What to do in Scarborough

Activities, attractions and tours

Visit Scarborough

South Bay Beach featuring a beach and a coastal town

Scarborough Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that Scarborough has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to Scarborough, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling to Scarborough with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Places of interest in Scarborough

Scarborough is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in Scarborough, and make it a breeze to explore Scarborough and the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Scarborough to make sure that you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit to Scarborough, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights in Scarborough.

Scarborough attractions

Scarborough has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions in Scarborough to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Scarborough.

Looking for things to do in Scarborough can be time-consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine of Scarborough or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Scarborough attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!

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Top places to visit

1. Scarborough Open Air Theatre

Scarborough Open Air Theatre is a mixed entertainment venue set on a lake in Scarborough’s Northstead Manor Gardens. Its stage is on an island in the middle of the water while the audience has seating on the eastern bank. Throughout the summer months Scarborough Open Air Theatre has a busy schedule of music, theater and sporting events.

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Watch productions and performances by world-famous music acts at one of the largest outdoor theaters in Europe, a venue with a stage in an unusual setting.

2. Scarborough Spa

Scarborough Spa is a vast complex offering many events and activities in an impressive heritage-listed cliffside building. As its name suggests, the site was built around the region’s spa waters, although it is now known for its Jazz Festival, Spa Orchestra, dances and concerts. Move around the complex to appreciate its excellent views of the sea.

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Scarborough Spa which includes theatre scenes, general coastal views and performance art

3. North Bay Beach

North Bay Beach is a tranquil stretch of golden sand with restaurants, beach cabins and family activities. It is the quieter and wilder of Scarborough’s two main beaches, a little farther out from the town center. Trek with your family past the picturesque outcrops and rock pools to the main sandy area and headland.

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North Bay Beach featuring a coastal town and a beach as well as a large group of people

4. Peasholm Park

With its scenic lake, pretty gardens and fun activities, Peasholm Park is one of the most impressive of Scarborough’s central parks. It covers an area of 40 acres (16 hectares) with views of the North Sea. Stroll around the circumference of the lake, which runs around a picturesque island.

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Peasholm Park showing a river or creek and a park

5. alpamare

With activities that will get your heart pumping and areas to enjoy the picturesque coastline of Scarborough, Alpamare has attractions to suit all ages. Alpamare is a fun-filled waterpark that recreates typical alpine relaxation and recreation. Ride slides inspired by ski resorts, soothe the body in an iodine pool and look out over stunning views from a sun-soaked terrace.

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Ride thrilling waterslides, swim in rolling waves, relax in an infinity pool and stroll around a scenic garden at this alpine-themed amusement park.

6. South Bay Beach

South Bay Beach is the livelier of Scarborough’s main sandy stretches. The Castle Headland provides shelter from the northern winds, enabling excellent sunbathing conditions. Scarborough Castle stands at the northern part of the beach, while Scarborough Spa borders the south edge. Traverse the sandy bay in style with a traditional donkey ride.

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South Bay Beach featuring a coastal town and a bay or harbour

7. Scarborough Castle

Scarborough Castle is a set of fascinating ruins that remain from a 12th-century royal fortress. Built atop a cliff, the medieval castle commands panoramic views of the North Sea and the coastal town of Scarborough. Learn about the rich history of this spot, where evidence of Iron Age, Roman and Scandinavian settlements lies beside the main castle.

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Scarborough Castle showing a sandy beach, a sunset and heritage elements

8. Scarborough Cricket Club

Whether as an introduction to cricket or the culmination of a lifelong interest, Scarborough Cricket Club is a great place to watch a test match. Nestled in the midst of row houses, with a traditional pavilion built in 1895, the ground exudes the passion of its fans, who have played and celebrated the game of cricket here since its beginning. Take a break from the beach to participate in one of Britain’s most distinctive spectacles, the multi-day cricket test. Munch homemade pies and enjoy the atmosphere of the assembled crowd.

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This charming ground hosts matches throughout the summer but is best known for its annual cricket festival, which has taken place almost every summer since 1876.

9. North Bay Railway

North Bay Railway is a complex with thrilling and innovative attractions alongside a historic miniature train network that chugs along Scarborough’s rugged coastline. Built over 80 years ago as a simple train line, the park now incorporates many other family activities.

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North Bay Railway featuring railway items

10. Stephen Joseph Theatre

The Stephen Joseph Theatre has a diverse program of drama, comedy and music. Considered a gem of art deco architecture, the venue is a former Odeon cinema built in 1936 and is now home to a theater-in-the-round founded in 1955 by theatrical pioneer Stephen Joseph. The theater has changed venues several times before settling at its present location in 1996.

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This theater presents its own as well as visiting productions and has a cinema and a busy program of workshops and other events.

Recommended things to do in Scarborough

Number of things to do	7
Things to do from	£6
Cheapest thing to do	Whitby's Historic East Side: An audio tour uncovering the east side's tales
Top 5 things to do	Sea Life Scarborough Scarborough: Quirky self-guided smartphone heritage walks Whitby: Guided Distillery Tour with Gin Tasting Whitby: Whitby Abbey Ticket Whitby: Audio Guide with Lifetime App Access
Half-day tours	Whitby: Guided Distillery Tour with Gin Tasting Essential Whitby: Discover the town’s legends on a self-guided audio tour Whitby's Historic East Side: An audio tour uncovering the east side's tales
With kids	Sea Life Scarborough Whitby: Whitby Abbey Ticket

Popular places to visit

Scarborough Open Air Theatre

4.5/5(73 reviews)

Watch productions and performances by world-famous music acts at one of the largest outdoor theaters in Europe, a venue with a stage in an unusual setting.

Scarborough Spa

4/5(119 reviews)

Stroll through the majestic rooms of this Victorian venue for dances and orchestras and learn about its origins as a spa in the 1600s.

North Bay Beach

4.5/5(211 reviews)

Enjoy the tranquil setting of this spacious sandy haven flanked by a miniature railway and an aquarium with Humboldt penguins.

Peasholm Park

4.5/5(238 reviews)

Ascend to the top of the island pagoda for excellent views of a park full of attractions and nature paths.

alpamare

Ride thrilling waterslides, swim in rolling waves, relax in an infinity pool and stroll around a scenic garden at this alpine-themed amusement park.

South Bay Beach

4/5(199 reviews)

Marvel at the dynamic setting of this traditional British coastal resort, where you will find arcade games, a harbor and boutiques.

Scarborough Castle

4/5(67 reviews)

Delve through 3,000 years of history at the ruins of this headland castle with panoramic views of the North Sea.

Scarborough Cricket Club

4.5/5(15 reviews)

This charming ground hosts matches throughout the summer but is best known for its annual cricket festival, which has taken place almost every summer since 1876.

North Bay Railway

Walk on air, run on water and rush down a water chute at this quaint amusement park centered on a miniature railway.

Explore areas of Scarborough

Scarborough which includes a luxury hotel or resort and a coastal town

Scarborough City Centre

4/5(184 area reviews)

Scarborough City Centre is a destination visitors seek out for its beaches, lively bars and seaside views. You might want to check out attractions like South Bay Beach or Mecca Bingo while you're exploring the neighbourhood.