Planning a Holiday in Scarborough? Choosing Where to Stay Matters More Than You Think
When people start planning a holiday on the Yorkshire Coast, the first thing they usually look for is accommodation in Scarborough. But before you book the first hotel or holiday cottage you find, it’s worth spending a few minutes thinking about where you actually want to stay.
Scarborough isn’t just one place. The surrounding area is made up of different neighbourhoods and villages, each offering a completely different experience. Some are perfect if you want to step straight onto the seafront every morning, while others offer peace and quiet with the coast only a few minutes away.
After living here for many years and welcoming hundreds of guests to The Firs, we’ve learnt that choosing the right location often has just as much impact on your holiday as choosing the right accommodation.
Here’s our honest guide to some of the best places to stay near Scarborough.
Scarborough Town Centre
If you enjoy being right in the middle of the action, Scarborough town centre is hard to beat.
You’ll be within walking distance of shops, restaurants, amusements, the harbour and both North and South Bay. Everything is on your doorstep, making it ideal if you don’t want to rely on the car once you’ve arrived.
The trade-off is exactly what you’d expect from a busy seaside town. Parking can be limited, especially during school holidays, and evenings are naturally busier than the surrounding villages.
Perfect for: Short breaks, couples who enjoy restaurants and nightlife, visitors arriving by train.
North Bay
North Bay has a much more relaxed atmosphere than the town centre while still keeping you close to many of Scarborough’s biggest attractions.
It’s home to Peasholm Park, the Open Air Theatre and the North Bay beach, making it particularly popular with families. The promenade feels quieter than South Bay, and there are some lovely walks along Marine Drive towards the castle.
If your holiday revolves around the beach, North Bay is an excellent choice.
Perfect for: Families, beach lovers and anyone wanting to stay close to the sea.
South Bay
When people picture Scarborough, they’re often imagining South Bay.
The golden beach, amusement arcades, harbour, fish and chip restaurants and traditional seaside atmosphere all combine to create the classic British coastal holiday.
It’s lively, energetic and full of character, particularly during the summer months.
If that’s exactly what you’re looking for, you’ll love it. If you’re hoping for a quieter escape, you may prefer staying just outside the town and visiting during the day instead.
Perfect for: Traditional seaside holidays and visitors who want everything within walking distance.
Scalby
Just a few minutes north of Scarborough sits the village of Scalby, and in our admittedly biased opinion, it’s one of the best places to stay if you’re looking for a more relaxing holiday.
What makes Scalby different isn’t that it’s full of attractions. It’s that it doesn’t need to be.
Instead, you have peaceful village streets, traditional pubs, independent cafés and countryside walks beginning almost from your front door. At the same time, you’re only around ten minutes from Scarborough’s beaches, harbour, Open Air Theatre and town centre.
For many of our guests, that balance is exactly what they’re looking for. They spend the day exploring everything Scarborough has to offer before returning somewhere calmer in the evening. It’s one of the reasons so many families and dog owners love staying here.
Burniston
If your perfect holiday includes walking boots more often than flip-flops, Burniston is well worth considering.
Situated between Scarborough and the North York Moors National Park, it’s a peaceful village with excellent access to the Cleveland Way and some spectacular coastal scenery.
Accommodation here tends to suit visitors looking for a slower pace of life while remaining close enough to enjoy Scarborough whenever they choose.
Perfect for: Walkers, couples and anyone wanting easy access to the coast and countryside.
Cayton
Located just south of Scarborough, Cayton is particularly popular with visitors who enjoy watersports and long sandy beaches.
Cayton Bay attracts surfers from across Yorkshire and has a more open, natural feel than Scarborough’s main beaches. It’s also a good base for exploring Filey and the southern Yorkshire Coast.
Perfect for: Surfers, beach lovers and visitors exploring the coastline south of Scarborough.
Which Area Is Best for Families?
Families often tell us they’re looking for somewhere with enough space to unwind after a busy day.
While staying right in the centre of Scarborough has its advantages, many families enjoy having somewhere quieter to return to each evening. A garden for the children to play in, easier parking and a little more breathing space often make a surprisingly big difference to the holiday.
That’s one of the reasons villages like Scalby continue to be so popular with family holidaymakers.
Which Area Is Best If You’re Bringing a Dog?
Travelling with a dog changes what matters when choosing accommodation.
You’re likely to appreciate nearby walks, quieter roads, dog-friendly pubs and somewhere your dog can relax after a day exploring the coast. Having an enclosed garden and countryside walks close by can completely change the feel of your holiday.
While Scarborough itself is wonderfully dog friendly, many dog owners choose accommodation just outside the town for exactly these reasons.
So, Where Should You Stay Near Scarborough?
The honest answer is that there isn’t a single right choice.
If you want lively evenings, shopping and restaurants within walking distance, staying in Scarborough town centre could be perfect.
If you’re dreaming of a traditional seaside holiday, North Bay or South Bay might be exactly what you’re looking for.
If, however, you want to explore Scarborough during the day before returning somewhere quieter, with countryside walks, village pubs and a more relaxed pace of life, we’d always recommend taking a look at Scalby.
It’s exactly why we chose it as the home for The Firs.
We wanted to create a holiday cottage that offered guests the best of both worlds. Easy access to everything Scarborough has to offer, while providing somewhere peaceful to come back to at the end of each day.
Because, in our experience, that’s the sort of holiday people remember long after they’ve unpacked their bags.