The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Marton will reopen its doors from this Saturday (4 April 2026), with a refreshed visitor experience and brand-new interactive features.

Luke Myer MP visited the museum earlier this week to speak to the team and get a first look at the upgrades before welcoming families back through the doors this weekend. The relaunch includes a new state-of-the-art immersive ship-sailing video game developed by TUCAN Studio at Teesside University, where visitors can explore distant islands, discover rare creatures and even encounter the odd sea monster along the way. Alongside this, the museum has reconfigured its exhibits, bringing previously unseen artefacts out of storage and into public display.

The improvements have been made possible in part by funding from the Labour Government’s Museum Renewal Fund, which has supported the museum’s reopening, improved accessibility, and wider plans to strengthen its long-term future in Stewart Park. The funding is a £20 million national programme to support civic museums across the country.

Luke recently praised the museum in Parliament, describing it as “cherished locally” for “marking the spot where Middlesbrough’s most famous son first saw the world before going on to chart much of it.” (Hansard, 5 March 2026)

Ahead of the tricentenary of Captain Cook’s birth in 2028, Luke is committed to working with the museum, volunteers and the community to tell the story that starts here in Marton and reaches across the world.

Cllr Philippa Storey, Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Culture at Middlesbrough Council, said:

“The newly revamped Captain Cook Birthplace Museum looks amazing and offers something for people of all ages.

“It tells the incredible story of Captain James Cook, while the reimagined Australian Gallery focuses on native voices and gives a fascinating insight into Australia’s history.

“The new play space, on the upper floor of the museum, will tempt families to return over and over once children get to see it for the first time.

“If you haven’t been to the museum for a while, the Easter half term holidays are the perfect time to rediscover one of our town’s most magical days out.”