Captain Cook Memorial Museum

The house where Captain James Cook lived as a teenager is tucked away on Grape Lane in Whitby - a modest Georgian townhouse that feels oddly intimate for somewhere connected to one of history's most famous explorers. You'll find his bedroom upstairs, period furniture that actually belonged to the Cook family, and the sort of domestic detail that makes history feel real rather than dusty. It's a working museum run with genuine care, and the staff know their stuff.

This is properly worth an hour if you're interested in Cook's early life - how he went from Staithes nearby to apprenticing with a haberdasher before the sea pulled him away. The exhibits walk you through his voyages without being heavy-handed about it. Families with children aged eight or older will get something from it; younger ones might find it a bit text-heavy and wish for more hands-on bits.

The location is brilliant if you're staying at Whitby Cliff Top Touring Park or any of the other caravan sites clustered around Whitby. It's essentially on the doorstep - literally a five-minute walk downhill from the clifftop parks. Pair it with the nearby Abbey and the harbour walk, and you've got a solid afternoon sorted. Opening hours tend to be seasonal, so ring ahead before you go. Admission is modest, usually under a tenner.