Things to Do in Scarborough: Ultimate Visitors Guide
Tourist attractions in Scarborough | Camping in Scarborough | Discover Scarborough’s Beaches
Scarborough is a traditional seaside town on the coast of Yorkshire and is a wonderful destination for everyone! From golden sandy beaches and coastal delights to museums for history lovers and castle ruins for fair weather days, there’s a wide variety of things to see and do. What you’ll love about Scarborough is its steadfast Victorian charm, which runs alongside the attractions, and the fact there’s always something new to discover.
Read on to find out all you need to know about visiting Scarborough, including everything from travel information to hunting down the best ice cream.
Quick-fire facts about Scarborough:
> Scarborough’s coastline is also known as “Dinosaur Coast” – look out for giant footprints and fossils along the coast
> Scarborough claims to be England’s first true seaside resort as spa houses were constructed as early as the start of the 1700s
> Scarborough’s Peasholm Park was voted one of the best parks in the UK and Europe.
Getting to Scarborough
Driving: For those travelling by car, here are some estimated driving times from major cities to give you an idea of your journey.
- London to Scarborough: 5 hours
- York to Scarborough: 1 hour
- Manchester to Scarborough: 2.5 hours
- Birmingham to Scarborough: 3.2 hours
- Glasgow to Scarborough: 4.5 hours
Train: Getting the train to Scarborough is easy, with regular services from major cities. Plan your journey on Trainline.
Coach: Plan your journey via coach to Scarborough on the National Express website.
Camping in Scarborough
Our Scarborough campsite is perfectly located for exploring all the best attractions in and around the town. It’s only a short cliff-top walk or bus ride from the campsite to the centre of Scarborough. View all campsites near Scarborough.
Discover Scarborough’s beaches
The two glorious main beaches in Scarborough are South Bay Beach and North Bay Beach.
The busiest beach is South Bay which is a favourite with families. Calm bathing waters and a golden stretch of sand make South Bay a total sun trap on good weather days. North Bay has a slightly more rugged feel to it and is away from the traditional sea front. North Bay is great for rockpooling at low tide and is preferred for water sports like surfing.
Top tourist attractions in Scarborough
Scarborough Castle
Three thousand years of history are waiting to be explored at Scarborough Castle which overlooks the Yorkshire coastline. Listen to your audio guide as you walk through the castle ruins, learning about Viking attacks, Tudor rebels and much more. Take some time to appreciate the views as you explore the grounds and towers.
Peasholm Park
This beautiful green space is open year-round for everyone to enjoy when visiting Scarborough. Peasholm Park has a system of streams, waterfalls and a lake, which are wonderful to explore. In the summer, months you can take a picnic and enjoy the water by hiring a pedalo, rowing boat or canoe.
Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Check out what’s happening at Scarborough Open Air Theatre during your visit. Expect big name music acts in the summer months.
SEA LIFE Scarborough
Need somewhere fascinating to spend a rainy day? Got little ones that love seeing animals up close? SEA LIFE Scarborough has got you covered. From cheeky penguins and otters to scary sharks, there’s always plenty to see and discover.
Scarborough Spa
Another event venue to keep an eye on is Scarborough Spa, which has a jam-packed list of events. Don’t miss riding the Cliff Lift, one of Britain’s oldest funicular cliff lifts, during your visit.
Scarborough Speedboat Rides
See the Scarborough coast from a completely different perspective on an 8-minute speedboat ride across the bays.
Alpamare
Alpamare Water Park has pools with waves, slides, and even a spa, so there is truly something everyone can enjoy. The outdoor heated pool is a great way to enjoy the water on cooler days.
Scarborough Market Hall and Vaults
If you fancy locally made food and a look around for independent goods, head to this market hall, where you’ll find stalls and cafes set on three floors. You’ll also find the tourist information point here.
St Mary's Church
You can find Anne Bronte’s Grave at the top of the cemetery of St Mary’s Church.
Rotunda Museum
If you’re interested in Jurassic geology the Rotunda Museum is a must. Find out all about the dinosaur footprints you can see on the beaches, visit the resident Megalosaurus and learn all about creatures that used to call Scarborough home.
Scarborough North Bay Railway
The miniature railway which travels between Peasholm Park and SEA LIFE Scarborough is a wonderful addition to a day out in the town.
Best walking routes in Scarborough
Being on the beautiful Yorkshire Coast means you can set off on foot to explore wherever you like. Here are a few popular walking routes to get you started.
The Cleveland Way
The Cleveland Way is 109 miles in total across dramatic moorland and beautiful coastline. You could join the trail and walk from Scarborough to Filey (10.5 miles) or to Robin Hood’s Bay (12 Miles).
Oliver’s Mount
Overlooking Scarborough, the large, wooded hill, home to the famous Oliver’s Mount Racing, but makes for a great walk with breathtaking views along the way.
Scarborough Castle and Old Town Walk
There are plenty of walking routes for you to take in the castle and old town at your own pace.
Enjoy your trip to Scarborough! Find more UK travel inspiration below.