Scarborough is the original seaside resort, with stunning scenery, glorious beaches and Europe’s largest Open Air Theatre!

Beaches & Coastline

In 1626 when Elizabeth Farrow discovered a stream of acidic water running from one of the cliffs to the south of the town, Scarborough Spa was born and visitors flocked to the seaside town. Scarborough became Britain’s original seaside resort and has been popular with visitors ever since.

Boasting two large sandy bays overlooked by the 11th century ruins of Scarborough Castle and a dramatic coastline nicknamed the ‘Dinosaur Coast’ it’s easy to see why it’s still as popular today as ever.

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Museums & Attractions

The Rotunda Museum is home to ‘Scarborough’s Lost Dinosaurs’ – an exhibition which brings together all the fossilised evidence for dinosaurs in the area throughout the Jurassic period.

The Sealife Centre on Scarborough’s North Bay is home to 20 Humbolt penguins and Yorkshire’s seal hospital alongside an ocean walkthrough and interactive rockpools.

Alpamare – boasting an Alpine style spa and wellness centre, wave pool, garden pool, children's splash area and exhilarating slides and flumes - alongside an infinity pool with stunning views over Scarborough’s North Bay. Its a waterpark like no other!

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Theatre & Music

Scarborough Open Air Theatre is Europe’s largest and boasts a capacity of 8,000. Previous acts have included Cliff Richard, Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears.

2024 will see the likes of Paul Weller, Fatboy Slim, Deacon BLue, Jess Glynne, JLS and Busted perform.

The Stephen Joseph Theatre is home to truly great theatre productions and has seen the premieres of more than 80 of Alan Ayckbourn’s plays. Ayckbourn resides in Scarborough and was a protégé of Stephen Joseph, who himself was a theatre pioneer, establishing the countries first ‘theatre-in-the-round’ in Scarborough.

The Scarborough Spa complex is a Grade II listed building in the South Bay. It has a Grand Hall (seating 2,000) and hosts live entertainment including the Scarborough Spa Orchestra and the annual Scarborough Jazz Festival. The Spa Theatre, a 600-seat Victorian theatre, is home to summer season shows and Christmas pantomimes.

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The Great Outdoors

Peasholm Park

Peasholm Park is a Grade II listed Japanese style garden with boating lake. Here you can hire canoes, rowing boats and pedaloes. In the summer months, the Park is home to fireworks displays, silver and brass band concerts, party in the park, proms in the park and lantern displays, alongside mock naval battles!

Dalby Forest

With running routes, bike trails, adventure play areas, a dry stone maze and Go Ape - Dalby Forest can be explored on foot, on wheels or from above. Also being home to the Nissen Hut sculpture from Turner Prize winner Rachel Whiteread, there’s something to discover for everyone here, in this magical forest.

Bempton Cliffs

More than 200,000 birds (from April to August) make the cliffs seem alive – with adult birds bringing food to their nests, or young chicks making their first faltering flights. Beginners can easily learn the difference between Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Fulmars and the easily recognisable Puffins!

Wykeham Estate

Shooting and Fishing – Partridge & Pheasant
The Abbey Shoot on the Wykeham Estate is a traditional driven partridge and pheasant shoot. There are up to twelve partridge days early in the season (mid September – end October) for parties of 9-10 guns. The pheasant shooting during the main season (November – 31 January) is available for parties of 8-9 guns.

Clay Pigeon Shooting

Shooting – Clay Pigeon
The Big Shoot’s 55 acre site has first rate facilities and plenty of thrills that are expertly designed to challenge and excite new and experienced shooters alike.

Grouse Shooting

Shooting – Grouse
The 11,000 acre moors at Danby (near Whitby) in the North Yorkshire Moors represent some of the finest driven grouse shooting in the UK.

Fishing

Fishing – Trout & Course
North Yorkshire Water Park have a trout lake, a coarse lake and predator lake which are all well stocked with a large variety of fish.

North Yorkshire Moors

With over 550 square miles of moorland, woodland, forest and coast, this National Park is truly breathtaking.

Ganton Golf Course

Previously home to the Ryder Cup, Curtis Cup and Waller Cup, Ganton is classed as one of the world’s top 80 courses and welcomes visitors from all over the world.

Festivals & Events 2024

Punk Festival
30th - 31st March

Sci-Fi Festival
20th - 21st April

Books by the Beach
7th - 9th June

Armed Forces Day
29th June

Olivers Mount Racing
Barry Sheene Classic
15th - 16th June

Olivers Mount Racing
Cock O'The North 
20th - 21st July

Olivers Mount Racing
Motorcycle/3 Wheeler Hill Climb
17th - 18th August

Olivers Mount Racing
GB Super Moto Championship
24th - 25th August

Olivers Mount Racing
RST Steve Henshaw Gold Cup
7th - 8th September

Jazz Festival
27th - 29th September

Northern Soul Weekender
11th - 13th October

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Further afield

Robin Hoods Bay - 18 miles
The very picturesque village on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, the steep street that runs from the clifftop to the beach is lined with lovely independent shops, cafes and restaurants. A popular stopping off point for those walking the Cleveland Way

Pickering - 18 miles
A charming town with a stunning 1930's themed station that is the Southern Terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway- one of the world’s greatest heritage railway experiences. Pickering is home to a traditional market every Monday.

Whitby - 21 miles
Whitby is an excellent day out with lots of history including fishing, the jet industry, Captain Cook (born nearby) whose famous ship the Endeavour was Whitby-built. It has top-class literary connections too; Bram Stoker’s famous Dracula features the town.

Malton - 23 miles
Malton is a working market town with excellent food credentials, don't miss their monthly food lovers’ markets. Nearby Castle Howard is one of Britain’s grandest private residences with 1000 acres of grounds to explore. Also worth a visit is Scampston Hall and its stunning contemporary Walled Garden.

York - 41 miles
Packed with sights, attractions and experiences, York is a compact and easy to explore city. The River Ouse meanders through the centre and the city is framed by Roman Walls. The Gothic York Minster, superb Jorvik Viking Centre and world-famous Shambles are all must-sees.

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