When do you start to plan your family holiday?
Are you the main planner, researcher, organiser in your family? Do you round up the troops, start the family WhatsApp group ‘family holiday 2025’, check the school calendar, ring-fence the dates and do all the hard-work involved in planning the next family holiday?
We salute you!
It’s not always easy being chief organiser, but someone’s gotta do it (and it’s worth it in the end). If you’re in your research stage of planning a family holiday to Scarborough, hopefully this blog post will help.
At this time of year, we are preparing for the January rush of bookings – especially for Easter and the summer. Once the festivities are over, people start to think about the year ahead and plan the next thing to look forward to.
The spring and summer months are our busiest, especially with families. That’s because Scarborough is a fantastic place to visit for a family holiday.

Scarborough is on the UK’s east coast (in North Yorkshire) and has been a popular seaside tourist destination for years. Back in the 17th century people visited Scarborough Spa for its medicinal waters and consequently, the town became Britain’s first seaside resort!
Since then, tourists from far and wide have visited time and time again to enjoy the stunning North and South Bay, beautiful green spaces, fun local attractions, live music, delicious fish and chips and much more!
Things to do in Scarborough for families
Families come in all shapes and sizes. You might be visiting with a baby, toddler, teenagers or grandparents… but Scarborough has something for everyone to enjoy.
Fun at the beach
A family day at the beach is always a hit – from relaxing in a deck chair and sandcastle building to donkey rides – and Scarborough has not one, but two wonderful bays! You can find out the differences between the North and South Bay in a recent blog post we shared.
The thrill of the amusements
For those with a competitive streak or like the bright lights and loud noises, you can’t beat the amusements on the South Bay. There you can have a go at traditional coin slot machines, video games and ten-pin bowling. A fun afternoon out if you want a break from the sun or shelter from a rainy day.
Glorious green spaces
Scarborough has LOTS of parks, many of which are a beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle of the beach or town centre in peak months.
Some of our favourites include Peasholm Park near the North Bay. Well-known for its boating lake, Japanese garden with waterfalls and summer Naval Warfare shows.

St Nicholas park is a short walk from our apartments, The Salisbury, with picturesque views and winding steps down to the South Bay. Next to this park you will also find the Central Tramway – the oldest Cliff Railway in the UK, which you can ride to the beach – a real hit with the kids!
Southcliff Gardens, located behind Scarborough Spa, includes a recently opened children’s playground complete with ladders, walkways, slides and towers for fun imaginative play!
Hidden Gems
Scarborough is home to the Rotunda – Museum of Coastal Heritage and Geology. Inside this Grade II listed building is a great family day out with themed exhibitions, learning zones and much more.
Did you know that the Yorkshire Coast is also known as the Jurassic or Dinosaur Coast?
At the Rotunda Museum, you can also visit the exhibition of ‘Scarborough’s Lost Dinosaurs’ and learn about Scarborough’s prehistoric residents.

Under the Sea
At the end of the North Bay you will spot tall white pyramid shaped buildings… called Scarborough Sea Life. Here you can experience all the underwater world has to offer and discover over 2,500 sea creatures. There’s an outdoor penguin island and indoor rain-forest, plus regular seasonal themed activities for the kids to enjoy.
Step into History
Scarborough is rich in history. In fact, a trip to Scarborough would be difficult to complete without experiencing some element of the town’s history. Whether enjoying a boat ride from the harbour which dates back to 1806, taking a stroll through the Old Town and browsing all Scarborough Market has to offer or exploring Scarborough Castle’s 3,000 year history and its panoramic views of both the North and South bay. Keep an eye out for the Castle’s themed family trails and activities!

Amazing seasonal events
Scarborough’s event calendar is jam packed with lots for families to experience.
One of the hottest dates in the calendar is the Armed Forces Day at the South Bay which takes place in June. The day is fun-packed with parades, stalls and is a great chance for the community to show their support for the men and women that make up our Armed Forces.
Keep checking back as we will update this post with new events as they are announced and dates for your diary in 2025.

No matter the time of year…there’s a long list of local attractions and activities for all the family to enjoy in Scarborough. We challenge you to tick off everything in a few days – bet you’ll be back again!
Family friendly places to eat in Scarborough
All that fun requires fuel! Scarborough’s bays and town centre is filled with a wide variety of food and drink options – perfect for even the fussiest of eaters.
On the go
Sometimes you just don’t have the time to stop and sit down for something to eat…or maybe you don’t want to and just want to eat on the go. There are plenty of options for grab and go food, including fish & chips, pasties and pies from the many bakeries or the market, crab sticks and lobster rolls near the harbour and lets not forget the many ice cream stalls!

Sit in
If you’re looking for a sit down meal and a bit of rest-bite (to eat… sorry!), then here’s a few of our favourites.
Eat Me Cafe – Situated inside the Stephen Joseph Theatre, this place has a varied menu from ramen to mac ‘n’ cheese.
Florio’s, Aberdeen Walk – You can’t go wrong with Italian food and at Florio’s you’ll be met with the warmest of welcomes.
Cowshed, St. Thomas Street – Homemade burgers and craft beer – yes please! For a laid back, relaxing atmosphere with speedy service, look no further.
Scarborough Arms, North Terrace – This family run traditional pub is a great place to enjoy homemade food in a cosy environment.
Make your own
Whilst it’s nice to eat out, it’s not always affordable and sometimes you still want to enjoy those home comforts when you’re away. In each of our self-catering apartments you can test out your own culinary skills with our fully-fitted kitchens. Each kitchen is equipped with a fridge, microwave, toaster, oven, cooker and a whole range of cutlery, cooking utensils, crockery and glassware – so you can grab that apron (not included) and cook up a stir!

Family friendly accommodation in Scarborough
So, hopefully we’ve convinced you, Scarborough is the next destination for your family holiday – woo hoo!
Now to decide where to stay.
The responsibility of choosing your family holiday accommodation is real! There’s lots to think about: location, hotel vs self-catering, features and facilities.
When you are travelling with family, especially little ones – it can feel like you need to pack everything but the kitchen sink!
In our self-catering apartments, we aim to create a ‘home from home’ feeling from the minute you arrive. That includes provisioning all the home comforts and practical things you may need.
Don’t want to have to pack lots of outfits? No problem, our apartments come with a washer and dryer.
Want to have the choice of eating in and cooking your own meals so you can save a few pennies to spend on activities instead? In our self-catering apartments with fully equipped kitchens and open plan dining and lounge areas, you can do just that.
Need a cot or high chair for the baby? No need to pack a travel cot, we provide cots and highchairs free of charge.


If you’re still debating: ‘Why choose self-catering accommodation?’ then take a look at a recent blog post we put together which you may find helpful.
So, don’t put it off any longer – beat the rush and secure your holiday dates by booking direct with us today and you’ll be sure to get the best prices guaranteed.
Then all you have to do is get excited and look forward to making lots of memories on your family holiday to Scarborough.