Scarborough....whats to do?

mummyyummy_2

myself, DH and kids (2-12) will be passing through and staying here for 1 day/night end of July.....so what should we defo do/avoid?....whats there, is it like a traditional bucket & spade town with funfairs on to wonder about at night like a mini blackpool?? or is more serene?? anyone been....thanks :j

trudiuk

I used to go to University in Scarborough a few years back. From what I remember there is a sealife centre, two beaches (north and south) both are bucket and spade and donkey rides!

You'd want south bay as they have a few amusement arcades, I think there is a bowling alley too. Don't remember there being a funfair as such, a couple of rides used to be located by the pier.

Along the cliffs in South bay there were these little hidden gardens that were beautiful in the evening to walk through.

There is also Whitby up the coast if you wanted to drive somewhere - with the best fish and chips shop/restaurant, can't remember what it was called though.

There is also your usual high street, lots of pubs and places to eat.

AlterEgo666

Scarborough has been home for the last couple of years. To be honest - theres not much to do at all, a day and a night should be more than enough time. Its really nothing like Blackpool, if you visited Scarborough in the 80s you'll either be delighted or horrified depending on your point of view to find that not much has changed at all since then.

There are two beaches - North is quieter, South is always packed in the summer holidays. Theres a sea life centre at the far end of the North Beach and a bank of arcades along the South Beach along with a tiny fair with three or four rides, and the last few bricks of an ancient castle are left if you're feeling historic.....and thats about it.

Theres nowhere I'd specifically advise anyone to avoid as its all much of a muchness, but generally steer clear of the town centre drunken silliness from about 8pm onwards.

apt

Peasholm Park is better than the amusement arcades. There's also a mini railway.

play2day

If you are wanting to be a tourist for the day and 'hit' all the touristy things with the kids start by parking adjacent to peasholm park. It is free to enter and a lovely place to walk and feed the ducks. If you are energetic take a boat around the lake.

Cross the road and ride the water chute? then take the miniature railway up to the sealife centre. Opposite the sealife centre is the scalby mills pub, a real ale venue and if you go down the steps and areprepared to get your feet wet a stream runs into the sea. It is very pebbly and stoney here, good for buiding dams and finding fossils. Walk back along the northbay beach stopping to play mini golf on the way. There will be donkeys on the beach to ride and no amusement arcades here. It is sandy and good for old fashioned bucket and spade fun. If you turn right at the sands apartments you can then let your son go to MAP (offer on groupon now) and pick up your car or go to the swimming pool adjacent the carpart.

If you have time left on your parking ticket take an open top bus to the south bay. If not collect your car and drive around the marine drive. The southbay has a few minor fair rides and a lot of arcades, icecream places and fish and chip shops. One houses a bowling alley. The beach is sandy and has donkeys to ride. You can look around the light house and the lifeboats. A 'pirate ship' sails out of the harbour as do fishing trip boats, a speed boat, some old pleasure cruisers and boats to see the seals. you could have a ride on any of them.

Further around the beah towards the Spa it quietens off again. The beach here is good for rock pooling and catching crabs.

The Rotunda Museum is just off the south bay beach and from there is is a quick walk to woodend museum and the art gallery. all have activities for children depending on the day. Or how about a look around the castle?

For seaside shows or family entertainment try the stephen joseph theatre, the futurist or the spa. the YMCA are putting on a version of Wizard of Oz over summer.

For rainy days Scarborough has two soft play barns, Playzone and Little Hoppers. Both do pottery to paint too.

Pubs which have good children facilities are - indoor: The Byways & The Ivanhoe. Outdoor - The Scalby Manor & the Rosette. Google will bring them up for you.

Don't fancy any of the above? If commercial isn't your thing look at Robin Hoods Bay, Burniston Rocks, Falling Foss and Maybeck and Dalby Forest. Or if there is just not enough happening for your brood drive a bit further and check out Flamingo Land.

p00hsticks

trudiuk wrote: »

There is also Whitby up the coast if you wanted to drive somewhere - with the best fish and chips shop/restaurant, can't remember what it was called though.

The Magpie
http://www.magpiecafe.co.uk/

McKneff

play2day wrote: »

If you are wanting to be a tourist for the day and 'hit' all the touristy things with the kids start by parking adjacent to peasholm park. It is free to enter and a lovely place to walk and feed the ducks. If you are energetic take a boat around the lake.

Cross the road and ride the water chute? then take the miniature railway up to the sealife centre. Opposite the sealife centre is the scalby mills pub, a real ale venue and if you go down the steps and areprepared to get your feet wet a stream runs into the sea. It is very pebbly and stoney here, good for buiding dams and finding fossils. Walk back along the northbay beach stopping to play mini golf on the way. There will be donkeys on the beach to ride and no amusement arcades here. It is sandy and good for old fashioned bucket and spade fun. If you turn right at the sands apartments you can then let your son go to MAP (offer on groupon now) and pick up your car or go to the swimming pool adjacent the carpart.

If you have time left on your parking ticket take an open top bus to the south bay. If not collect your car and drive around the marine drive. The southbay has a few minor fair rides and a lot of arcades, icecream places and fish and chip shops. One houses a bowling alley. The beach is sandy and has donkeys to ride. You can look around the light house and the lifeboats. A 'pirate ship' sails out of the harbour as do fishing trip boats, a speed boat, some old pleasure cruisers and boats to see the seals. you could have a ride on any of them.

Further around the beah towards the Spa it quietens off again. The beach here is good for rock pooling and catching crabs.

The Rotunda Museum is just off the south bay beach and from there is is a quick walk to woodend museum and the art gallery. all have activities for children depending on the day. Or how about a look around the castle?

For seaside shows or family entertainment try the stephen joseph theatre, the futurist or the spa. the YMCA are putting on a version of Wizard of Oz over summer.

For rainy days Scarborough has two soft play barns, Playzone and Little Hoppers. Both do pottery to paint too.

Pubs which have good children facilities are - indoor: The Byways & The Ivanhoe. Outdoor - The Scalby Manor & the Rosette. Google will bring them up for you.

Don't fancy any of the above? If commercial isn't your thing look at Robin Hoods Bay, Burniston Rocks, Falling Foss and Maybeck and Dalby Forest. Or if there is just not enough happening for your brood drive a bit further and check out Flamingo Land.

eeeh, nostalgia kicking in there, I havent been to Scarborough for a few years and you brought it all back. Must make an effort this year, is the Futurist still going.

savemoney

Yes futurist is still going daughter went to see Harry Potter at weekend

savemoney

Yea its nothing like Blackpool thank God but like most sea side resorts and towns for that matter we do have fair share of Pxxx artists although we do have Police and marshalls around town

The castle is far more than a few bricks is quite decent castle dated back to 1200 I believe it has several shows through the year like battles and air displays

We also have the new open air theatre near Peasholm which is lovely for young kids and naval war fairs and then as said wonderful miniature railway which goes to sealife. There is also a army type shooting range in the now defunct open air swimming pool

I prefer North bay its down road from where I am, much less spoilt and sea is very clean

AlterEgo666 wrote: »

Scarborough has been home for the last couple of years. To be honest - theres not much to do at all, a day and a night should be more than enough time. Its really nothing like Blackpool, if you visited Scarborough in the 80s you'll either be delighted or horrified depending on your point of view to find that not much has changed at all since then.

There are two beaches - North is quieter, South is always packed in the summer holidays. Theres a sea life centre at the far end of the North Beach and a bank of arcades along the South Beach along with a tiny fair with three or four rides, and the last few bricks of an ancient castle are left if you're feeling historic.....and thats about it.

Theres nowhere I'd specifically advise anyone to avoid as its all much of a muchness, but generally steer clear of the town centre drunken silliness from about 8pm onwards.

hcb42

I drove in and drove out again last year...!

(I guess I wont get a job with their tourism board any time soon)

problemcashback

hcb42 wrote: »

I drove in and drove out again last year...!

(I guess I wont get a job with their tourism board any time soon)

best thing to do, we went a few years ago after friends raved about it, couldnt understand why, they forced us to go back and never ever again, best part is the road out