Bridlington is my local seaside town, having lived just down the road from it all my life. It probably gets a bad rap more than other seaside towns in Yorkshire, but it probably has one of the most beautiful stretches of sandy beach in the country. And, within the town itself, there are some absolute gems. So, I thought I best put together a list that showcases the best things to do in Bridlington this summer.
From the iconic Yorkshire Belle trips out to sea to visit Bempton Cliffs to a classic fish and chip lunch, there’s plenty to get your teeth into. So, let’s jump in and see what this classic seaside town has to offer.
Our Top 12 Best Things To Do In Bridlington
To help you build your itinerary for your next visit, we have put together a list of our twelve favourite things to do in Bridlington this summer. Enjoy!
1. Relax on Bridlington’s Beaches
Bridlington is home to two brilliant beaches, both offering visitors a different experience. Bridlington North Beach is popular with tourists, where you can do all the classic seaside things from eating fish & chips and ice creams to visiting the arcades.
Whilst South Beach, on the other side of the harbour, offers a huge stretch of sandy beach that goes on for miles and is perfect for a scenic walk, paddle in the sea, all whilst taking in the beautiful Yorkshire coastline.
2. Enjoy some classic fish & chips by the sea
We couldn’t really miss one of Britain’s favourite meals off the list, could we? After walking around enjoying Bridlington’s tourist attractions, what better way to relax than eating some of Bridlington’s best fish and chips at one of its beautiful beaches? There are plenty of fine chippies in the town to choose from. Here are some of our personal favourites:
- Fish And Chips At 149 – 149 Marton Rd, Bridlington YO16 7DJ
- Lighthouse Fisheries of Flamborough – High St, Flamborough, Bridlington YO15 1JX
- Naked Fish – 25 Queen St, Bridlington YO15 2SN
- Gabby’s Chippy – 36 High St, Bridlington YO16 4PX
- North Beach Fish and Chips – N Marine Promenade, Bridlington YO15 2NB
So, head down to the beach for some sun, sand, and tasty scran on your next trip to the coast.
3. Enjoy the Seafront Amusements & Land Train
The nostalgic seaside treats are sometimes just as good as you remember, and a good old 2p machine is still all the entertainment we need. If you need a break from the beach and sunshine, or somewhere to let the kids run wild for a while, these spots are perfect. Forum is one of the most popular attractions in Bridlington, offering everything from pool tables to classic family arcade games like Dance Stage, as well as immersive VR experiences.
Or perhaps you’d rather hop on the Land Train and rest your legs while taking in the stunning coastline. With views stretching out towards Danes Dyke, the train zips along the length of Bridlington’s seafront, offering a unique and relaxing way to enjoy the scenery.
4. Watch a Show at Bridlington Spa
Is there a better way to spend an evening than singing and dancing along to your favourite artist? Well, if the answer is no, then you need to visit the Bridlington Spa.
With a capacity of 3,800 people revellers. It’s a great space to enjoy a show this summer. It plays host to a range of fatastic acts from tribute acts, to your favourite bands and soem great touring plays.
If you are planning to catch a show this summer, then you have some incredible and diverse acts to choose from, including:
- Rock For Heroes (6th August)
- Shania Up To Now – Shania Twain Tribute Act (7th August)
- Rob Laberti – George Michael Tribute Act (8th August)
- Vicky Jack – PINK Tribute Act (11th August)
- 9 to 5: The Musical (11th August – 15th August)
- ABBA Forever (14th August)
- Taylor Mania – Taylor Swift Tribute Act (18th August)
- The Big Indoor Brit Pop Festival (21st August)
- Totally Tina – Tina Turner Tribute Act (23rd August)
- P***ed Up Panto (29th August)
Prepare to have the time of your life and get your tickets booked for the Bridlington Spa. For full show listings, check out their website here.
5. Visit RSPB Bempton Cliffs
Bempton Cliffs, are the jewel of the Yorkshire Coast and one of the most loved of Bridlington’s tourist attractions. And it’s easy to see why with over a half a million seabirds gathering between March and August to raise a family on the towering chalk cliffs that overlook the North Sea.
The Huge white chalk cliffs of Bempton is transformed each Spring into England’s largest seabird city hosting the likes of Puffins, Gannets, Kittiwakes and Guillemots. You can see more Gannets acrobatically diving into the deep sea than anywhere else on mainland England.
But, the cliffs aren’t the only impressive space there. In spring and summer Corn Buntings, Skylarks and Linnets breed in the grassland and scrub where land eets the sea. And, Kestrels and Barn owls hunter under the wide open skies joined in winter by Short-eared owls.
So, when you next visit Bridlingont, makes sure you pull yourself off the beach and take a drive out to Bempton Cliffs.
6. Take a trip out to sea on the Yorkshire Belle
Want to experience the Bridlington coastline including Bempton Cliffs in a unique way? Well, the Yorkshire Belle lets you do just that offering a range of experiences on Bridlington’s Pleasure Cruiser.
The Belle, which was built in 1947 takes you along the Yorkshire Coast giving you a chance to enjoy it in all its glory. You’ll take in the sights of Flamborough Lighthouse, Bempton Cliff’s seabird Colony and Filey Bay.
There is a range of coastal sightseeing cruises to choose from including a 30-minute seaside special, a one-hour lighthouse cruise, a one-and-a-half hour Breil Newk/Silex Bay cruise, a two-and-a-half hour Bempton Cliffs cruise or a three-hour trip to Filey Bay.
7. Sewerby Hall & Gardens
You have to love a stately home and Sewerby Hall & Gardens is a stunning spot to visit uniquly situated n a dramatic clifftop position with spectacular views over Bridlington and set in 50 acres of early 19th century parkland. It’s home to a zoo, walled gardens and more.
The zoo has to be the most popular part of the house and is home to all sorts of creatures from guinea pigs and micropigs to sika deer, Cameroon Sheep and capuchin monkeys. Are favourites have to be the penguins and the llamas.
The gardens and the house are a great place to visit for a snapshot of history. The gardens in summer are espeically beautiful with the Walled, Pleasure and Rose garden taking centre stage throughout the summer months.
On your next visit to Bridlington, it’s worth popping over to Sewerby either by Land Train or driving and parking on site. It has a fantastic cafe for grabbing some lunch after checking out all it has to offer as well.
8. Grab a pint in the Old Town
No trip to Bridlington is complete without visiting its Old Town. Wander through its historic streets and alleyways soaking up the atmosphere. There’s a real feeling of and warmth of the past about the place with some beautiful shops to visit. But, our favourite reason to visit? The pubs!
The Board Inn is a firm favourite with all the stunning original features you want from a traditional ale house. Visit in winter to enjoy the roaring fire. Another great pub to venture to is the Black Lion – one of Brid’s most historic pubs, which dates back to the 1700s.
If you’re looking for things to do in Bridlington, then visiting its Old Town pubs is up there as one of the most favourable for The Yorkshireman.
9. Walk Flamborough Head
Having lived in East Yorkshire for most of my life, Flamborough Head has to be one of my favourite places to visit near Bridlington. Just a little further up the coast, you can admire the stunning natural rock formation known as the Drinking Dinosaur, as well as the iconic Flamborough Lighthouse.
Perched atop the dramatic white chalk cliffs, there are plenty of beautiful walks to enjoy in the area, including sections of the new King Charles III England Coast Path. One of our favourites is the scenic route that takes in Danes Dyke, offering breathtaking coastal views and plenty of opportunities to spot seabirds along the way.
10. Bondville Model Village (Sewerby)
Bondville, in Sewerby, is a proper old fashioned attraction that is so charming. It takes you back in time in a truly immersive experience that captures the imagination of all visitors. It’s a must visit if you’re exploring Bridlington and the East Yorkshire coast. The model village showcases over 200 intricately crafted buildings including a windmill and castle ruins.
Each scene paints a picture of england being brough to life by charming figures and vehicles including a miniature train the runs around the village adding to the magic. Great for all anges including family outings, date days and quality time with loves ones. They have a fantastic cafe offering afternoon teas and more to enjoy afterwards for the most British day out.
11. Walk Danes Dyke Nature Reserve
One of our favourite dog walks, but equally great as a hike out is the local nature reserve Danes Dyke. It’s a dramatic reserve on the Flamborough Head Heritage Coast and is a stunning wooded ravine with an ancient earthwork. It’s the largest area of trees on the Headland and has great views from the beach across the bay to Bridlington.
Danes Dyke covers 148 acres and was declared a Local Nature Restve in 2002 in recognition of its wildlife value and importance ot the local area. Its name comes from the ancient ditch and bank earthwork, which runs through the reserve. It runs for 4km across the whole of the Headland, from the south t othe Cat Nab on the Bempton Cliffs in the North. We tend to park up in the car park and walk down the hill on to the beach and wander along the beach, which is a mixture of huge white pebbles and sandy stretches.
So, when you next visit Bridlington, make sure you make the effort to head out that way and take it all in.
Check out our Danes Dyke to Flamborough Head walk guide here:
12. Visit one of its brilliant restaurants
Bridlington is an underrated gem when it comes to dining out. The town’s restaurant scene is outstanding, offering everything from a proper chippy experience and to incredible burgers to one of our favourite restaurants on the Yorkshire Coast is located in the Old Town, CREAM, which serves home-cooked ribs, smash burgers and secret recipe fried chicken.
Check out the best restaurants in Scarborough here.
Looking for More Things to do in Bridlington?
We are sure that our list has given you some food for thought on things to do in Bridlington this summer. If you want to learn more about the town’s history, culture, and activities all year round, then discover our Scarborough archives for more great blogs.
Want to go a little further afield? Then discover our travel section for tips for exploring our magnificent county.
Read More: 7 Of The Best Restaurants In Bridlington You Need To Visit
