Scarborough
Scarborough, Britain's first seaside resort, has been welcoming visitors for over 360 years and was the first seaside resort in Britain. The Victorians built a town of immense style with the elegant Esplanade, the magnificent Scarborough Spa Complex and some of the finest parks and gardens in Britain. Today safe sandy beaches, cliff top views and a bustling shopping centre are only minutes apart, and can all be quickly reached by the famous Victorian cliff lifts.
Scarborough is a great a place to visit or stay, with the safe, sandy, accredited North Bay beach and the popular South Bay Beach. The two bays are broken by a rocky headland on which stands a reminder of its historic past - Scarborough's medieval castle. In the 12th century, Henry II built the tone castle to defend the North Sea coastline, today you can admire the views rather than look out for Vikings!
The traditional folk song, Scarborough Fair, takes its name from the Scarborough trading festival, a six-week medieval market that attracted merchants from all over Europe.
Today this bustling seaside town, between the North and South bays, offers something for everyone - relaxation, shopping and entertainment. Go to the North Bay with the kids to splash around, grab a waffle, go for a donkey ride or visit the underwater world of the Sealife Centre. The lively South Bay offers a range of seafront amusements, trips on pleasure boats, vast views out to sea with fishermen coming and going. In the evening,
Scarborough offers first class attractions such as the award winning Sea Life Marine Sanctuary, Scarborough Art Gallery and the newly refurbished Rotunda Museum. The resort boasts many quality restaurants, each serving a variety of fresh local produce. The restaurants cater for all tastes with everything from seafood and a la carte establishments to Italian, Greek, Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisine.
By night you will be spoilt for choice with four fantastic theatres, each offering something different. A trip to Scarborough's 1950's Stephen Joseph Theatre, home of playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn. Music lovers can visit the Spa Complex, home of the only remaining seaside orchestra, or Peasholm Park, which offers open air concerts and a variety of family entertainments. The many festivals, including Seafest, Jazz, Bike week, Scarborough Fayre and the Cricket festival, provide you with all year round events.
The resort provides a great choice of high street shops and boutiques. The Brunswick Centre is a prestigious all-weather shopping centre with a department store and thirty-five other retail outlets. The Centre is located in Scarborough's pedestrianised shopping precinct, which, with the surrounding streets, has many individual boutiques, specialist shops and inviting cafes and bars.
Whatever you decide to do or wherever you decide to go you will always receive that warm Yorkshire welcome.
