Enjoy an engaging virtual tour of Pickering, delivered by John Kinghorn, who leads the museum’s guided walks. John will join your group to talk you through the sights and history, accompanied by an immersive video to help you explore the town.

The tour includes:

• The Town’s Markets: Learn about Pickering’s bustling markets and their role in local trade and economy since 1201.
• Significant buildings: How the builders sourced their materials through the ages.
• Famous individuals born in Pickering: Learn about how they shaped the town and influenced culture around the world.
• Stagecoach Route: Explore Pickering’s importance as a key hub for stagecoach routes in the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Links to Whitby & the Whaling Industry: Understand the town’s maritime connections with Whitby and its role in the whaling industry.
• Geographical Features: Learn how Pickering’s location at the edge of the North York Moors shaped its development.
• Victorian Railway: See how the arrival of the railway helped shape the town’s growth in the 19th century.
• Military History: Explore Pickering’s role during key conflicts, including the English Civil War, both World Wars, and its strategic importance during the Cold War.
• Pickering Castle: Discover its historical significance and learn about some of the important people who have visited the castle and those have been imprisoned there.

Charges: £50 for groups up to thirty and £75 for larger groups; all funds raised go directly to Pickering Beck Isle Museum.

Please email to book: [email protected]

SPECIAL EXHIBITION 

Step behind the scenes with this brand new exhibition for 2025, bringing rarely seen objects out of the store to showcase the fascinating and unique stories from Pickering’s past.

From everyday objects with surprising histories to remarkable finds, these objects have been carefully selected by volunteers and community groups.

Which will be your favourite? Look out for the ‘Vote for Me’ signs to have your say. 

There’s also a special trail to help younger visitors explore.

This exhibition has been brought to you with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Find out more and cast your vote online.

Explore our new exhibition, sharing the story of this wonderful Pickering man and the Smith family more widely – including Sydney’s wife Maud, and children Barbara and Eddie.

‘Sydney Smith / Beyond Photography’ sets the context of studio photography in the first half of the 20th century and the way this artform was changing and developing in exciting ways. There’s also a chance to explore previously rarely-scene photos of the Smith family at leisure.