Essential Hotels > England > North Yorkshire > Scarborough

Scarborough is one of the major towns on the Yorkshire Coast and has a distinctly different personality from the likes of Whitby further up the coast. Scarborough is every inch the traditional seaside resort, with donkeys on the beach, candy floss and ice cream and amusements for all ages. It is Britain’s oldest seaside resort, predating Brighton by almost a century. Acidic spa waters were discovered in the town in 1626 and throughout the 17th and 18th centuries Scarborough grew as a spa destination for the well to do. The arrival of the railways in the 1840s accelerated Scarborough’s expansion as a seaside resort, and the town’s rich architecture is dominated by the grandiose and impressive structures of the Victorian era.

Yet Scarborough’s history is not all about seaside holidays; the Viking Thorgils Skarthi founded the town in the 10th century as Skaroaborg, and the distinctive castle, perched above the headland separating the North and South Bay, was established by William Le Gros in 1135. Scarborough Castle was developed constantly over the following centuries, until during the English Civil War the castle’s keep was largely destroyed after a siege by Parliamentarian forces. Such turbulent and violent history seems a world away in today’s bustling Scarborough and the town remains one of the UK’s favourite seaside destinations, as well as being a major venue for national conferences.

The Yorkshire coast’s largest holiday resort, Scarborough is home to some 50,000 people and they are sometimes referred to as Scarborians. Tourism and fishing aren’t the only contributors to the regional economy, although admittedly they are large contributors; in 2008 Scarborough was named the most enterprising town in Britain, an all-round display of strength. The town is set on the south-eastern edge of the North York Moors and so is ideally placed for those looking to balance a beach holiday with some exploration in this vast national park.

There is much to do during a visit to Scarborough, with plenty of attractions added to the town over the years. While visitors can, of course, make the most of the beaches of the North Bay and the South Bay there are also museums, galleries, golf courses, festivals and historic buildings. Firstly, the aforementioned castle now lies in ruins but gives a glimpse into the town’s past. Then there are destinations such as the Scarborough Art Gallery, the Sea Life Marine Sanctuary, the Scarborough Open Air Theatre and the Rotunda Museum to experience and enjoy.