Serviced Apartments in Scarborough

Discover the best activities and attractions Scarborough has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Peasholm Park
Peasholm Park is a beautifully landscaped Victorian park on a river-fed lake with Japanese-style planting, bandstand, ornamental bridges and boating. Its popular summer naval-battle model-boat displays, family-friendly events and peaceful paths make it a favourite for locals and visitors seeking relaxation away from the seafront bustle. Impact: the park supports local tourism by attracting day-trippers and families, provides seasonal employment (boat and kiosk operations, event staff), and boosts nearby cafés and shops through increased footfall.

Rotunda – World of the Jurassic (Rotunda Museum)
The Rotunda Museum is a distinctive circular museum focused on the area’s geology and fossil heritage, showcasing ammonites, marine reptiles and displays that interpret the Jurassic-era coastline of Yorkshire. It’s a draw for school groups, fossil enthusiasts and tourists interested in natural history. Impact: the museum enhances Scarborough’s cultural and educational offer, supports heritage tourism, partners with local schools and volunteers, and helps sustain nearby visitor services (cafés, gift shops, accommodation).

Scarborough Open Air Theatre
One of the UK’s largest municipal open-air venues, the Scarborough Open Air Theatre hosts summer concerts, theatrical productions and large-scale events that attract top touring artists and big audiences. Its dramatic cliffside setting and seasonal programme make it a highlight of Scarborough’s cultural calendar. Impact: major events bring substantial visitor spend into the town (hotels, restaurants, transport), create temporary and permanent jobs in events and hospitality, and raise Scarborough’s profile as a destination for live entertainment.

The Magpie Cafe (Harbour)
The Magpie Cafe is an iconic, award-winning seafood restaurant on the harbour, famed for its traditional fish and chips and long queues of loyal customers. Celebrated in regional food guides, it draws both day visitors and food tourists keen to sample fresh North Sea fish. Impact: the restaurant supports local supply chains (fishermen, fishmongers), contributes significantly to the harbour’s visitor appeal, and acts as a small-business success story that helps sustain employment in Scarborough’s hospitality sector.

Scarborough Market & Old Town shopping
Scarborough’s market days and the shops of the Old Town (and main shopping streets such as Westborough and Newborough) offer a mix of independent boutiques, artisan stalls and traditional market traders selling crafts, local food and souvenirs. This area provides a more intimate shopping experience than the seafront arcades and is popular for locals and visitors looking for unique finds. Impact: the market and independent retailers keep spending local, support entrepreneurs, preserve traditional crafts and contribute to the year-round vibrancy of Scarborough’s town centre beyond peak tourist months.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Scarborough, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail (Scarborough Railway Station) - The town is served from Scarborough station with regular regional rail services linking to York, Leeds and beyond; services are operated by the main regional operators and provide connections for commuters, day-trippers and longer-distance travel onto the national network.
- Local and Regional Buses - A network of local buses connects the town centre, suburbs and nearby villages, while regional bus routes link Scarborough with Whitby, Filey, Bridlington, Malton and York; frequencies and service levels increase in the summer tourist season.
- Intercity and Coach Services - Scheduled coach/express services operate to major regional hubs and longer-distance destinations (typically via York and Leeds), providing alternatives to rail for some journeys.
- Heritage, Tourist and Seasonal Services - Scarborough hosts a range of visitor-focused services including open-top sightseeing buses, harbour cruises and the North Bay/miniature railway and occasional heritage rail charters that run during peak tourist periods.
- Taxis and Private Hire - Licensed taxis, local minicab firms and private-hire options provide on-demand point-to-point transport across the town and to nearby villages; pre-bookable airport and long-distance transfers are also available.
- Passenger information and accessibility - Real-time passenger information screens at key stops and station facilities support travellers, and accessibility improvements have been implemented progressively to assist step-free access and accessible travel.

Major Highways
- A64 - The main trunk road linking Scarborough to York and from there to the wider national motorway network (Leeds, A1(M) and M62 corridors).
- A165 - The coastal route running north–south along the Yorkshire coast, providing direct access to Filey, Bridlington and further south toward Hull.
- A171 - The scenic inland/coastal route to Whitby and on towards the Teesside/Middlesbrough area, used frequently for local and tourist traffic.
- A170 - The westbound route linking Scarborough to Pickering and Thirsk, offering a connection toward the A19/A1 corridors and inland market towns.
- Nearest motorways and strategic links - While no motorways run through Scarborough itself, the town connects to the A1(M) and M62 via the A64/A170 and other A-roads for longer-distance motorway travel.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle routes and lanes - Scarborough benefits from a mix of off-road seafront and promenade cycle paths (particularly around North Bay and South Bay), sections of National Cycle Network coastal routes, on-road cycle lanes in parts of the urban area and multi-use paths linking parks and suburbs; provision varies by neighbourhood with good leisure routes but more limited continuous segregated commuter lanes, and bike hire/parking options are generally available seasonally.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Rail and station upgrades - Recent works have focused on improving station facilities, passenger information, waiting areas and accessibility; ongoing operator fleet upgrades and timetable adjustments aim to improve reliability and capacity for commuters and tourists.
- Bus and interchange enhancements - Investments in bus shelters, real-time information, and local interchange points have been implemented or planned to improve punctuality and passenger experience, with seasonal service enhancements for visitor peaks.
- Road and junction works - Targeted resurfacing, junction improvements and traffic-management schemes on key approaches (A64/A165/A170 corridors) have been completed or planned to reduce congestion and improve safety.
- Active travel and cycle improvements - Local and national funding has supported upgrades to coastal cycle routes, better signage, and new or improved multi-use paths to encourage walking and cycling for short trips.
- Electric vehicle and low-emission infrastructure - Expansion of public EV charging points in car parks and on-street locations, together with policies to support low-emission vehicles, has been a recent focus to improve sustainable travel options.
- Digital and passenger-experience upgrades - Rollout of mobile ticketing, real-time journey planning apps and better on-street information aim to simplify multimodal journeys and improve connectivity within Scarborough and to surrounding areas.