Scarboroughs rich maritime heritage revolves around the Old Town. This comprises the area around the harbour and on the castle hill. The Old Town extends as far as Friargate and Scarboroughs Market Hall. It traditionally ends at the top of the hill at St Marys church.
Scarborough, possibly founded in 966 AD, is rich in history with its castle perched high above the North and South Bays, and a town which is proud to be Britain's first seaside resort! We're proud of our story which has lead to millions of people visiting every year...
With a population of 61,749, Scarborough is the largest town on the Yorkshire Coast and the fourth-largest settlement in the county. It is located on the North Sea coastline.
With its stunning location, fascinating history and panoramic views over the coast, Scarborough Castle is one of North Yorkshire's finest historic sites. This once-mighty fortress has endured attacks from Vikings, medieval barons, Tudor rebels and a Parliamentary army during an epic Civil War siege.
The town was founded in 966AD as Skarðaborg by Thorgills Skarthi, a Viking raider. But there is evidence of settlers on the Headland from 2,500 years ago. Scarborough Castle was built by Henry II.
1. Ben Kingsley. Ben Kingsley was born Krishna Bhanji on December 31, 1943 in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England. His father, Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji, was a Kenyan-born medical doctor, of Gujarati Indian descent, and his mother, Anna Lyna Mary (Goodman), was an English actress.
Scarborough and Whitby are seaside towns we love to visit; both have unique charms. However, Scarborough is a much bigger resort than Whitby; with everything you would expect from a UK seaside resort, it's perfect for young children.
Ravenscar is a quirky village built on spectacular cliffs. During Victorian times there were big plans for the village to rival Scarborough and Whitby, until the company responsible for its development became bankrupt.
To build the success of Scarborough Town Centre as a vibrant, mixed use centre for all stakeholders, investors and the community we aim to: be the best performing coastal town centre in England by 2025 and the primary economic hub for retail, leisure, learning and living within the Yorkshire coast area.
Scarborough is many things to many people. Whatever your age and interest there is something for you. The reason Scarborough is such a wonderful place to visit/live/work is because it has such a varied and beautiful landscape (both built and natural) and a wide range of attractions/amenities.
Visit Scarborough and its two sweeping sandy beaches, rugged castle ruins, and museums for rain days. There's plenty to do in Scarborough. Take a boat trip off shore to meet lazy seal colonies, surf in the North Sea or chug through the North York Moors on a traditional steam train.
The town is famous for its historic castle ruins, which date back to the 12th century. Scarborough is also known for its beautiful beaches, including South Bay and North Bay, which attract millions of visitors each year.
Scarborough Spa, a listed Grade II band stand and orchestra is the last remaining seaside orchestra in the entire UK. In 1988, a group of Scarborough school students came together to create the world's largest comic strip. The group transformed part of South Bay beach into a massive page from The Beano.
In Scarborough Town Centre, you will find a mix of popular high street stores and small independent boutiques. You will find many of your favourite high street shops in Scarborough's Brunswick Shopping Centre which is home to over 30 shops and cafes.
Moving down Westborough, be sure to explore the side streets like Aberdeen Walk, Huntriss Row and Bar Street, where you'll find a great range of shops. Make your way down through Newborough, the central shopping street in Scarborough, with St Thomas Street and St Nicholas Street also house some great retail treasures.
Scarborough Market Hall & Vaults has undergone a 2.7m refurbishment in 2016 creating a fresh and modern market whilst still retaining the authentic character and feel of a traditional market in an attractive, historic building.
Guided walks are available at times throughout the day. Priced at £10 per adult, it's still worth a visit if you have an interest in castles or history but there's just not much there! Scarborough Castle is part of the English Heritage and free if you are a member.
Wharram Percy is one of the largest and best preserved of Britain's 3,000 or so known deserted medieval villages. It is also undoubtedly the most famous. For over 60 years, archaeologists have pioneered new techniques here to understand what life was like in the village and why it was eventually deserted.
There is no archaeological evidence for a Viking settlement at Scarborough, but there is no archaeological evidence of an Anglo-Saxon settlement either, before the chapel built in around the year 1,000 CE (AD) on the ruins of the Roman signal station.
Scarborough is home to an incredible 21 beaches, while Whitby follows as a close second with 20. Ranking the two of them comes down to what you like best from a beach – from sandcastles and penny arcades to long clifftop walks.
Filey is Britain's 8th best seaside town in a new poll from the consumer group Which. The resort gets an 80% customer satisfaction score in the survey. Saltburn is 19th, Whitby 22nd and Robin Hoods Bay 29th, Scarborough is 64th.
But then it is only half an hour each way from home. Blackpool is much bigger and there are more things to do. Both places are full of fading glory but Scarborough manages to pass much of it off with rustic charm around the small harbour.
