Scarborough Tourism

Heart stirring beaches, splendid parks, a towering castle and a thousand flavours of ice cream… This is what makes up Scarborough’s unique personality. A magical sea town for couples, families and solo travellers. A famed destination for nature enthusiasts, historians and culture buffs alike. A kingdom of festivity and sport, food and cinema, art and music, relaxation and escapade – there’s no place like Yorkshire’s largest holiday resort! So, if you’re looking for a good time, a laid-back time, an eclectic time, you’ve definitely come to the right place

Highlights of Scarborough

Adventure and Leisure 

Scarborough is a vivacious seaside resort and a rip-roaring adventure haven. You can quench your thirst for thrill with a plethora of water and land-based sports that epitomise the very meaning of fun! Head to the biggest, fastest and wettest water park -  Alpamare. Here, you can spend your time tackling the best rides and making the biggest splashes. Ride the big, blue waves at one of the town’s dazzling beaches. Or perhaps, embark on a delightful cycling journey. Weave your way along the striking coastline and meander through the quaint streets. But, perhaps, the most special attraction is the Sky Trail Adventure at Northbay Railway!

Art, Culture and History 

Spend enough time in this wondrous town and you’ll discover a smorgasbord of art, culture and history. From mysterious ancient landmarks to mesmerising museums and enriching art galleries, Scarborough offers many delights to the travel connoisseur. Uncover and admire some of the renowned artwork smattered across this hamlet. We’d suggest a trip to the Rotunda Museum aka, the Pepper Pot. Marvel at glorious dinosaur artifacts and also enjoy a spectacular performance at the internationally recognized Stephen Joseph Theatre. One of our favourite experiences includes a trip to the enchanting Scarborough Castle! This is a good time for you to gaze at the exquisite scenery of the coast.

Family and Seaside Attractions

For all those families yearning for that perfect day out, visit Scarborough seafront – fantasyland personified! Watch the sand, sun and surf create euphoria right before your very eyes. Go paddling, build the tallest castles, try every flavour of ice cream available – the excitement never stops! What’s more, Scarborough provides twice as much of the beach to that of any other holiday resort! Two bays, each with its own personality, offer an eclectic mix of entertainment. South Bay shines with neon lit amusement arcades, dreamy ice cream parlours and glittering shellfish stalls. North Bay, just a 20-minute stroll around Marine and Royal Albert Drive, basks in nostalgia, serenity and oodles of peace!

Parks and Gardens

Unwind in a universe of emerald and sage at Scarborough’s collection of parks, gardens and natural expanses. Make your way to the ethereal Peasholm Park, sitting pretty next to Scarborough’s Open Air Theatre. Designed in an oriental theme, it will cast a spell on your senses. Home to soulful orchestra evenings, exhibitions and the renowned naval warfare event, you don’t want to miss out on this one! Journey to Scarborough South Cliff Gardens. It is a haven of beauty, mystery and unadulterated tranquillity. Cradling secrets as well as gorgeous viewpoints of the coast, it makes for the perfect evening outing.

Food and Drink

Every foodie will find their own rhythm at Scarborough. Here, greasy fast food is as gastronomical as fine dining cuisine! Savour a plate of crisp, golden potato chips. These scrumptious bites come sprinkled with salt, pepper and vinegar. Relish elegantly flavoured crab, lobster and shellfish, cooked with fresh seasonal ingredients. You will discover a whole new world in the succulent seafood. We’d recommend you make the most of award-winning ice cream saloons and posh little international eateries, too – you’ll always find something to keep your taste buds happy… 

Events and Festivals 

Gobsmacking tourists for decades now, Scarborough is indeed full of life. From music to dance, food to sport and even art –Scarborough has a festival to honor most everything. In the month of August, the region hosts the annual Cricket Festival – pulling in hundreds of cricket fans from across the globe! Did you know that this is one of the longest-running sports festivals the world has ever seen? You can even witness the thrilling Barry Sheene Road Race Festival if you’re a motorcycle enthusiast.

Interesting facts about Scarborough: Trivia Triumph

• Scarborough is the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast.
• Dramatist Alan Ayckbourn, producer of a staggering seventy-five plays, continues to reside in Scarborough. 
• A number of films such as Little Voice and Possession have been shot in Scarborough. 
• The song, Scarborough Fair, by Simon and Garfunkel is considered to be an all-time great and was even featured in the Oscar winning film – The Graduate.
• Every year, the region hosts Sci-Fi Scarborough - a Sci-Fi, Comic Con and gaming convention.

Location of Scarborough: On the Atlas

Scarborough is a picturesque little hamlet that sits on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, England. The scenic town is perched 3-70 metres above sea level, rising northward and westward from the harbour and on to the limestone cliffs. Scarborough’s older quarters lie around the harbour and are protected by a rocky headland. The most striking feature of its topography is a promontory that points eastward into the North Sea, dividing the seafront into the sublime north and south bays.

Best time to Visit Scarborough

Scarborough’s climate can be described as oceanic. While winter experiences a cold and rainy climate, summer months are amicable - with minimal precipitation. The best time to visit this scenic town is during the latter season, from the months of June to August. The atmosphere is ripe for exploration and sight-seeing. The temperatures are friendly, at an average of 15°C, and enable action-packed outdoor activities such as kayaking, paddle boating and surfing. It is recommended, however, to carry an umbrella and a warm jacket – just to be safe. 

How to get to Scarborough

By Air: The surest way of reaching Scarborough is by taking a flight to any of the following destinations - London, Leeds, Manchester, Humberside, Durham, Birmingham or Norwich. Upon arrival, one must simply board a train service to the Yorkshire Coast. From there, several buses are available to the town. All major cities in India such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata offer flights to the aforementioned regions.

By Rail: For those traveling from England itself, there are numerous railway lines to avail of. For instance, if your journey begins from Leeds or York, you can take the TransPennine Express that runs hourly services into Scarborough.

By Road: All those yearnings for a road trip, can travel to Scarborough from the north, south and west of England. There are numerous national highways such as A171, A165 and A169.

History of Scarborough: Story and Saga

Scarborough’s origins can be traced back to the fascinating Roman times. In 370 A.D, a signal station was built on the rocky headland where the formidable Scarborough Castle stands today. It was used as a means to send early warning signals to North Yorkshire shores, protecting them against the threat of fierce Anglo-Saxon attacks. In 410 A.D, the Romans departed from Britain and paved the way for the determined Anglo-Saxons to move in. And by 966 A.D, the Vikings had made their way into the town and established base. Interestingly enough, the first mention of Scarborough can be found in the descriptive Viking sagas. It was known by the names of Skarthborg and Skarthabork, both born from the nickname of one of its founders! It was in the year 1626 that Thomasin Farrer discovered a stream of acidic water trickling in from the south cliffs. Thus, gave rise to Scarborough Spa – Britain’s first seaside resort!