Scarborough is Britain’s oldest seaside resort and has been home to holiday makers since the 1700’s. It has slowly changed over time, from a place where the wealthy used to holiday for the Scarborough spa, to your typical English seaside town with arcades, fish and chips, ice cream parlours and traditional fudge shops. There are quite a few things to do in Scarborough, and it is ideal for a weekend or week long trip.
Enjoy the promenade
The promenade is a lively place, with many shops from fish and chips, sweet shops, cafes and arcades. This will be sure to remind you of those English beach holidays you might have taken when you were younger! Have some fun on the arcade machines, enjoy a donkey ride or simply enjoy some traditional fish and chips, whilst watching the world go by.
Get out walking
There are a quite few places to walk around Scarborough. Peasholm Park, which has a pretty pagoda, and plenty of ponds, waterfalls and pedalo boats for hire. Then there is the walk up to Oliver’s Mount, which has great views over the town.
There are also some pretty woodland paths in Forge Valley and Throxenby Mere. The latter is where I chose to have a wander and its pretty woodland and lake, make it a great spot for walking for those who love getting out in nature.
Hit the beach
South Bay Beach in Scarborough is a classic and on a hot day can be a great spot to spend the day. This beach is right in from of the shops on the promenade and has views of the imposing Scarborough castle from above, as well as the Grand Hotel situated on the cliff top.
Be aware though, since you are up north, the sea here can be freezing! I was brave and went in for a quick dip (in summer) and it was exhilarating to say the least! Still, you kinda have to do it right?! If you are feeling brave and adventurous, you could even try stand up paddle boarding or have a few surfing lessons (the waves are great for beginners).
Scarborough Castle
Scarborough Castle dates back to the 12th century and is located in between the North and South Bay. It sits high on the cliff tops, dominating the seaside town below. If you love a bit of history, you will love exploring the ruins here. Even just the walk up and around the castle gives you some incredible views of the bays, the harbour and the town below.
Grab a coffee
After all that walking why not grab a nice coffee on the high street. There are numerous cafes here and lots of cosy independent coffee shops- something you coffee lovers will be pleased to hear! I went to Greensmith & Thackwray and their coffee was lovely. While you are here you could hit the shops where you will find a mix of high street stores, antique shops, and smaller beachy type shops.
Scarborough Rotunda Museum
For just £3 you can visit the museum and art gallery and discover Scarborough’s ancient history. There are dinosaur bones, artifacts from the Bronze Age and Iron Age and thousands of objects from the Dinosaur Coast. The art gallery has a large collection of fine art. If you are into history or art, then this makes a lovely cultural thing to do in Scarborough.
Scarborough Spa
The Scarborough Spa was built in the Victorian days and is an historic entertainment and event space. It is situated right on the South Bay beach and has some gorgeous views out over the ocean. Here you can see theatre shows, listen to the orchestra, and enjoy other exhibitions throughout the year.
Go for a wander
If you after things to do in Scarborough, then maybe just try the simplest of things, like walking around the streets. For those who are interesting in photography or just love exploring a new place by walking, then there are some really pretty streets here. The street art graffiti on Bland’s cliff is pretty cool, as are the narrow lanes winding their way down to the beach. For those artsy people, there are also a few small local art galleries you can take a look around, all selling local art and paintings of Scarborough.
Have dinner by the harbour
The harbour and promenade have a different feel after dark, and the boats lit up by the harbour lights make this a romantic place to have dinner. There are numerous restaurants and takeaways in Scarborough, so you will sure find something from most cuisines here.
Where to stay in Scarborough
There are plenty of places to stay from large fancy hotels, BnB’s, guest houses, glamping, holiday rental cottages and Airbnb. The choice is endless! I would say get somewhere close to the town and beach, so you can just stroll right out and do not have to worry about getting a taxi etc. If you do have to stay out of the town then there are plenty of public transport options in and around the town.
When to visit Scarborough
The summer is definitely the best time of year to visit so you can enjoy all the outdoorsy things and be able to go for an ocean swim. Even if it does rain, there are actually a number of things to do indoors too. Another good time to visit is Christmas when there are a lot of markets and other festive activities to do.
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