. Personal tales of individual RNLI crew and survivors are told through individual accounts from the archives and touching mementos from the wrecked and the rescued.

The display features the historic Robert and Ellen Robson - a pulling and sailing, self righting lifeboat built in 1919. The museum also includes information on famous Coxswains Henry Freeman and Tom Langlands.

See history of the RNLI in whitby here

Admission is free but donations welcome.

Group and school visits welcome by appointment.

RNLI shop

For more information about visits to schools and teaching resources available visit shorething website

Location: At the end of Pier Road - Public car parking available in the town.

Opening times:

Easter-October
Daily 10am-5pm

November-December
Daily 11am-4pm (subject to weather)

January-March
Weekends only 11am-4pm (subject to weather)