Scarborough Top 10's

TOP 10: THINGS TO DO ON A DAY TRIP!

1) HIT THE BEACH
You’re spoilt for choice! South Bay Beach is where it’s ‘happening’ with the Amusements, Entertainment venues like the Spa and Futurist nearby along with dozens of Cafés and Restaurants, gift shops and Harbour. The Town Centre is a short walk or tram ride away and the shelter from the Castle Headland creates a fantastic suntrap, if it’s sunny! North Bay Beach is quieter and if you want to get away from the sound of traffic it’s ideal! The Promenade is just that with top class facilities newly built. No surprise North Bay Beach is a Blue Flag Beach! 3 miles outside town is Cayton Bay with a superb beach but you will have to leave your car at the top of the cliff!

2) WALK AROUND MARINE DRIVE
This great feat of engineering has just celebrated its centenary. Marine Drive carries a road and promenade around the Castle Headland linking South Bay with North Bay. There are hundreds of parking spaces all along the drive but why not walk the whole way round?! It’s less than 2 miles from the Harbour to the new Sands development with cafés dotted along the route and stunning views of the Castle Headland. Watch out for the resident Porpoises swimming just offshore!

3) VISIT PEASHOLM PARK

In our opinion, this is the UK's most beautiful park. It has everything! A stunning lake with a wooded island. One of the world's oldest shows: the Naval Warfare featuring minuature battle ships and real explosions. Then there's the boating, the concerts, the Japanese Pagoda with a 30ft waterfall cascading down. But the best we save for last: Peasholm Glen. Prepare yourself for a lush gorge filled with huge, rare trees, a winding stream with waterfalls spilling into natural pools. A new tree trail has been created and the glen seems to go on and on! Why not see just how far you can go!

4) WALK ALONG THE ESPLANADE

The Esplanade runs along the South Cliff and is where all the famous post card shots of Scarborough's South Bay are photographed. The wide promenade and gardens are matched by the stunning views. And from the Esplanade walk through the South Cliff Gardens. Visit the Rose Garden and the truly magical Italian Gardens. There are miles of paths which wind their way through lush wooded gardens down the cliff to the sea and beach below. Look out for the building used in 'The Royal' and why not visit the site of the former Holbeck Hall Hotel which slipped into the sea in 1993 following a huge landslip.

5) EXPLORE THE CASTLE HEADLAND

Not enough people take the time to explore the Castle Headland. The views are stunning! Paths run along the bottom of the walls offering breathtaking views down over the harbour and South Bay. There are even points where you can look down on both bays. Here, you truly feel like you're on top of the world! Visit the ancient Castle. It's so much more than a damaged Keep! You won't believe how big the area is within the walls! Explore the remains of a Roman Signal Station and discover the turbulent history of one of the UK's best positioned Castles!

6) THE OPEN TOP BUSES

Blackpool has its trams but here you can ride in the fresh air on our Open Top Buses! The route is from The Spa in South Bay to 'The Corner' in North Bay. Hop on or off anywhere in between but remember you pay a single fayre so why not just jump on and do the whole circuit!

7) TAKE A BOAT TRIP!

You can't come for a day without getting on the water! If you want five minutes of speed and excitement, pick a Speedboat. Get the wind in your face as you cut through the waves. Or set sail on one of Scarborough's Pleasure Steamers; Coronia or Regal Lady for a more relaxed and traditional tour of the coast. Each ship has a bar and Regal Lady even has live music on most trips. You can also sail out on a mini Pirate Ship, visit a small seal colony on other small vessels and go on fishing trips. Head to the harbour and see what takes your fancy!

8) HEAD UP OLIVERS MOUNT

It looks down on Scarborough but have you ever been up Olivers Mount? If not, you're missing out! A country park and on some weekends one of the UK's best Motor Racing Circuits! The main reward for a trip here is the amaing view from the Cenetaph. Here, you're looking down on the entire town from over 500ft. Basically you're as high as the top of Blackpool Tower, but this is free and the coastline is stunning here! Olivers Mount is easy to get to by car with parking at the top but if you're feeling energetic, why not walk it!

9) NORTH BAY RAILWAY TO THE SEALIFE CENTRE

From the North Bay the white pyramids of the Sealife Centre are visible. You can drive there or walk along the Promenade. Or why not take a train journey on the North Bay Railway! These beautiful miniature steam trains travel on a line over a mile long from Peasholm around a lake, under a tunnel and long the North Bay cliff with stunning views to Scalby Mills. Here you're a stone's throw from the Sealife Centre. There are even discounts on entry with your train ticket!

10) FISH & CHIPS AND ICE CREAM

Scarborough is the spiritual home of Fish & Chips with around 50 chippies to choose from including dozens along the seafront. It's no myth, fish really does taste better by the sea! It's freshly caught! Ice Cream is also our speciality! At the Harbour Bar you can indulge in some of the biggest ice creams you're ever likely to see!

TOP 10: THINGS TO DO ON A RAINY DAY!

1) SEALIFE CENTRE

With most of the Sealife Centre indoors or under cover, this is the perfect attraction to spend a couple of hours at if the weather isn't great outside!

2) AMUSEMENTS                    

There's so much to do to keep the family entertained for hours. From traditional slot machines to Air Hockey, Pool, Bingo and Ten Pin Bowling. Find them along the Foreshire in South Bay.

3) BRUNSWICK SHOPPING CENTRE

Scarborough's Brunswick Shopping Centre is a 2 floor, covered shopping mall with dozens of high street brands including a large Debenhams Department Store.

4) STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE

See the latest production from Scarborough playright Sir Alan Aykbourn. Situated in the town centre opposite the railway station.

5) FUTURIST THEATRE

Some huge shows roll into the 2,000 seater Futurist but even if there isn't one showing, there's usually the latest blockbuster on the massive cinema screen. Find The Futurist on the Foreshore in the South Bay.

6) LITTLE HOPPERS ADVENTURE WORLD

Little Hoppers is Scarborough's largest premier Family Entertainment Centre which provides leisure activities for all the family. Lot's of indoor entertainment for children 0-12.  Find Little Hoppers on the Hopper Hill Industrial Estate in Eastfield (near Morrisons).

7) LAZER ZONE

Our 4,500 sq ft dimly-lit labyrinth is a smoke-filled maze of doorways, obstacles and barricades where opponents score points by zapping each other, and destroying the enemy base. Find Lazer Zone next door to Little Hoppers Adventure World on the Hopper Hill Industrial Estate in Eastfield (near Morrisons).

8) ROTUNDA: THE WILLIAM SMITH MUSEUM OF GEOLOGY

The Rotunda is the 2nd oldest purpose-built museum in Britain. Built to the specifications of William Smith - the father of English geology in 1828, the museum has been a focal point for geology and local history enthusiasts ever since.

9) SCARBOROUGH ART GALLERY

Italianate villa built in the 1840s as part of the Crescent. Displays Scarborough's fine art collection, which features seascapes and views of Scarborough. Also offers temporary exhibitions.

10) OPERA HOUSE CASINO

Scarborough's new £7 million Opera House Casino, offering a vast array of gaming tables, electronic gaming terminals, Las Vegas-style slot machines.