Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Bridlington, Yorkshire

Bridlington, a Victorian family resort, emerged as a popular getaway for industrial workers from the West Riding of Yorkshire during the 19th century.

The town embodies the classic charm of an English coastal destination, featuring promenades, a ballroom, a theatre, ice cream parlours, tearooms, and shops specializing in traditional rock candy and beach accessories.

Bridlington is rich in history, highlighted by its Medieval priory, transformed into a parish church in the 16th century, as well as its harbour, which continues to support a small fishing fleet that harvests fresh shellfish from the North Sea.

The town boasts a quaint Old Town, while the chalk cliffs on Flamborough Head to the north serve as a sanctuary for various bird species, including puffins and gannets.

Let’s delve into the top attractions in Bridlington:

1. Sewerby Hall and Gardens

This picturesque early Georgian mansion, primarily built in 1714, is surrounded by 50 acres of exquisitely landscaped gardens.

The interior has been carefully restored to reflect its Edwardian style from the early 20th century, featuring a special room dedicated to Amy Johnson, the pioneering aviator who officially opened the estate to the public in 1936. Guided tours are available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 11:30 throughout the summer.

The grounds also include a zoo showcasing primarily domestic animals alongside a few exotic species, such as capuchin monkeys, pygmy goats, llamas, and Humboldt penguins.

Take the time to stroll through the grounds, which comprise mature woodlands, a pleasure garden adorned with monkey puzzle trees, a rose garden, and a walled garden boasting topiaries, formal flower beds, and herbaceous borders.

2. Bridlington South Beach

Bridlington South Beach extends for a mile, bordered to the north by the Harbours and gently curving along the coastline.

Further south, a continuous beachfront stretches for 40 miles down to the Spurn National Nature Reserve at the Humber Estuary.

In Bridlington, the expansive sandy beach offers a perfect retreat on a hot summer day, complemented by a refreshing breeze from the North Sea.

The beach is lined with a promenade featuring deck chairs and beach chalets available for rental, while children can enjoy a land train and paddling pool.

If you seek tranquility and open space, a short walk south will allow you to leave the resort behind in just a few hundred meters.

3. Bridlington Old Town

The Old Town of Bridlington, particularly along the High Street and the restored Market Place, showcases its architectural beauty just a mile in from the waterfront.

The High Street is a surprising delight, meandering through tall Georgian homes featuring bay windows, housing artisanal shops, pubs, galleries, and tea rooms.

The Georgian Tea Rooms offer a refined setting for a moment of indulgence.

The Market Place, similarly charming, is embraced by elegant structures such as the Corn Exchange House built in 1826. Visitors can obtain a complimentary leaflet from the Tourist Information Centre, which guides them along the Old Town Trail to explore its highlights.

4. Bridlington Harbour

Bridlington Harbour remains an active fishing port, offering a glimpse into the life of the North Sea, where visitors can observe the waves crashing against the piers and watch trawlers unloading daily catches of shellfish on the quay.

While some of the fresh seafood is available locally, the majority is shipped to Spain, France, and Italy.

Along Harbour Road, a continuous line of fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours, seafood restaurants, and gift shops can be found, alongside occasional stalls selling fresh crab from the North Sea.

Visit this area to take boat trips into Bridlington Bay on the popular Yorkshire Belle.

5. Bridlington Priory Church

The parish church of Bridlington originated as an Augustinian priory in 1113, which grew in significance over the subsequent 400 years, holding properties across Yorkshire at its peak.

The priory was fortified with walls in response to the conflict between King Stephen and Empress Matilda during the late 12th century.

It was dissolved during the 1538 Dissolution of the Monasteries, with the nave remaining as the final structure and becoming the parish church.

The church underwent restoration in the Victorian era, overseen by Sir George Gilbert Scott, a prominent restorer of the time.

Visitors can observe architectural remnants of the original monastic buildings, including three Romanesque arches from the cloisters within the church.

6. Flamborough Head

Sewerby serves as the gateway to the dramatic promontory, spanning eight miles and characterized by towering chalk cliffs, which are breathtaking from both land and sea.

This headland, along with the surrounding countryside, is designated as a protected natural reserve, known as the Flamborough Headland Heritage Coast.

The cliffs are ecologically vital as a breeding ground for thousands of seabirds, which will be discussed in further detail shortly.

During low tide, visitors can descend to the base of the cliffs adjacent to the lighthouse to explore rock pools and enjoy scenic views of these striking, white-layered cliffs.

7. RSPB Bempton Cliffs

The cliffs along Flamborough Head are filled with crevices where numerous seabird species, including guillemots, razorbills, gannets, puffins, fulmars, and kittiwakes, make their nests.

The cliffs to the west of the headland have been established as a nature reserve by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and encompass 10% of the entire UK’s kittiwake population.

During the nesting season from March to October, approximately 500,000 birds gather at this location, and an RSPB visitor centre provides information about each species.

Visitors can hire binoculars from the centre and participate in guided birdwatching hikes.

Bempton Cliffs are also accessible via the Yorkshire Belle, Bridlington’s historic pleasure boat.

8. Flamborough Head Lighthouse

Situated at the eastern tip of Flamborough Head, the lighthouse has guided maritime traffic along this perilous coastline between Bridlington and Scarborough since 1806. A lighthouse keeper was stationed at Flamborough Head until as recently as 1996. Now fully automated, the lighthouse emits a signal that can be detected up to 24 miles away, and during the summer season, visitors can explore the visitor centre and take a 20-minute tour to the tower’s summit.

Additionally, an earlier chalk tower, established in 1669, is recognized as the oldest intact lighthouse in England. Known as the Light Tower, this structure was erected following the sinking of more than 170 ships in less than four decades along this stretch of coastline.

9. Bridlington Spa

A multifaceted venue including a ballroom, theatre, and gallery, the Bridlington Spa (established in 1896) is a prominent feature of South Beach as seen from the Spa Promenade.

While two significant fires in 1906 and 1932 consumed most of the original structures, elements of the Edwardian opera house, which dates back to 1907, survived within the Spa Theatre.

Following the second fire, Bridlington Spa was reconstructed with the current Art Deco design, complemented by a major restoration completed about ten years ago.

The Royal Hall, originally designed as a ballroom, has transformed into a key live music venue, hosting renowned rock bands such as Oasis, Kasabian, and the Last Shadow Puppets, taking advantage of its capacity for 3,800 guests.

On an average evening, visitors can check what performances are occurring at the 675-seat Spa Theatre, which features touring musicals and plays; popular titles included Madagascar The Musical, Fame, and Blood Brothers in the summer of 2018.

10. Burton Agnes Hall

This Elizabethan manor has been owned by the Cunliffe-Lister family since its completion in the early 17th century.

The architect was Robert Smithson, who served as master mason to Queen Elizabeth I, making Burton Agnes Hall the only surviving residence designed by him to maintain its original layout.

The interior is adorned with a collection of valuable items gathered by the family over more than 400 years, including tapestries, French Impressionist artworks, and a blend of historic and contemporary furniture.

The gardens house a national collection of campanulas, a jungle garden, herbaceous borders, and a walled garden featuring over 4,000 plant species.

11. North Landing Beach

Located on the northern side of Flamborough Head, this secluded cove features both sand and pebbles.

The vista from the cliffs overlooking the beach is one to treasure, and during low tide, wander down to the beach to admire the chalk cliffs and explore the rock pools.

On warm, sunny days, the clear waters and verdant cliffs may evoke a feeling more reminiscent of the north of Spain than that of northern England.

A slipway and a small fleet of fishing boats can be found on the sloped area behind the beach.

These vessels are drawn up onto the beach using a caterpillar vehicle during low tide.

12. Bondville Model Village

Adjacent to Sewerby Hall and Gardens on the Sewerby Cliffs, Bondville Model Village represents a quintessential English seaside experience.

Opening each summer since 1987, the village has expanded to include over 200 meticulously crafted buildings set within acres of beautifully maintained gardens bordered by trees.

Each model is handcrafted at a scale of 1:12, and what is distinctive about this village is that the model train adheres to the same scale.

An on-site Garden Tearoom, with stunning views of the attraction, is open year-round, unlike the village itself.

13. Bayle Museum

The Bayle Gate, a remaining part of the priory’s fortifications, is one of Bridlington’s Grade I-listed buildings, along with the Priory Church.

Since the dissolution of the priory, the Bayle has served numerous functions, including that of a jail, garrison, court, and town hall.

This historic structure, combining brick and limestone, dates back to the latter half of the 12th century and features two pointed Gothic arches beneath intricate traceried windows.

Visitors can explore the timber interiors of this historic site from Monday to Friday, between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

The exhibition includes models, black and white photographs of Bridlington, historical documents, regimental artifacts, and interactive stations for children highlighting Medieval life.

14. Bridlington Birds of Prey and Animal Park

This expanding animal attraction covers 21 acres, featuring a variety of birds and primarily domestic animals.

The aviaries accommodate birds of prey from across the globe, showcasing eight owl species, raptors such as kestrels, falcons, and buzzards, along with ratites like ostriches, emus, and rheas, as well as a diverse range of parrots.

The park offers two daily flying displays and an owl handling demonstration, alongside special animal experiences allowing visitors to interact closely with birds of prey or meerkats.

The park is also home to mammals, including Shetland ponies, pigs, llamas, guinea pigs, donkeys, tanuki, and Bennett’s wallabies.

15. Yorkshire Belle

This delightful pleasure boat sets out into the sheltered waters of Bridlington Bay, embodying a piece of maritime heritage.

Launched in 1951 at Hull’s Cook, Welton & Gemmell shipyard, the Yorkshire Belle is the last of the original six cruise boats from Bridlington.

The cruise schedule runs from Easter to October, with the most frequent trip being a one-hour cruise northeast to Flamborough Head and back.

Informative commentary accompanies the journey, and the Yorkshire Belle features a licensed bar on board.

For those interested in wildlife observation, longer excursions to Bempton Cliffs or Breil Hawk are available for viewing gannets, puffins, and kittiwakes.