Set in Pannett Park, a pretty little park close to Whitby's harbour and train station this is a great museum. It has a lot packed into its attractive interior. The entrance leads initially to a free art gallery and then the art gallery's gift shop. After the gallery gift shop is the museum ticket entrance and gift shop and museum. Tickets are annual passes and very reasonably priced for a museum with such a wide variety of exhibits. Stairs/lift lead to toilets and a tea room and a temporary exhibition section which currently exhibits 20th century wedding dresses. Rather like a sailor of old would bring all manner of objects home with him, this museum houses and an extraordinary variety of artefacts from far-flung places. There are gorgeous pieces of Japanese arms/armour, whilst carved wooden pieces from India/Africa rub shoulders with coral exhibits, models of all sorts and various silver/pewter or pottery objects from the Far East/Middle East or Russia etc.

There are fossils, geological displays, beautiful or curious jet pieces. And ornate industrial era hair ornaments and personal items rub shoulders with scary looking medical instruments and a barometer based on the electro magnetic response of leeches.

Displays of ancient bronze/iron age and Roman finds are found close by curious looking toys and horse gear or industrial machinery models. Darker themed displays touch upon superstition, burglary, smuggling, piracy and greed. Some stories are told by the displays, e.g. a local tale of 19th century community discord pertaining to public rights of way, or exhibits of local craftsmanship and industry. Well worth a visit.