Photographers House Staithes

Photographer’s House offers a rare blend of seaside charm and creative inspiration in the heart of Staithes. This light-filled former artist’s studio has sweeping views over the village and garden, and is just moments from the beach, cafés, and coastal walks. Immaculately clean, with professionally laundered linen, it’s perfect for spontaneous getaways — we welcome last-minute bookings. Come and make joyful memories in one of Britain’s most enchanting and welcoming fishing villages. The space If you're dreaming of the perfect seaside holiday, your checklist would likely include a picturesque village, a beautiful beach, excellent pubs and cafés, stunning countryside, and of course, ice cream and fish and chips. Staithes ticks all those boxes, but it offers something truly special, something almost intangible. Perhaps it's the thriving community of artists and craftspeople. Perhaps it's the authentic fishing village atmosphere. Perhaps it's the legacy of the renowned Victorian artistic and photographic circle. Perhaps it's simply the warmth of the locals. Perhaps it's the connection to Captain Cook, who began his apprenticeship here. Perhaps it's the sense of comforting embrace that Staithes offers to all who visit. We scoured the British coastline for such a magical place, and we found it here in Staithes. We discovered this house through a series of fortunate coincidences. From the outset, we were captivated. Perhaps it was the fact that it was once the studio of Henry Charles Morley, a member of the celebrated Whitby set and a pioneer of action photography in Victorian times, a figure who has inspired my own photography since my teenage years. It could also have been the intriguing illusionist's painting on the wall, a reminder of the abundant fossils along the foreshore. But most of all, it was the delightful, sun-drenched lounge, with its elevated views across the village and garden, bathed in light from every angle. We've been fortunate to live adventurous and fulfilling lives, and we want Photographer's House to be more than just lovely accommodation in a stunning seaside location. We want it to be a place where guests create unforgettable, joyful memories. We've also raised the bar when it comes to cleanliness, ensuring the house is exceptionally clean for every guest, and all linen is professionally laundered for your comfort. We hope your stay here sparks your creativity. We'll do everything we can to help you make your happiest memories. This is a place of joy and a wonderful atmosphere, which we invite you to share. Photographer's House is thoroughly prepared immediately after each guest's departure, making it perfect for last-minute bookings. We welcome same-day reservations and, subject to availability, offer early check-in. Parking We provide two complimentary parking permits for the public car park at the top of the village, just a pleasant 5–10 minute walk away. For your convenience, you can also drop off and pick up luggage around 100 metres from the house. Guest access Exclusive access to all areas including the patio and garden Other things to note We pride ourselves on keeping Photographers House pristine clean. All of the laundry is professionally laundered. The kitchen boasts Bosch appliances and a unique glass splashback featuring artwork by local artist Bridget Wilkinson. There is also a shower room with a large walk-in shower. Two people can shower simultaneously thanks to the dual showerheads. Both the shower room and bathroom have extra-long sinks. The patio offers a romantic circular bed/seating area with an awning. We’ve poured our heart and soul into creating a special place. It’s designed to make you smile, with Liberty seaside fabrics, hand-painted tiles, and original artwork from the Dilo the Dolphin books. We’ve also added a porch crafted from an old local fishing boat. The village is divided into two halves. The upper half houses a co-operative supermarket and a fish and chip shop. The lower part is where you’ll find the charming side of the village: a wonderful deli selling artisan bread, great pubs, a sweet shop, several excellent cafés, a heritage museum, lifeboat station, harbour wall, and boats for fishing and whale and dolphin watching trips. Horace believes the best fish and chips in the world are at the Cod & Lobster Pub. It’s certainly a fantastic place to enjoy seafood overlooking the harbour. The kitchen includes a fan oven, ceramic hob, full-size dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, a fridge-freezer with a frozen compartment. A circular dining table sits in the kitchen area. We've included extra-large pans and crockery for hosting big dinners and tea parties. On the ground-floor kitchen is a bedroom with two singles. The bi-fold doors between the kitchen and bedroom can be folded back to create a second lounge or extra-large dining room (perfect for Christmas). Also off the ground-floor kitchen is a shower room with WC and sink. Upstairs, the open-plan lounge enjoys natural light from three sides and features a wood/coal-burning stove. Two double sofa beds, armchairs, and a dining table are provided. The windowsill displays two 35mm cameras (Nikon F501 and Olympus), a 5x4 plate camera with lenses. If you’re a budding photographer keen to experience celluloid, feel free to use these. Also on display are an early 8mm underwater camera and the 16mm clockwork movie camera used to film the first British underwater documentary shown on the BBC. (The film "Neptune’s Needle" won an International Gold Medal.) The lounge leads out to the garden and sunny patio area. The first floor also houses the bathroom with a bath and a powerful deluge shower. The second floor offers two bedrooms with windows and rooflights. The garden spans approximately one-third of an acre behind three properties. It’s very steep and terraced (currently wild). Herbs grow just outside the kitchen for guests to enjoy. The garden boasts an abundance of delicious wild sea kale and is home to owls and numerous butterflies. Photographers’ House sits above most of the lower village, benefiting from more light and a quieter location. A lovely sunny patio area lies just outside the lounge, up a few steps. The rest of the garden is for the more adventurous and nimble! Sea glimpses can be enjoyed from the garden. A secret wild hidden sun terrace at the garden’s top catches almost the full arc of the sun. The town is exceptionally dog-friendly, offering plenty of opportunities for canine fun. Dogs are welcome on both the beach and in most eateries year-round. Photographers’ House has wooden floors throughout, making it perfect for our four-legged friends. Some lovely reviews from guests: The Photographers House is very cosy and comfortable with all amenities. The location is ideal for exploring the Yorkshire Coast and Staithes. The harbour is a short stroll away and the local pubs in Staithes are easily reached on foot if you with to go out for an evening meal and a drink. Staithes itself is steeped in history and you can spend hours exploring the little alleyways between the old cottages. We spent a really enjoyable week in the house and our hosts were always very helpful and responsive. I would very much recommend the Photographers House for an enjoyable week on the coast. Simon Travelled to Staithes with a bunch of friends and had a perfect weekend. The house is beautiful, cosy and bathrooms are posh! Cosy lounge to chill in and have a drink/ chat. The cod and lobsters pub sells the best seafood we have ever tasted (try the mussels and oysters!) Astrid The Photographer's House reflects the interesting history of both Staithes and at least two remarkable people who made it their home in the past (first the photographer Morley and more recently, Horace Dobbs, the Dolphin Man). While it's an old home, the reward is fantastic views over the rooftops and a genuinely "homey" feel, very comfortable and with many thoughtful touches. The artwork both inside and outside the house, the lovely and high-spec bathrooms, and the unbeatable location (just off a busy street, up a few stairs, and tucked away against the cliffside) make this a real winner. You can instantly tell this isn't a standard rental house, with many personalized touches and family heirlooms inside - so hopefully any renters will take good care of them! It's clearly a space designed to inspire creativity. Last but not least, both Ashley and Lucy communicated Ashley and Lucy communicated responsively and were friendly, hospitable hosts. We will be back Rob We had a fabulous stay at Photographer's House. The location is beautiful; amazing views from the house. Staithes is a quaint, quiet village with a lovely pub and picturesque sunset views from the harbour. There are some great walks from the house. The house itself was clean, beautifully decorated and well-equipped. We especially loved the terrace and BBQ! Ashley and Lucy were great hosts, very communicative. We are 9 young people and all of us loved it and found plenty to do! Emily lovely house in a beautiful place. we slept 7adults and 3 children and were very comfortable. One of the best equipped holiday homes I have stayed at. would certainly recommend. John From a recent article in the Daily Express: England’s prettiest seaside village is home to enchanting views and beaches Staithes is a beautiful sleepy village located in North Yorkshire, England which overlooks the North Sea and has become famous for its coastal beauty. This idyllic village is built into rugged cliffsides which offer spectacular views and is commonly referred to as Dinosaur Coast since it is a popular spot for fossil hunters. It is only a 20-minute drive from Whitby and located inside the North York Moors National Park, meaning it is surrounded by lush countryside while also having a sheltered sandy beach that has been named one of the best beaches in Yorkshire. However, Staithes is also known for its rich history which is reflected in its cobblestone streets, colourful red-tiled cottages and winding narrow allies which make this picturesque village worth exploring. Staithes has been voted one of the world’s ‘most prettiest villages’ by Faraway Funiture in their research examining data and has also been described as an “enchantingly picturesque” village by Coat Magazine. Things to do in Staithes  The beauty of Staithes has traditionally attracted artists from across Britain, meaning there are plenty of galleries to explore for art lovers. Every year the town celebrates its rich artistic heritage by holding the Festival of Arts and Heritage where there are exhibitions, workshops, tours, courses as well as food stalls and music performances. One of the first things any visitor of Staithes should do is take a journey on the Illusion Trail, a free optical illusion trail painted all around the town by artist Paul Czainski where you can spot some amazing artwork while taking in the town’s sights. The best reason to visit Staithes is for its natural beauty which visitors can take in by going on a coastal walk along the Cleveland Way National Trail. This walkway showcases the most breathtaking views of the town’s surrounding secluded coves, cliffside paths and sandy beaches. Staithes is also located at the start of the Jurassic Coast in Yorkshire, and when the tide is out it is the perfect place for fossil hunting. It is quite common to find ammonites along the foreshore of Staithes without having to walk far.