We highly recommend a day trip to Scarborough during your stay at Whitby Holiday Park. This bustling seaside resort has plenty to offer visitors, including a scenic harbour, sandy beach, family attractions and independent shops.
Here we list just some of our favourite things to see and do in Scarborough. There’s plenty on offer whether you’re visiting as a family, couple or solo traveller.
Scarborough town is a quaint, coastal town with a wide variety of independent, chain and boutique shops. If you’re in the market for a fantasy or ornamental sword, we recommend visiting Ancient Warrior, if that’s not quite what you’re looking for however, don’t worry, Scarborough high street is also home to many farm shops, delicatessens, art galleries and so much more.
Scarborough bay has two beaches – North Beach and South Beach, which are divided by the 11th-century Scarborough Castle. South Bay is the busier of the two, especially during the summer months. It’s home to a number of cafes, ice cream shops, fish and chip takeaways and knick-knack shops.
North Beach is slightly quieter and tends to be popular with sunbathers, surfers, and adult visitors. There are many fun activities to do whilst visiting both beaches, such as donkey rides, swimming, sunbathing, and surfing. There’s even an extensive arcade with plenty of competitions and games to play. Scarborough bay has two beaches – North Beach and South Beach, which are divided by the 11th-century Scarborough Castle. South Bay is the busier of the two, especially during the summer months. It’s home to a number of cafes, ice cream shops, fish and chip takeaways and knick-knack shops.
If you love walking through the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, then you’ll love the nature reserves in Scarborough. We recommend visiting the Harland Mount Nature Reserve. The nature reserve is protected by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and is home to a wide variety of interesting flower species, such as ox-eye daisies, bluebells, dog violets and common knapweed flourish. Wander through the meadows and keep an eye out for flashes of wild deer between the trees. Entry to this beautiful site is free and there are plenty of signposted walking trails. Please bear in mind that dogs are not permitted on this wildlife reserve and be mindful of grazing animals between the spring and autumn months.
Another brilliant nature reserve to visit is the Burton Riggs Nature Reserve. Home to many wild birds which live in and around the large open lakes, Burton Riggs is the perfect spot to birdwatch. Keep an eye out for green sandpipers and short-eared owls which can be seen during the autumn-winter months. There is a pleasant footpath accessible off Dunslow Road, where you can walk around the northern lagoon. Unlike Harland Mount, dogs are allowed at Burton Riggs, however, they must be kept on a lead to not startle the birds.
Scarborough has plenty of engaging and diverse arts available to all those who visit this seaside town.
For those who love live performances, we recommend visiting Scarborough Open-Air Theatre’s website for tickets and concert information. Opened in 2010, the Scarborough Open-Air Theatre is Europe's largest open-air theatre with plenty of iconic acts performing here throughout the year. Catch a musical, a theatre production, or even a live performance by legends such as Blondie, Lewis Capaldi, Sting and Rag ‘N’ Bone Man. If you are planning your holiday with us in advance, we highly recommend looking into booking a ticket at this iconic venue.
The Scarborough Art Gallery is a must-visit spot for those who love the arts. The gallery has a variety of exhibitions ranging from ‘From Local to Global’ which is a collection of pieces collected during the British Empire by a big game hunter and wealthy landowner, to ‘We Are Our Own Promised Land’ which is an exhibition by Kate Genever who specialises in stained glass. These exhibitions are always changing.
If you fancy yourself a bit of an artist, then why not visit Mrs Pot’s Pots? Spend the afternoon painting a mug, plate, or quirky character at the creative studio in Scarborough town. Babies, children, and adults are welcome to participate. On Thursday evenings there is even a session available for those over 18s. Simply bring a bottle of bubbly and they’ll provide the glasses! Don’t worry about transporting your precious piece of pottery either - at Mrs Pot’s Pots, they are able to post your pieces home once they have finished firing in the kiln.
Located on the coast of North Yorkshire, Scarborough is the perfect town to visit for a spot of adventure.
If you feel like braving the coastline head-on, we suggest checking out Scarborough Surf School based at Cayton Bay. Offering surf and paddleboarding lessons, the school is hugely popular with locals and visitors alike. They also have coasteering activities available to book for groups and families. Why not brave the seas and take the plunge?
If you like the sound of the Scarborough Surf School, you may also like North Yorkshire Water Park. North Yorkshire Water Park is a brilliant place to visit for adventurers. The Park has a wide variety of activities available, with more available during the school holidays and half term. Activities include ziplining, climbing, paddle boarding, kayaking, wakeboarding, pedalos, open water swimming, mini electric boats, fishing, and sailing. There is also a large inflatable Aqua Park which is available for individuals, groups, and younger children from three years old.
For more information regarding bookings and ticket prices, please visit North Yorkshire Water Park’s website.
Scarborough is home to many restaurants, cafes, and bars, so we understand it can be difficult to know where to start. We recommend visiting the award-winning The Copper Horse restaurant. The Copper Horse has a contemporary interior, which is reminiscent of Scarborough’s show business heritage. Serving traditional Yorkshire dishes including locally sourced burgers and Sunday Roasts, The Copper Horse is perfect for casual dining.
Perhaps you're looking for a lighter alternative? We love Clark’s Restaurant which is near the Scarborough Market and just a short walk away from the town centre. The owner and chef, Rob Clark, is a Scarborough local and has worked in multiple Michelin Star restaurants such as Harome, The Box Tree and The Star Inn. The restaurant serves modern tapas for lunch and dinner with options including seasonal fish, lobster, local meat as well as vegetarian options.
Enjoy the thirty-minute drive along the beautiful coastline from our holiday park in Whitby to Scarborough. Or you can catch the X93 bus if you’d prefer to rely on public transport. Once you have arrived in Scarborough town, all the shops and restaurants are within a short walking distance of each other.
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.