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Town/City Name
Scarborough
County
North Yorkshire
Population
61,749
About Scarborough
Scarborough is located at North Yorkshire’s North Sea coast. Above sea level, the town of Scarborough is between 10-230 feet high, and the town’s older part lies around the harbour, protected by a rocky headland. Scarborough was historically part of Yorkshire’s North Riding.
Scarborough is also considered the biggest holiday resort on the coast of Yorkshire. There are more than 61,000 people living in this town. The town lives off the fishing and service industry and is slowly becoming a creative and digital economy. Scarborough is also becoming popular as a tourist spot. The people in this town are called “Scarborians.”
Known to possess a rich history and culture, Scarborough also has several tourist attractions which attract visitors every year. Some of these famous tourist spots include Scarborough Castle, Peasholm Park, St. Mary’s Church, South Bay Beach, and North Bay Railway.
The most famous among the cited tourist destinations in Scarborough must be the Scarborough Castle. It is a medieval castle occupying 91 metres of land. This signal station during the fourth century also has the Anglo-Saxon chapel ruins, and to reach this castle, you have to cross a 1330’s bridge.
There are a lot of notable people from Scarborough like Sir Alan Ayckbourn, John Senior, John Hick, Mikey North, Jimmy Savile, Susan Hill, and Florence Balgarnie.
Furthermore, you can have a taste of the finest and freshest seafood supply in the restaurants in Scarborough. This is because Scarborough is a seaside town, and the classic Yorkshire cuisine can be found everywhere. Bars and pubs in Scarborough are also located in easy-to-find spots where you’ll get to experience the classic pub meals and traditional drinks in town.
Places to eat in Scarborough, Restaurants in Scarborough
Places to drink in Scarborough, Pubs and Bars in Scarborough
A brief history of Scarborough
A Viking raider named Thorgils Skarthi was said to be the founder of Scarborough. It was established around 966 AD, and it was initially called Skarðaborg. However, there are no pieces of evidence to back up these statements, so there are other stories about the town’s origins.
Some people say that Romans have initially lived in Scarborough and that Bronze Age and Stone Age settlements can be found in the area. The new settlements after these ages were then burned by a rival band of Vikings under Lord of Falsgrave, Tosti, and Norway’s Herald III. Because of this, there was very little evidence recorded in 1085’s Domesday survey.
King Henry II was the ruler when Scarborough recovered. He built an Angevin castle made of stone and implemented charters in 1155 and 1163. These grants resulted in having a market located on the sands, and the burgesses were also able to establish rules during this time.
Scarborough Castle was then given to Piers Gaveston, Edward II’s favourite. However, the castle was besieged when Gaveston was captured and executed in Warwick Castle. Scarborough was burned in 1318 due to the Capture of Berwick upon Tweed. Sir James Douglas was the head of the town that time.
Scarborough Fair happened in the Middle Ages when a trading festival happened for six weeks, thus attracting merchants from all over Europe. This fair existed for 500 years starting from the 13th century.
Scarborough experienced long and violent sieges. Hands ruling the town changed for seven times during the 1640’s English Civil War. Then, in 1626, Scarborough Spa was discovered by Mrs Thomasin Farrer. This was Britain’s first seaside resort. The rich and popular people frequented the place.
Many visitors soon came to Scarborough as the Scarborough-York railway was created in 1845. This railway station holds the record for the longest platform seat all over the world.
However, High Seas Fleet’s German warships attacked and bombed Scarborough during the First World War, and one of the most important infrastructures damaged during this time was the Scarborough Pier Lighthouse.
Scarborough was famous for its name being attached to vessels of the Royal Navy like HMS Duncan and HMS Apollo.
Popular things to do in Scarborough
- Enjoy live performances at Scarborough Open Air Theatre - https://scarboroughopenairtheatre.com/
- Relax and unwind at the Scarborough Spa - https://www.scarboroughspa.co.uk/
- Experience the best deals at Crown Spa Hotel - https://www.crownspahotel.com/
- Appreciate award-winning pieces of Tracy Savage at Tracy Savage Art Gallery - https://www.tracysavage.co.uk/
- Attend free cricket sessions at Scarborough Cricket Club - https://scarboroughcricketclub.co.uk/
Free things to do in Scarborough
- Enjoy the view at Peasholm Park - https://www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/scarborough/attraction/nature-parks-gardens/peasholm-park-scarborough
- Take breathtaking pictures at the South Cliff Italian Gardens - https://www.friendsofsouthcliffgardens.com/
- Experience the presence of the Lord at St Mary's Church - http://www.stmaryschurchscarborough.co.uk/
- Sip a cup of coffee or tea at Betton Farm - https://www.bettonfarm.org.uk/
- See the historic Scarborough to Whitby Rail Trail - https://www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/scarborough/activity/leisure-activities/scarborough-to-whitby-rail-trail-20-miles-
Great for kids in Scarborough
- Take a look at the special North Bay Railway - https://nbr.org.uk/
- Walk through the fascinating Tree Trail - https://www.peasholmpark.com/about/the-tree-trail.html
- Visit an award-winning beach at North Bay - https://www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/discover/things-to-do/scarborough-north-bay-p1283041
- Learn more about marine life at Sealife Centre - https://www.visitsealife.com/scarborough/
- Learn about culture and industry at Rotunda Museum - https://www.scarboroughmuseumstrust.com/rotunda-museum/
Great for dogs in Scarborough
- Sheridan Nurseries Garden Centre
- Cherry/Clarke Beach
- Eldred King Woodlands
Dog friendly bars
- Scarborough Arms
- The Old Scalby Mill Ltd
- Farrer's Bar & Restaurant
Dog friendly restaurants
- The BellyRub
- The Tunny Club
- Restaurant 55
Did you know?
The largest comic strip in the world can be found in Scarborough. The creation of this strip was made possible with the help of Scarborough school students in 1988. A part of South Bay Beach was made into a huge front page of The Beano.
Also, two trees from a species were thought to be extinct at a time, but these trees were found in a part of Scarborough, specifically in Peasholm Park Glen. The tree is called the Dickinson Golden Elm.
The hidden gems of Scarborough
St Martin on the Hill is considered one of the hidden gems of Scarborough. Not so many tourists visit this place, but this amazing church has a huge collection of early PRB creations. This Bodley Church is also located in a place that is not pro-Catholic/Tractarian, which is a little ironic, right?
Unique to Scarborough
The Conservative club of Scarborough hosts bingo sessions regularly, and they shout “government” when there is a winner. They say this word instead of “house”.
