Address

Captain Cook Birthplace Museum
Stewart Park
Middlesbrough
TS7 8AT

Opening times

Tuesday to Sunday
10am to 4pm
Last entry 3:30pm

We are closed on Mondays, including bank holidays.

Admission

Single Ticket

Price

Child (under 16) £3.65
Concession (Over 65+, Student) £3.65
Adult (16+) £4.70

Family Tickets

1 Adult and 3 Children £12.55
2 Adults and 2 Children £13.60
Captain Cook Gallery Second Voyage
Captain Cook Gallery Walkabout
Captain Cook Museum Entrance

Where we are

Additional information

How to get here

By foot

We’re located in Stewart Park which is well signposted traveling on Marton Road and Ladgate Lane which is mostly level on route.

There are a number of entrances in to the park from Ladate Lane, Stokesley Road and the Grove. Upon entering the park follow the paths that will lead you up to the museum which is located at the heart of the park.

Car

Stewart Park is located by the A174 that you can get to from the A19.

Stewart Park has its own free car park and can be accessed from Ladgate Lane, TS7 8AP.

Blue badge parking is available within the main visitor car park and next to the museum which can be accessed via The Grove entrance.

More information on parking is available on the Middlesbrough Council website.

Bus and coach

The main bus station is in Middlesbrough Town Centre on Newport Road, we suggest bus lines 28, 29, 39 and 63 .

For further local transport travel advice visit Traveline North East

The nearest drop-off point for coaches is within Stewart Park visitor car park. Coaches can unload, pick up passengers and park in the designated coach bays that are located on the right upon entering the car park.

Train

Next to Stewart Park you can find Marton Train Station which is 0.2 miles away from the parks entrance and is a five minute walk.

Accessing the museum

The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum is located in the centre of Stewart Park, there is a number of entrances to the park that will lead to the museum.

Upon arriving at the entrance to the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum you will find a long steady sloped ramp leading to the entrance doors. The doors are automated and will open on approach and exit.

Ladgate lane

This is the main entrance to the park and where you’ll find our main public carpark with a number of blue badge parking bays parking bays. Upon arrival at the public car park make your way past the animal enclosures and children’s play area. Follow the path through the trees, the path has a steady incline up to the rear of the museum.

Stokesley Road

This pedestrian entrance is the shortest route to museum, upon entering the park follow the path directly forward where you will approach the entrance to the museum.

The Grove

For those with limited mobility or have a blue badge we would recommend this entrance. On the Grove follow the sign posts to Stewart Park. Upon entering Stewart Park you will drive along a shared pedestrian and vehicle route, it’s important that you drive at 5mph and place your hazard lights on to ensure other park users see you approaching.

Having passed the children’s play area and entrance to the visitor centre continue to drive slowly along the shared pedestrian and vehicle route, this will bring you up to the museum from the rear. Upon arriving at the museum there is a limited number of blue badge parking bays which are available to museum visitors.

To access the park via The Grove, use the post code TS7 8AN which will take you to The Grove entrance.

Facilities inside the museum

Accessible toilets

There is an accessible toilets at the entrance of the museum. It’s fitted with emergency alarms that alert our welcome desk if emergency assistance is needed.

There is further male and female toilets available that are located up a short set of stairs from the entrance foyer.

The closest accessible changing place toilet is located in Stewart Park visitor centre.

Assistance dogs

Trained assistance dogs are welcome at the museum, our team will be happy to provide drinking water for your dog if needed.

Baby changing and feeding

There are baby change facilities located within the accessible toilets within the museum.

We welcome our visitors breastfeeding and bottle-feeding their babies. There are a few areas that you may feel more comfortable feeding your baby, such as the cafe. In some cases our temporary exhibitions prohibit food and drink in the area, so please check with a member of our team if you are unsure.

Cook’s Cafe

The cafe is located on the first floor and is positioned on an open foyer level. To access the cafe you can take the stairs at the entrance or the lift.

Hearing loops

There are hearing loops available at our welcome desk, gift shop and learning activity room.

Navigating the museum

Upon entering the museum you will be greeted by our friendly visitor team.

They will provide guidance on how to enter and navigate the space, if you find any audio or visual aspects challenging please let them know and they can offer recommendations to ensure a pleasant visit.

Personal assistant tickets

If a visitor requires an accompanying personal assistant, the personal assistant will be admitted to paying exhibitions and events free of charge. We accept the following forms of assistant and career ID.

Please contact our welcome desk team to arrange a personal assistant ticket.

Quieter times and areas

The museum is often quieter after 3pm during term time. If you would prefer to visit during a quieter period please get in touch with your visit dates and we check to see if we have any groups during the time you are hoping to visit.

We also schedule run relaxed sessions for our temporary exhibitions, please see our What’s On page for our upcoming events.

Wheelchair accessibility

There are two lifts within the museum that can accommodate one wheelchair at a time. A dedicated lift will lead you in to the museum galleries, the second lift is on exiting the galleries and also can be used to access the cafe and learning space.

There is level access on each floor of the museum, the journey through the galleries has one route allowing easy mobility through the spaces.

We have one wheelchair that is free to use during your visit, please ask at our welcome desk upon arrival.

Visually impaired visitors may like to know that the ground floor has wooden planked flooring in three galleries. Seating can be found throughout the galleries.

Cook’s Café and gift shop

Gift shop

Located at the entrance of the museum, our gift shop is fully stocked with an exciting range of products for all tastes and budgets.

We have gifts to suit all tastes and ages, souvenirs, collectables, homewares, bespoke items and pocket money items. Take a look and be inspired!

The gift shop is open within museum visiting hours, 10am to 4pm.

Cook’s Café

Cook’s Café is an independent café located within the museum and sells a range of delicious hot and cold drinks, snacks and meals to eat in or take away. Take a break whilst enjoying scenic views of Stewart Park!

Opening times

The café is open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 3:30pm

Visit Cook’s Cafe on Facebook for more information

Stewart Park

The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum can be found within Stewart Park, an award-winning Green Flag park in Marton.

Covering 120 acres, the stunning surrounds include mature woodland and an arboretum.

Two lakes provide a habitat for waterfowl including geese and ducks, and pets’ corner is host to many domesticated animals including fallow deer, llamas and goats!

Information such as opening times and facilities are on the Middlesbrough Council website.

What to do

Part of the Victorian estate complex is open to the public and includes a cafe and visitor centre. Various nature, heritage, orienteering and tree trails are provided in the park.

Families can enjoy the children’s play area which include a climbing frame named after HMS Endeavour, Captain James Cook’s ship.

Near to the play area you can find a pets’ corner that houses several types of domesticated animals including, llamas, goats, rabbits and guinea pigs.

Parkruns

The park also offers recreational activity around the park from table tennis and fitness fans can try the trim trail all around the park.

Each week Stewart Park also hosts a popular parkrun which offers a great opportunity to run the grounds of the park with likeminded people. Find out more and register on the parkrun website.

Island Discovery Trail

You can also take on a swashbuckling trail around Stewart Park, guaranteed fun for all the family pick up your Stewart Park Island Discovery Trail map from the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum gift shop and start exploring the park with your crew.

Find hidden posts across the park and collect the rubbings to complete your map while discovering fun facts along the way!

History of Stewart Park

The park was the estate of Henry Bolckow, one of Middlesbrough’s ironmasters and Middlesbrough’s first mayor. Bolckow landscaped the estate and in 1858 built Marton Hall in the estate.

One of Teesside’s most famous sons, Captain James Cook, was born in a cottage close to where the museum now stands. Although all traces of the cottage have now disappeared, the spot is marked by a granite vase.

To indicate the site of the cottage where Captain James Cook was born he had erected a pink granite vase still present today.

The estate was eventually bought by Councillor Thomas Dormand Stewart, in 1924, for the people of Middlesbrough. Stewart intended it to be “a public possession, open and accessible to all the people, at all times” Stewart Park was officially opened to the public on 23 May 1928.