THE birthplace of the British seaside resort is celebrating 400 years
this summer – and it’s not where you might expect.
Scarborough is England‘s oldest coastal resort and it’s starting a summer of celebrations marking four centuries since its spa waters were found – so it was only right that I took a trip up to the North Yorkshire Coast.
It’s easy to see why tourists have been flocking to Scarborough for centuries and why it’s been nicknamed Scarbados, in a nod to the Caribbean island known for its lovely beaches and chilled-out vibe.
While the weather might not be quite as tropical as Barbados, there
are two beaches to choose from, a historic castle on the headland
between, popular parks offering lots of attractions and even one
Britain’s best waterparks, all within walking distance.
There’s something for everyone here, no matter what you enjoy about a day at the seaside, and it feels like you can have about five different days
out rolled into one.
I took on a spa-to-spa walk of about an hour, setting off near the
site of the original spring and spa in South Bay.
This is where it all started for the town as a coastal resort, when Thomasin Farrer spotted a natural spring in 1626 and discovered the waters were packed with minerals.
Soon, people were travelling from across the country to take
the waters and enjoy the sea air.
The spa building is now an entertainment venue where you can enjoy comedy, music and kids’ shows throughout the year.
It’s here that you’ll find the historic cliff lift, which celebrated its 150th anniversary last year.
And there’s also a striking glazed veranda with a black and white floor overlooking the North Sea.
Walking along the front, South Bay is home to many of the chippies
that won Scarborough the title of the fish and chip capital last year,
with almost 100 takeaways to choose from.
With wide golden sands, a big wheel, arcades aplenty and rides at Luna Park, you’ll want to head here if you love a bit of seaside hustle and bustle.
My favourite find was heading up to Scarborough Castle, which is
looked after by English Heritage and offers lovely views out over both
beaches and beyond.
It’s got a very special vibe, somehow managing to be at the heart of the town and feeling like a secluded secret spot at the same time.
Walking down to North Bay, which has a quieter vibe than its sister
sands to the south, and then around to Peasholm Park, this part of
Scarborough feels more like the beaches of my childhood.
If you love an aquarium, Scarborough North Bay Railway runs up to the pyramids that house the town’s Sea Life centre.
There’s lots to do in this green space, with the wooden pagodas at its entrance mirroring the oriental-inspired grounds within.
During the summer months, you can catch model boats recreating a naval battle on the lake at 3pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Or take a ride on the park’s historic water chute that’s coming up to its centenary and catch a show at the open air theatre, with the likes of Alanis Morissette and Michael Buble performing this year.
I finished my scuttle around Scarbados with a trip to the spa at
Alpamare, the town’s waterpark that opened a decade ago and has
recently gone up for sale after being run by Yorkshire theme park
Flamingo Land for a couple of years.
I loved the sea view from the upstairs sauna and the warm outdoor pool
was a treat in the sunshine.
But a firm favourite was definitely chilling out in the hay bath, a unique stable-inspired sensory room lined with troughs of freshly cut hay and swinging beds hanging from the ceiling.
It’s the perfect place to while away a few hours – kids can take on
the flumes, wave pool and splash pad downstairs, while adults can head
up to the spa to enjoy steam rooms, relaxation spaces and a terrace
with open air showers and sunbeds.
This year is a great time to visit Scarborough as there’s free
festivals, a trail of 10 huge deckchairs at tourist spots across the
town and even some fabulous illuminations when the nights draw in to
mark the end of the year of celebrations.
So scoot over to Scarborough if you’re after a seaside treat of a town
that started the traditional trip to the coast beloved of Brits all
those years ago.