After a long, dark winter – we bet you’re praying for those summer months to come. We don’t blame you. So, on those warm days, where are you heading for a day out? Well, may we suggest one of Yorkshire’s finest coastal towns? You guessed it – Scarborough. To help you plan your trip, we’ve created the ultimate guide exploring some of the best things to do in Scarborough this summer.
We will look at diverse activities from wildlife cruises to shows at the Scarborough Open Air Theatres to watching the sunset at Oliver’s Mount. So, let’s jump in and see what this picturesque seaside town has to offer.
Our Top 12 Best Things to do in Scarborough
To help you build your itinerary for your next visit, we have put together a list of our twelve favourite things to do in Scarborough this summer. Enjoy!
1. Catch a Show at the Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Is there a better way to spend a warm summer evening than singing and dancing along to your favourite artist? Well, if the answer is no, then you need to visit the Scarborough Open Air Theatre.
It is Europe’s largest open-air theatre, with a capacity of 8,000 revellers. Over the years, it has built a reputation as one of the UK’s finest venues and hosted some of the most famous names in the musical world.
If you are planning to catch a show this summer, then you have some incredible and diverse acts to choose from, including:
- The Kooks (18th June)
- Skunk Anansie (20th June)
- Pete Tong (26th June)
- Bowling for Soup (2nd July)
- Alanis Morissette (5th July)
- The Streets (1st August)
- Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter (2nd August)
- Nile Rodgers (22nd August)
Prepare to have the time of your life and get your tickets booked for the Scarborough Open Air Theatre. For full show listings, check out their website here.
2. Take a Seat with a Wartime Hero – Freddie Gilroy
Next on your list of things to do in Scarborough is to view a piece of incredible artwork celebrating a wartime hero. Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers is a statue designed by sculptor Ray Lonsdale.
Freddie Gilroy was a soldier who participated in the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945. While the statue is a tribute to Freddie, who was a friend of Ray, it is also seen as a tribute to all those who died in WW2 and a Holocaust memorial.
The statue is quite a spectacle. It is made from weathering steel, 3.5 meters tall, and depicts Freddie sitting on a bench looking out to sea. It is a powerful tribute to the many heroes of the war and is a must-visit. You’ll find Freddie located in the North Bay, and due to his size, you can’t miss him!
3. Take a Ride on the Central Tramway
Want to experience history, enjoy stunning views, and save your legs from the walk to the top of the cliff? Well, Central Tramway lets you do all that for just £1.50!
It was built back in 1881, and is one of the oldest cliff railways still running in the UK. In fact, the Central Tramway has the honour of being the country’s oldest cliff tramway company, as they still operate today.
You’ll find it in the heart of the picturesque South Bay between St Nicholas Gardens and the famous Grand Hotel. It is one of the most popular Scarborough tourist attractions, with around 450,000 passengers riding the tram every year. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy those incredible views while experiencing a piece of local history.
4. Visit the beach for a proper British seaside trip
Scarborough is home to two fantastic beaches, each offering something completely different. South Bay Beach is the place to go for that classic British seaside experience, with bustling crowds, deckchairs lining the sand, arcades, fish and chip shops, ice cream stands and pubs all just moments from the shore. It’s lively, nostalgic and everything you’d want from a traditional trip to the coast.
Meanwhile, North Bay Beach offers a quieter escape with long stretches of sandy beach away from the busiest parts of town. It’s perfect for scenic walks, paddling in the sea or simply relaxing while taking in the beautiful Yorkshire coastline.
5. Stroll Through the Beautiful South Cliff Italian Gardens
One of the most beautiful and loved of all Scarborough’s tourist attractions. It is easy to see why! These gardens are an absolute delight and perfect for a summer stroll.
Dating back to 1911, they were designed by prolific Scarborough Civic Engineer Harry W Smith. They are now a grade II listed on the English Heritage Register of Historic Houses and Gardens. While you are walking around, you’ll find a number of notable features, including an ornate lily pond at the heart of the garden, complete with a statue of the Roman god Mercury.
You’ll also find two larger classical pavilions at the top of either end of the gardens, leading onto a series of terraces with a number of stunningly designed flower beds. There is plenty of seating so you can sit and enjoy the peacefulness and tranquillity of the gardens and look out for the diverse wildlife that inhabits them.
So, when you next visit Scarborough, take a walk through the Italian Gardens to add a bit of peace and nature to your trip.
6. Go Crabbing
If you are planning on taking the little ones the next time you visit Scarborough, then keep them entertained with a simple, unique, and fun experience – Crabbing. The beautiful Yorkshire coastline offers some of the UK’s best crabbing spots.
This long-running tradition is enjoyed by children of all ages who excitedly lower their lines into the water and wait to see what they pull up. You can pick up line, buckets, and bait from local shops in Scarborough. The crabs you’ll catch are inedible and small, so part of the fun is to care for and be gentle with them. Kids can study and watch them scurrying around in their buckets before releasing them back into the water.
Here are some of the best places to go crabbing in and around Scarborough:
- Scarborough South Bay – South Bay offers the perfect place for dropping your line and experiencing crabbing. The beach has a very classic seaside feel, so when you have finished crabbing, you can grab some fresh seafood, play in the amusements, or grab an ice cream at the various parlours.
- Scarborough North Bay – North Bay is highly popular with surfers and rock pool enthusiasts, but also those looking to go crabbing. If you time your visit for the low tide, you will find some fascinating marine life emerging.
- Hayburn Wyke – Just a short drive out of Scarborough, is the rocky beach of Hayburn Wyke, which is great for crabbing and rock pooling. It’s also home to a waterfall that flows straight onto the beach. Once you’ve finished, you can pop back up to the top and visit the pub for a pint and some nice grub.
So, grab your buckets, lines, and bait and get ready for some summer fun by the sea.
7. Relive History at Scarborough Castle
Get ready to step into 3,000 years of history this summer with a fascinating trip to Scarborough Castle. You’ll learn all about its early beginnings as an Iron Age settlement, to being a Roman signal station, to its heyday in the 12th century, when it was developed by King John and Henry II. You’ll also hear about the epic battles that Scarborough Castle experienced. These include being besieged twice by Parliamentarians and defending the country from Napoleon, the Jacobites, and the German Kaiser during World War I.
As you walk around Scarborough Castle, you can experience stunning views of both the North and South Bay. The site is vast at 16 acres and is now maintained as a huge wildflower meadow. So, why not take a picnic and relax on the grass with the family, basking in the summer sun and the local history all around you?
There is plenty to do if you are planning on bringing the children. The little ones can uncover English folklore on the Folktale Creature Trails. Here, kids can discover magical English legends and myths. They will meet six unique creatures as they walk around the site, and they’ll earn special certificates marking their achievements when they’ve completed the trail.
After exploring the incredible history of Scarborough Castle, we are sure you’ll be wanting some refreshments. Well, there’s plenty of food and drink on offer! They serve coffee, tea, cold drinks, ice cream, delicious cakes, alcoholic tipples, and treats for your pooches. Also, be sure to call into the gift and secondhand bookshop to take home a memento of your trip or a book by some of the finest authors.
Ready to relive history and visit Scarborough Castle this summer. You can find more information to plan your visit here.
8. Enjoy Fish and Chips on the Beach
We couldn’t really miss one of Britain’s favourite meals off the list, could we? After walking around enjoying Scarborough’s tourist attractions, what better way to relax than eating some of Scarborough’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:
- Lifeboat Fish Bar – 76 Eastborough, Scarborough, YO11 1NJ
- Mother Hubbard’s – 43 Westborough, Scarborough YO11 1UN
- North Bay Fisheries – 179 Columbus Ravine, Scarborough YO12 7QZ
- Catch 55 – 49-55 Eastborough, Scarborough YO11 1NH
- Seamer Fisheries – 2 Main St, Seamer, Scarborough YO12 4RF
So, head down to the beach for some sun, sand, and tasty scran on your next trip to the coast.
9. Watch the Sunset at Oliver’s Mount
After a long day sightseeing, you may want a place to sit for a peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of the town. Well, the best place we recommend is Oliver’s Mount. Home to a stunning food menu, we’d highly recommend you save some room and enjoy one of their hot sandwiches or tasty French toast dishes.
Located on the cliffs overlooking Scarborough, it offers simply breathtaking views of the town and coastline. You will be able to see many of the wonderful places you visited – Scarborough Castle, the harbour, and the South Bay.
Our top tip is to time it right and visit at the end of the day when the sun is setting over town. Scarborough looks fantastic in the evening glow and experiences views that will live with you long after your trip has ended.
10. Learn to Surf
Want to add a bit of adrenaline-fueled fun on your next trip? Well, next on our list of best things to do in Scarborough will be right up your street. Just three miles south of Scarborough, you’ll find Clayton Bay, which is widely regarded as the best and most scenic surf spot in the area.
If you fancy a surf, then check out the Scarborough Surf School. They cater to beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers and offer both private and group sessions as well as a kids school and sessions for stag and hen dos. Their expert coaches will help you improve your technique and make sure you make the most of your time on the water.
So, get ready to hit the waves the next time you visit Scarborough with an action-packed and fun trip to Clayton Bay.
11. Take a Wildlife Cruise
If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a trip to the coast provides you with an opportunity to witness the beauty of the natural world. Therefore, our final activity on our list of best things to do in Scarborough is a wildlife cruise. It is perfect for a lone traveller, those in a couple, or with children.
There are two popular cruises you can choose from:
Becca Marie Sealife Safari: All aboard! This is the perfect vessel for your wildlife adventure. It will take you on a 3-hour trip to Bempton Cliffs. En route, you stop at Horse Rocks, a local wildlife attraction, where you can often see seals. Upon arriving at Bempton, you can see and photograph puffins. If you are really lucky, you’ll be able to spot dolphins!
Queensferry Cruises: They offer a range of trips available from Easter to October. Their wildlife tour heads southwards to Casty Rocks. On the journey, you will be able to spot fascinating local wildlife, including Gannets, Herons, Puffins, Seals, Guillemots, Cormorants, Razorbills, and much more. You’ll get loads of information about the wildlife you see, and of course, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to take photos.
12. Have a Fantastic Foodie Experience
Scarborough 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 tasty Turkish kebabs to one of our favourite restaurants in Yorkshire, Embers, which serves fantastic seasonal British dishes cooked over a wood-fired kitchen.
Check out the best restaurants in Scarborough here.
So, be sure to add an exciting nature adventure on your next trip to Scarborough!
Looking for More Things to do in Scarborough?
We are sure that our list has given you some food for thought on things to do in Scarborough 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: 10 Of The Best Pubs In Scarborough You Need To Visit
