Scarborough is the end of the line from Leeds and York, which makes it about the easiest seaside day out in the north by train. You step off and the sea is a walk away.
The beach is free, which is the whole argument. Everything else is optional.
Free things to do in Scarborough with children
- South Bay and North Bay beaches — Sand, donkeys in season and an amusement-lined front on the South Bay. North Bay is quieter and better for actually sitting down.
- Peasholm Park — Japanese-themed park with an island, a pagoda and a naval warfare display in season. Free to walk around; the boats cost.
- The harbour and lighthouse — Working fishing boats, crab pots and a short pier walk. Free entertainment for as long as the boats keep moving.
- Rock pooling below the castle headland — At low tide the rocks at the north end of South Bay fill with crabs and anemones. Bring a bucket.
- The Rotunda Museum gardens and the seafront — The valley gardens and the cliff walks connect the two bays without charge.
Worth paying for
Not free, but cheap enough to be worth it, and all reachable without a car:
- The Central Tramway — A Victorian cliff lift between the town and the beach. Pennies, and it saves the climb.
- Scarborough Castle — English Heritage, so there is a charge, but the headland views are the best in town and free for members.
Getting to Scarborough by train
Scarborough station is a ten minute walk from the South Bay seafront, downhill on the way there.
Going by train also means nobody has to find a parking space, and children can move about, look out of the window and eat crisps for the whole journey.
Click here to book train tickets to Scarborough
Opening hours, admission prices and booking requirements change, and some attractions close on certain days or for refurbishment. Always check the attraction’s own website before you set off. This page was written in August 2026.
Disclosure: the train ticket link on this page is an affiliate link. If you book through it I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
