The 17 best beaches in and around Scarborough

Beautiful beach and most importantly - clean well working toilets where you can actually wash your hands !

A beautiful place for all walks of life. The beach to all the attractions. Scarborough is the perfect place for the family. We really did not want to leave. Very scenic. Loads of beautiful walks. North bay beach just as pretty.

Lovely stretch of clean beach. Was nice to get out on a warm day and soak up the sun.

I don’t often go far along the South Bay past the Spa but I did today. It was late afternoon and I probably only saw about 10 people in a 20 minute walk along there and most of those were dog walkers. The air was clear, the sun was warm and the tide was in so there were some good crashing waves along the front. I walked along past the giant Star Map before making my way up through the gardens; will probably walk further along in my next visit.

Amazing views from the top. Such a beautiful place.

Did not go on this beach properly just around the walking paths but it seemed lovely! Not too busy around the late afternoon times and was clean.

A Great place to visit!

Nice seaside with sandy beach. This horseshoe bay has beautiful views overlooking the castle, the town and beyond. It is a great beach for family days out especially on a sunny day. The view from further up the road towards the castle is spectacular. There’s paid parking right opposite the beach. Scarborough is a beautiful town.

This beach is awesome, the tide goes way out and stays out for ages, when the water comes in there a some really good waves crashing over the walls. There's a surf, school and cabins you can rent.

We love the north bay. Lovely views clean beach and plenty of places to relax with a drink. Also a lovely seafront walk

A lovely broad bay with a sandy beach and lots of attractive beach huts, amongst which there seemed quite a thriving hut community. There's plenty of things to entertain the kids and a few kiosks, cafes, beach bars etc for refreshments, and public toilets (40p a time) which are spacious and clean. Despite all the ameneties the area doesn't feel overly commercialised, just a nice balance of sea, sand and sustenance.

Really nice beach with fabulous sea views,a lot of people love to surf here, Dexter's surf school is very popular

Our happy place! Such a lovely, well maintained beach. Lots of coffee shops and eateries to choose from, gift shops and facilities. Much less hussle and bustle like the South Bay.

Cracking beach, excellent facilities, and always quieter than South Bay.

Went on a sunny day but during the evening time, the parking is not so far from here, can park down the road or they have free parking underground after 6pm. The beach was nice and was not so busy but maybe this was on this particular day, the pier side with the shops was really busy. I'm sure if you go during peak sunlight hours it would be a great day out.

My family visited in the summer. The day was sunny but also windy and chilly. Scarborough Beach was beautiful — a lovely spot to enjoy some sunshine and the sea breeze, even though it was far too cold for a swim.

Clean beach and nice long beach front for walk. Fantastic hot shower Fecilities could not believe it’s even done sustainable with solar energy .

Had a fantastic day here a lovely place to visit. We went on a coach trip to Scarborough for the day and really enjoyed ourselves, unlike a lot of places there is plenty to do here. We had a great time looking around the shops on the front looking for bargains, all the shops were open which was nice to see. We went on the beach that was Clean. We also went on a speed boat ride (highly recommend) and we also found a great place to eat fish and chips and there was plenty of eating place to choose from. We will definitely go again fantastic day out.

Never been to Scarborough before and didnt realise how big it is. Stayed at the North Bay which has Sea Life and is quieter than the South Bay which has the amusement arcades. In between is Scarborough Castle and a lovely shopping area. Both beaches were very good. From Scarborough there are plenty of places to visit, Whitby, Bridlington, Filey, Robin Hoods Bay. Goid train station & bus services.

Scarborough Beach is a wonderful place to visit, full of tourists, energy, and a very welcoming atmosphere. The beach itself is beautiful, with plenty of new experiences, great people, and excellent food options all around. It is definitely one of the highlights of the town. However, after playing a few games in Gilly’s Casino, I had an unpleasant moment when two employees made a racist comment as I was leaving. I chose to ignore it, but it was disappointing, especially as this was the first time I’ve experienced anything like this in my three years of living here. Overall, Scarborough Beach is an amazing destination that I highly recommend to travelers. It offers a mix of fun, culture, and relaxation, and is truly a must-visit spot despite the isolated negative experience I had at the casino.

Absolutely stunning sandy beach. Clean & tidy beach for a long walk. Dog friendly even feel not good for young kids. Seems very popular among kids because there were a lot of kids were busy playing and enjoying time at beach. First time visited here and really enjoyed as it was a good bright day. Very well maintain, no litter at least. Plenty of shops, pubs and cafes around. Beautiful views around of harbour and castle on top of the hill specially. Highly recommend

The park has multiple entrances, includes a lake (with island), pedalos (dragon boats), cafe, mini golf etc. We visited straight after having some train rides just over the road. There was a bit of a wait for the dragon boats, but it is the school summer holidays...! We comfortably fitted the whole family in... although I regretted being volunteered by the kids to do the peddling!

Fabulous walk around the lake with paths suitable for all mobilities. Also woodland walks, again with proper paths. Wild animals and water fowl to watch. Plenty of seating. Nice little cafe

Not been for too many years but getting back remember why I love it. The walk around the lake is lovely watching the birds and plenty of seating so you can watch the world go by. Wonderful little piece of tranquility in a crazy world.

Stunning park close to North Bay beach. The park has something for everyone. The main attraction would be the pedal boats. There is an elevated island in the middle with an oriental building to the top. There is ample seating and toilet facilities. You can also observe wildlife here. Very well designed gardens. Great place for family picnics.

Lovely setting. Enjoyed the walk around the lake, Didn't go on the paddle boats but they looked great and didn't seem overly expensive. Really nice Chinese style buildings and a gazebo with a band stand in the middle of the lake.

A little gem of peace and quiet, just a couple of minutes from Scarborough North Beach. We visited in mid-September. Lots of waterfowl, grey squirrels begging for food. There's a cafe with very pleasant, friendly staff and lots of benches to sit and watch the birds on the lake.

Beautiful setting, perfect place to switch off and relax away from the hustle. Woodland, boating lake, streams and water falls. Lots to see, geese, ducks, swans, squirrels all really friendly. Boating lake with dragon pedalos, and rowing boats, cafe on site. Theres a long stay car park straight across the road.

We used our English Heritage membership for entry to Scarborough castle for a slightly more relaxed hour or two after visiting a rather busy south bay area! The walk up the hill to the castle was broken up by a quick play on the playground... Upon entering we was given the option of audio guides and also advised that there was some taskmaster activities, which obviously appealed to the kids as they have limited attention for actually going round the castle ruins! After listening and reading about some of the history we proceeded to the taskmaster activities, given instruction on how it runs and got started. There were 6 activities in total, all slightly different. These are great if you can be in a group of 4 to 6 people (with one acting as the scorer / judge for points). Kids (and grown ups) all enjoyed this and it was a bit different! After taking some 'winner' photos we carried on round the headland. The views from the headland / castle are wonderful, and there is so much history to learn about. They did have some guided tours which when I listened in on one sounded really informative! It's useful as a reminder that in terms of a castle there is not much left, you can climb part of the keep and walls and walk round the headland area. We enjoyed our visit, and the weather being pretty good certainly helped!

Visited while we were in Scarborough for a few days. Bit of a climb if you’re walking but worth it. The castle itself has much to explore and there’s a surprisingly large meadow to walk around too. Epic views all around. Shop, Cafe and seating on site. It was a lovely day when we went but given its location I’m pretty sure you will feel the elements if you catch it on a bad day!

A magnificent ruined abbey, very atmospheric and well interpreted by the audio tour and guide book. The car park y just outside the site and entry with pre-booked tickets was straightforward. The gift shop is very well stocked and just about managed not to overdo the Dracula connection! The cafe is good but the whole site would benefit from provision of more toilet facilities.

An amazing monument and historical site. There are 16 acres to explore and plenty of history. The interactive aspect via the audio tour is very good and it wasn't too crowded when we attended. There was a small cafe and public conveniences. There is a lot of walking to get to it and a lot of uneven ground, so those with mobility issues might be challenged. All in all a great experience.

Great impressions from the visit. Very beautiful overview of the entire coast. There is a cafe, a place for children to have fun, an ice cream van. At the entrance there is a souvenir shop. Free maps of all the attractions of Great Britain. Welcoming, friendly staff who are ready to help with any questions. For Ukrainians, the entrance is free. I definitely recommend visiting, you will definitely not regret visiting.

National Heritage site. Beautiful views over both the North Bay and the South Bay. Great place to walk along the cliff path. Exhibitions to see, refreshments available at the Refreshment Shed. Clean public conveniences. Plenty of picnic tables and games for kids Access to most mobilities, quite a steep road and slope up to the castle itself. No problems for mobility scooter but a hard slog for people who have weakened walking. Weather on the day we visited was glorious, if a little windy

Visited today with my wheelchair bound mother, we were initially concerned regarding wheelchair access but the gentleman on the gate was extremely helpful and allowed me to drive into the Castle grounds and park closer. Whilst pushing the wheelchair over the grassed areas and sloped sections proved to be a bit of a challenge, it didn't stop us from having a wonderful experience and see some magnificent views. The coffee hut provided us with welcomed refreshments and scones and there were plenty of seating areas, some that catered for wheelchair users too. All of the staff were extremely friendly and very helpful too. The Audio Guide Devices are a great idea, they allow you to navigate the site at your own pace and gives you the freedom to roam around at will. Our visit excelled my expectations, so I do recommend a visit. 👍🏻

We stopped on the visitor moorings for 2 nights. Its a fab marina. Decent enough facilities. Nice pontoons. All the staff were friendly. The berthing master Chris was fantastic. Looked after us and made us really welcome. We had an awesome stay here.

What a lovely place to visit. The decor and atmosphere were really good. Took us back to sunny summer holidays here and in the U.S. The owner was there on our visit being interviewed by BBC Look North which provided extra interest. Quality ice cream treats and drinks.

On a crisp but beautiful sunny day in early November it was such a gorgeous way to stroll and while away a morning. There was even a yacht race to watch too

What a beautiful harbour. 3 different routes around the harbours. Lovely views and scenic photos are a must here.

Brings back alot of happy memories of childhood holidays. Sad to see alot of the big fishing boats away

Visited September 2018 - Scarborough lives up to every fondly-celebrated cliché. Tangy, salty, moisture-laden air carries the low tide’s waft of seaweed on rocks. Lobster pots and trawlers line the harbour, their crews still speaking in gravelled voices worn by weather and tide. Alongside them: fish and chips, whelks, and the hum of gaudily-lit arcades spilling light into dusk. Beyond the quay rise resorts of long-tired grandeur, echoes of when Scarborough was the nation’s first seaside spa. It is, at once, the working port and the pleasure pier - the quintessential northern seaside town.

We went for the Goldwing lightshow. It was great, very busy.

Spotless clean and modern loos. Open over Xmas 2024 week too. Normally 40 pence but turnstyles were open for free. Thank you to all the dedicated staff at N.Yorks Council for your service to the visitors and residents of Scarborough.

Plenty to do, nice beach lots of places to eat in or out, donkey rides, fun fair, arcades, crazy golf to name but a few and of course the cliff trams is a definite to do

My very first visit to Scarborough armed forces day.i wasn't sure what to expect.it is well worth attending the show.i knew of the closures and I was prepared.scarborough council gave details of roads closed car parked closed and which were open.its worth checking before you attended the show

Great walks and more dog friendly than North bay

These toilets have been refurbished as of Summer 2022. They now include a Changing Places toilet, plus a Radar accessed toilet. There is also a free water filling station. They are still 40p but accept card/Apple Pay etc.

Newquay Road toilets in Whitby are not worth 40p.Visited today some of the cubicles have tape across then so out of use. The floor needs renewing or a deep clean. Out of four sinks only one tap produced water. It might only be the end of April but quite busy to only have one sink in use is terrible.

Toilets are so-so and are as clean as any other general public toilet. Didn't see any cleaners around when I was there . They cost 40p to use, but you've got to have the money as no change is given. The contactless payment you can do via card is very temperamental and I watched many people try in vain to use it but it didn't work. In the end, most people squeezed through the exit barrier when it opened.

Very quiet beach/Bay. No good for paddling or swimming but the rock pools look good for crab hunting.and if your lucky they is fossils in the mud cliffs,which we found quite a few.access was through the woods an down a staircase cut in the mud which was quite fun but would be tricky for some people.. we left by climbing up the hill behind the furthest pillbox an into Cayton bay which is quite a adventure of a climb.. 2 ww2 pillboxes cast a eerie stare over the bay.. well worth the walk..

Great beach! Very quiet as it's a bit difficult to get too. A steep slope followed by rocks to clamber over. I got a bit muddy. A stout pair of walking boots needed. Fun exploring the WW2 Pill Boxes.

Our local beach always quiet bit of a walk to get there but worth it xx

Really stunning beach and amazing views of the coast but steep walk down and little parking

Amazing views wherever you turn your head

Not one person was on this beach apart from me and my dogs ❤💚💜❤💚💜❤💚💜❤💚💜❤💚

Nice but need to walk to get there

Very good for adults and children. We found it very interesting and factual. We spent two and a half hours here, we didn't rush. You have to pay for parking which is not very much. I would recommend buying tickets online before you go as I paid full price which was £22.00 each. Had i booked online it would have been £16.00. But really good nevertheless.

We really enjoyed our visit to this sea life adventure. Easily accessible from town center via bus, it is open from 11-3. The tickets are affordable. Toilets as you enter and you can also take photographs which you get to buy later on in the trip. So many beautiful aquatic creatures in this well maintained habitat, the staff is very well informed and there are many places to rest during the trip. We spent 3 hours there and could have spent more if the only bus out was not running at 1350 (the next bus is 5 and sea life closes 3). Otter display was closed but the sharks and sea lions were our favorite. We got to see the sharks being fed and the gift shop was reasonably priced. We also met vipers! Each staff member was so friendly and lovely- thank you. Loved our visit and will go again.

Lovely day out for adults and children. Plenty to see and do. I advise coming for 11 am to see the animals being fed throughout the morning. Staff are all very friendly and knowledgeable about the animals, they were all happy to answer questions. We had lunch here also which wasn’t too badly priced and a decent selection available including veggie stuff.

Visited with 2 friends using my Merlin Annual Pass and prebooked tickets to have cheaper tickets. We attended the Seal, Penguin and Shark/Ray feeds and talks. Niamh was amazing. The knowledge provided was educational but also fun. Engaging for both children and adults. Niamh’s visible love for the job made for an energy that was just contagious. She was very friendly and answered questions when asked by anyone. The only negative was that there was construction work being done on the Otter habitat meaning that we were unable to see them. This also meant there was drilling and digging causing loud noises and re-directions around the complex. However this did not affect our day. Just means we will have to come again when it re-opens next year. A Fintastic day was had by us all.

OUT IF THIS WORLD!! I bought special tickets to to feed the Seals as a surprise for our 25th Wedding anniversary. This included a guided tour of the rest of the exhibits and our guide Bev was brilliant. We both use walking aids to get around and we didnt feel rushed. Once we made it to the seals we weee givena bucket of fish to feed them it was great to see them swimming round and catching the fish, we also got to feed the grey mullet. Included in the ticket was admission tickets to look round after the tour and a great breakfast cooked fresh, this was all before the doors actually opened to the public. We had also booked to go to the Deep a few days later, but we found ourselves comparing it to the sealife centre and felt let down because of how great the sealife centre was. If you have the chance to do something special then I recommend paying to feed the Seals. A big thank you to all the staff (especially Bev) at Scarborough Sealife centre for making our visit so special and memorable.

We went here to go and see a wide variety of fish and to spend a bit of time in Scarborough too. We arrived at opening time and there was a very short queue as there was a school - even though it is half term - going in just before us which was no problem. We were told that the otters were closed due to refurbishment, disappointing but not a problem. Going in, it is a bottle neck.. there is a small tank with fish in (obviously, its a sealife centre) and everyone wants to stop and look (understandable). We wanted to be respectful and not put any pressure on families who went in first so we stayed back slightly to wait to be able to step forward and to look at the fish and get photos... however the amount of ignorant people just barging in was ridiculous and children not under control. Once we went round you go up a couple of stairs you see some more fish (obviously) and again as it is opening time it was slightly more busy and no one seemed to be aware of any other person around them... Going around it did thin out a lot so you could spend time looking at the variety of fish which is lovely. The seals and penguins were outside... so if it is raining... take an umbrella and wrap up warm! They were very cute though! The tunnel you walk under to see the sharks etc. was very short... As per normal you get a lot of children just charging around and parent being ignorant and ignoring their behaviour. To be able to get around the centre it is very confusing you have to go back on yourself a couple of times and there is no signs for direction or anything... leaving you going round and round. The centre is also very small, so for the money it doesn't feel worth it for the amount of time you are there. If you're expecting a grand day out, don't. If you're expecting somewhere that is small and nice to have a wander round for an hour to two hours at a push then this place is for you! I gave four stars because it is a lovely centre and the animals are very well looked after.

Booked online in advance. I loved this place and the staff are very knowledgeable and approachable, more than happy to answer any questions. So many different things to see and a very good restaurant if wanted or there are picnic tables near the otters to have your own food

Absolutely great here lovely views of the coast from high ground. It is very hilly to walk around and the views are great. There is many amusements and gift shops plus many places to eat .

We had our wedding in the Sun Court and it was amazing from start to finish! From the moment of booking, to every part of our day, Naomi, and the team were outstanding! We had so many comments from our guests on, not only the stunning venue itself, but the gorgeous food and excellent service. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it as a wedding venue, thank you so much to all the staff at Scarborough Spa.

The Scarborough Spa is a great building 😁 parking is either in local car parks or street parking which can be difficult in the height of the summer season so we parked on a paid for private driveway for £3.50 just 10 minutes away. Security getting into the gig was quick with polite staff👍 No food allowed inside but you could buy inside at reasonable prices or go out with your wristband pass. Plenty of bars and a decent amount of very clean ladies loos 😜 you could take a small bottle of water into the venue but the biggest annoyance - nowhere to refill if needed and as it was sweltering outside it was double sweltering inside🥵 The bands were as always fabulous 😍 the lights and sound quality inside the Spa are brilliant and you can move around the venue whenever you feel like a change of view 😁 really looking forward to Ferocious Dog there later in the year 💯🥰

Been here twice for Fortress Festival. Great venue in a beautiful location and it's nice to see that someone money has been spent on the upkeep over the past year too. That's certainly not something you see in London or most other parts of the country. Already looking forward to coming back in 2026!

Amazing venue for a festival. Absolutely loved the building and its architecture. The location couldn't be better, right on the coast of the North Sea.

Fantastic location for a black metal festival. Very nice venue. Staff was very friendly. Plenty of bars. Great view.

Fortress Festival amazing! Staff brilliant! Could do with checking up on the 2003 licensing act though. They tried to deny me water. Other than that great staff all round.

Great venue, feels quite intimate she closer to the stage than other venues of the size. Seating is quite steep which means a better view of the stage, and reasonable leg room too. Several food options, and quite a few bar counters as well. Sound quality was pretty good, far too loud despite being so close to the stage, as can happen sometimes. Overall enjoyed watching Snow Patrol and support here, still keep an eye out for what's on next year

Visited Scarborough open air theatre this evening to see shed seven as well as opening acts. It is a lovely outdoor theatre with a very large capacity. The music atmosphere was great and obviously the band were amazing. Only thing that lets the venue down is the lack of bars / food to accommodate the large capacity of people! There were 2 bars to queue at for drinks but the lines went on forever so I didn’t bother and a gig is always better with booze!

Saw the Smashing Pumpkins here and they absolutely blew the roof off—figuratively, of course, since it’s open air! The venue itself is fantastic: great acoustics, brilliant atmosphere, and a layout that makes every spot feel close to the action. Getting in and out was a breeze, with loads of parking nearby and well-organized entry. It’s rare to find a live venue that nails both the vibe and the logistics, but this one does. Only downside? The prices for food and drink inside are steep—bring a full wallet or eat beforehand. But honestly, for a night like that, it was worth every penny. Already looking forward to the next gig!

25 July 2025 - Texas ……..The most amazing venue. My new favourite place to see a concert. Easily accessible bars and toilets and such an amazing atmosphere. Fantastic concert too.

Amazing venue that felt very intimate. We chose the tiered seating. From our view, you could see that the standing area was very narrow and main entry was from the left side as you look towards the stage. If you can definitely enter standing from the right side. The bars had literally no cues. Obviously food and drink pricing was quite high but that’s expected for any type of concert. Would love to visit again but not sure if it would be any good in the rain so that might put us off.

Great outdoor music venue with good views wherever you sit. The weather was sunny, which made the experience even better. We went to see McFly and it's was a fantastic show.

Brilliant venue, really easy to get close and have an excellent view. Saw Judas Priest for the first time since the 80s and they rocked the place. Will definitely be back for more bands.

Fabulous view with natural walk

Amazing spot... #stayhoppy ✌️

3 picnic tables, plenty of space in between,.WC s are free. Plenty of parking but you have to pay. Overlooking the North Bay Scarborough, with easy access to the beach.

A very beautiful park! Great place for walking and photos!

Awesome park with cool trails & good views. Lots of walking up/down the hill which is probably why it's a quiet place.

A steep walk, but great vistas to be had over North Bay and beyond. Wheelchair friendly if you are strong and the chair has good brakes. Treesy.

Lovely place just below the castle walls. Fantastic views down over the harbour. Great for a dog walk and away from the traffic

The golf and drinks are reasonably priced. The course is tricky but fun. The owners are really nice, very knowledgeable about the area and happy to chat with you. The place is dog friendly and have lots of toys and treats that you can purchase. We were staying at the nearby Premier Inn. A short steep walk down past Alpamere, across the mini railway. The beach area is quiet. We have visited twice to the bar so far and will go a couple more times before we leave.

Really fun course! Jade looked after us and made sure we had a great time. Very good value for money. Best mini golf we’ve done in a while

Lovely visit to the golf at the weekend. Ordered a cider from Sarah and got ice with a fresh strawberry in it. The iced coffee had a coffee ice cube in it too! Those little touches go the extra mile! Will be back…

We had such a great afternoon here. Great refreshments for all -with that extra special touch, really friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere. We will definitely be returning.

We stumbled upon this recently reopened and renovated cafe/bar and crazy golf course, our 7 yr old and us all enjoyed and the lady behind the bar was very pleasant.

Had a lovely time, golf was very fun. Staff member Jade made us feel very welcomed.

We were scammed by £10 when using card to pay . My fault should have been more attentive. So be careful !

Great place to be. Wide open, clean beach, various entrances, some steep, some steeper. Our Welshie loved running around on the beach, a good start for long and joyful walks/hikes. It’s only a ‘crime’ to pay your money to park your car. The system is very ‘sleepy’ and old fashioned. Hope they will soon install a app that is customer friendly also for not UK citizens.

Lovely beach, roadside parking at the very top or RingGo parking (paid) on a field even closer to the path downhill. Small cafe to the north, nice walk across the top of the cliffs too.

Quiet sandy beach. No shops, no arcades, just sand and sea. Lovely for safe family day at the beach. Only downside is the very steep path down and moreso the steep walk back up. Certainly not suited to disability limited people.

Hidden gem well worth a visit, super clear water on sunny days perfect beach, with toilets and cafe, two ways to the beach one is super steep, the locals called it heart attack hill, if you choose the first road down towards the cafe it’s much less steep

Lovely Beach. Stunning views over Scarborough. Steep walk down to the beach and coming back up to the car park is a bit of a hike. Well worth the visit though. Beautiful spot.

Such a nice beach park up top of the hill nice walk down we had lots of fun here plenty toilets and very clean too

Nice area but the path to get down is so steep we didn't venture down to the beach as my toddlers never could have made it back up the hill.