Top 15 Attractions in Scarborough, Yorkshire

England’s inaugural seaside resort began attracting vacationers in the 17th century following the discovery of a therapeutic spring nestled within the cliffs to the south of the town.

Prior to this, Scarborough functioned primarily as a fishing port, overshadowed by the imposing castle constructed by Henry II, and hosted the Scarborough Fair, a six-week market that drew merchants from various regions of Europe.

The castle’s ruins continue to dominate the landscape from its promontory, situated between North and South Bays.

The advent of the railway in the mid-19th century ushered in an era of mass tourism to Scarborough, paving the way for the elegant spa buildings, cliff funiculars, and the impressive Grand Hotel.

Despite the decline of many English seaside resorts since the 1970s, Scarborough has maintained an air of sophistication, home to the UK’s last remaining seaside orchestra and the esteemed Stephen Joseph Theatre.

Let’s discover the most notable attractions in Scarborough:

1. Scarborough Castle

Situated atop a 91-meter promontory between the North and South Bays lie the vestiges of Scarborough’s Medieval castle.

This resolute structure overlooking the North Sea originally functioned as a hill fort in the Bronze Age and served as a signal station for the Romans in the fourth century.

Currently, remnants of an Anglo-Saxon chapel, established around 1000 at the location of the former signal station, can be found.

The stone curtain wall encircling the promontory was elevated during the 12th and 13th centuries and remains in excellent condition, featuring a formidable barbican that provides access to the baileys.

Visitors must cross a stone bridge built in the 1330s to see the decayed remains of the 26-meter keep, which was damaged during a significant bombardment in 1645 amid the English Civil War.

Within the west wall, evidence of the hearth that warmed the great hall can be identified.

2. Peasholm Park

Situated just behind the North Bay, the enchanting Peasholm Park, designed in an Oriental style in 1912, was once the premier location in Scarborough for lavish galas and exhibitions, though its prominence waned throughout the century.

The park closed in 1999 following arson damage to its pagoda, but it reopened in the 2000s and has since become an esteemed part of the resort.

A highlight is the Battle of Peasholm, a naval reenactment that takes place three times weekly in the ornamental lake during the summer, having been a tradition for almost 90 years.

The park also hosts brass band concerts, lantern displays, a putting green, artificial waterfalls, a Japanese Garden, and the Peasholm Glen Tree Trail with a variety of exotic tree species.

3. St Mary’s Church

Centrally located on the isthmus connecting the old town with the castle, St Mary’s is a Grade I listed church that was originally constructed in the 12th century.

This initial structure was largely destroyed during the Civil War in the 17th century and was reconstructed in the late 1600s.

Within the expansive graveyard, the ruins of the old west towers illustrate the considerable size of the Medieval church.

The primary reason visitors come here is to pay respects at the grave of Anne Brontë, renowned for her novel “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”

She passed away at the age of 29 in 1849, and her gravestone, now significantly weathered, was commissioned by her sister Charlotte.

A new plinth was added in 2011, positioned in front of the original gravestone.

4. South Bay Beach

Characterized by its smooth arc, South Bay Beach tends to fill up quickly during the summer months.

Protected by the castle promontory to the north and the cliffs to the south, the beach experiences less impact from the North Sea currents.

Its orientation to the south ensures that it receives ample sunlight on clear summer days.

Visitors can enjoy golden sands for sunbathing at high tide, and as the tide recedes, families can engage in rock pooling, searching for crabs and starfish.

Being a quintessential English seaside beach, it features donkey rides along the shore, as well as amusements, ice cream parlours, and fish and chip shops along Foreshore Road behind it.

5. The Spa, Scarborough

Located at the base of the cliffs on South Bay, The Spa is a 19th-century complex of performance venues built on the site of Scarborough’s natural springs.

The Grand Hall, which was inaugurated in 1880 following the destruction of the previous spa saloon by fire in 1876, spans nearly half a mile in length and can be accessed via the impressive Spa Bridge, constructed in 1827, and the South Cliff Lift built in 1873. The Grand Hall accommodates 2,000 people and serves as the home of the Scarborough Spa Orchestra, as well as hosting the annual Jazz Festival in September.

The smaller Victorian Theatre presents a busy schedule of shows in the summer, along with pantomimes during the Christmas season.

Outside, the promenade features the Sun Court, an elegant Neoclassical colonnade with a stage that showcases outdoor performances from the Spa Orchestra and other bands during the summer months.

6. North Bay Railway

Located within Peasholm Park, families can enjoy a round trip to Scalby Mills on the opposite side of North Bay via a miniature railway.

The line commenced operations in 1931, with nearly all of its rolling stock originating from its initial two years of service.

The sole exception is a newly-built steam engine, specifically commissioned in 2016 for the railway, as the remaining locomotives are diesel-powered.

With three stops along the route, the entire return journey lasts approximately half an hour, with an opportunity to disembark at Scalby Mills to visit the Sea Life Centre.

7. North Bay Beach

Similar to South Bay Beach, North Bay consistently earns the Blue Flag designation.

This less populated beach is more exposed to the North Sea, attracting surfers due to its rolling waves.

Despite the more vigorous water conditions, the beach remains safe for paddlers, with an RNLI lifeguard on duty throughout the summer season.

The northern section of the beach features a rocky reef and outcrops that become accessible during low tide, providing an opportunity for children to engage in rock pooling.

For those looking for a convenient base by the beach, renting one of the colourful chalets along the promenade is a possibility.

8. Central Tramway

Operating alongside the colossal neo-Baroque Grand Hotel, the Central Tramway is one of Scarborough’s five funicular railways.

Inaugurated in 1881, it has been under the same management since its opening.

The 71-meter track features a 50% gradient, linking Marine Parade in the town center with Foreshore Road on the beachfront.

The tramway operates from February to October and boasts a charming, Victorian-style upper station offering a tearoom and outdoor seating area.

Approaching 140 years in operation, the line remains the most convenient way to descend to South Bay from the heart of the resort.

9. Stephen Joseph Theatre

Regarded as a cultural cornerstone in North Yorkshire, this esteemed theatre has been influential in the arts scene.

For over 35 years until 2009, playwright Sir Alan Ayckboure served as the theatre’s artistic director, during which time a majority of his works premiered at this venue.

Visitors can expect high-caliber productions at the 404-seat theatre-in-the-round as well as in the 165-seat end-on stage auditorium.

The venue regularly hosts a variety of musical performances, ranging from jazz to folk, and includes classical soloists and small ensembles.

The smaller auditorium also features routine cinema screenings of classic black and white films, international arthouse cinema, and recent box office hits.

10. South Cliff Italian Gardens

Located just south of the spa, the South Cliff Italian Gardens were established at the turn of the 20th century and are set on a terrace that follows the contours of the cliff.

Designed in the Italian Renaissance style, the gardens feature geometric flower beds, a lily pond topped with a statue of Mercury, and two stately stairways leading to shelters beneath pergolas from 1914. This captivating space is part of a broader array of open spaces, including a rose garden and a cliff-top path that offers stunning views back to the castle, all connected by various stairways and the Cliff Lifts that descend to the beach.

11. Scarborough Fair Collection

A short distance down the coast in Lebberston lies a museum showcasing an impressive array of vintage fairground organs and “showman’s engines,” which are road-going steam locomotives.

These engines were integral to the English seaside resorts during the early 20th century, with the highlight being the Iron Maiden, which gained fame from its own film in 1962. Constructed in 1920, it was initially used to transport stone at the Isle of Portland in Dorset before being repurposed as a showman’s engine.

The exhibition also includes a 97-key Gavioli Concert organ, as well as a 101-key Hooghuys organ.

Additionally, there’s a vintage “gallopers” ride from 1893 and a caterpillar ride from 1928, along with a collection of miniature vehicles, model railways, and classic automobiles.

12. Rotunda Museum

Established in 1829, this attraction is recognized as one of the UK’s earliest structures built specifically for museum purposes.

The driving force behind the Rotunda Museum was William Smith, honored as the “Father of English Geology.” The collection boasts over 5,500 fossils and 3,000 minerals, many classified as “type specimens,” or the first of their kind to be documented and described.

This museum is a paradise for amateur geologists and fossil enthusiasts, featuring mammoth teeth from the Ice Age, Jurassic fossilized plants, Cretaceous fossils, and a variety of Carboniferous plant specimens.

Notable exhibits include fragments of bone, antler, and flint from the mysterious Stone Age site at Star Carr, along with the skeleton and sarcophagus of the Grishthorpe Man, who was interred in a scooped-out oak tree during the Bronze Age.

13. Scarborough Harbour

One of Scarborough’s many appealing aspects is that the harbour, located beneath the castle promontory, operates as a working port with an active fishing fleet.

Visitors can stroll along Sandside and the Old Pier to observe the bustling port activity, sample a crab or lobster sandwich, and appreciate the lighthouse up close.

This lighthouse, constructed in 1806, was rebuilt following significant damage during the early bombardment of the First World War, which also impacted the castle.

With a wide promenade filled with outdoor seating, visitors can enjoy the numerous cafes, ice cream parlours, restaurants, and bars lining Sandside.

For those interested in venturing out into the North Sea, local fishing companies offer excursions lasting up to ten hours.

14. South Cliff Clock Tower

This iconic feature of Scarborough is located at the entrance to the South Cliff Gardens and was constructed to commemorate the coronation of King George V in 1911. The design was inspired by Christopher Wren’s English Baroque monuments, featuring a lantern and weather vane above four clock faces set in pediments framed by Ionic columns.

The clock remained manually wound until the 1960s, after which it was electrified following an incident involving a winding ladder that slipped, leaving the winder trapped overnight.

Located just below the tower is the Holbeck Putting Green, which presents an opportunity to refine your short game while taking in breathtaking views of the bay.

15. Oliver’s Mount

Situated further inland, this elevated area offers magnificent vistas of southern Scarborough.

The 152-meter hill is named in honor of Oliver Cromwell, as it is believed to be the site where Parliamentarian forces positioned their artillery during the English Civil War.

Subsequently, Anne Brontë referenced Oliver’s Mount in her poem “The Bluebell,” published in 1840.

A striking stone obelisk commemorates Scarborough’s war victims from both world wars, while the hill’s pathways form England’s only official road racing circuit.

Oliver’s Mount was the venue for British Formula III races in the 1950s but has since gained recognition for bike racing.

At the beginning of May, the Scarborough Festival of Speed is held here, featuring hill climbs, bike and car exhibitions, along with trade stands.