Holiday Attractions in ScarboroughHoliday attractions and places to visit while visiting Scarborough. Historically within the North Riding of Yorkshire, with a population of around 50,000 in the town's boundaries, Scarborough is the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast. It also has up to over 100,000 under the surrounding area within the district, and the greater area has over half a million residents, as of 2011 UK census. A person from Scarborough is traditionally known as a Scarborian, yet many different names are used. The town varies greatly from area to area; it is home to residential communities, business, fishing and service industries, plus a growing digital and creative economy, but overall is a top tourist destination on the East Coast of England. The most striking feature of the town's geography is a high rocky promontory pointing eastward into the North Sea. The promontory supports the 11th century ruins of Scarborough Castle and separates the sea front into a North Bay and a South Bay. The South Bay was the site of the original early medieval settlement and the harbour, which form the current Old Town district. This remains the main focus for tourism, with a sandy beach, cafes, amusements, arcades, theatres and entertainment facilities. The modern commercial town centre has migrated 440 yards (400 m) north-west of the harbour area and a 100 feet (30 m) above it, and contains the transport hubs, main services, shopping and night-life. The harbour has undergone major regeneration including the new Albert Strange Pontoons, a more pedestrian-friendly promenade, street lighting and seating. The North Bay has traditionally been the more peaceful end of the resort and is home to Peasholm Park which in June 2007 was restored to its Japanese-themed glory, complete with reconstructed pagoda. The park still features a mock maritime battle (based on the Battle of the River Plate) re-enacted on the boating lake with large model boats and fireworks throughout the summer holiday season. The North Bay Railway is a miniature railway which runs from the park through Northstead Manor Gardens to the Sea Life Centre at Scalby Mills. The North Bay Railway has what is believed to be the oldest operational diesel hydraulic locomotive in the world. Neptune was built in 1931 by Hudswell Clarke of Leeds in 1931 and is conveniently numbered 1931. Northstead Manor Gardens has apart from the North Bay Railway three other attractions. Firstly a water chute. Secondly a boating lake where boats can be hired. These attractions operate during the summer season. The third attraction is the Open Air Theatre. The North Bay is linked to the South Bay by the Marine Drive, an extensive Victorian promenade, built around the base of the headland. Overlooking both bays is Scarborough Castle, which was bombarded by the German warships SMS Derfflinger and SMS Von der Tann in the First World War. Both bays have popular sandy beaches and numerous rock-pools at low tide. Slightly less well known is the South Cliff Promenade situated above the Spa and South Cliff Gardens, commanding excellent views of the South Bay and old town and from which many iconic postcard views are taken. Its splendid Regency and Victorian terraces are still intact and form a backdrop to the South Bay. The ITV television drama The Royal and its recent spin-off series, The Royal Today, are filmed in the area. The South Bay has the largest illuminated "Star Disk" anywhere in the UK. It is 85 feet (26 m) across and is fitted with subterranean lights representing the 42 brightest stars and major constellations that can be seen from Scarborough in the northern skies. To the south-west of the town, beside the York to Scarborough railway line, is an ornamental lake known as Scarborough Mere. During the 20th century, the Mere was a popular park, with rowing boats, canoes and a miniature pirate ship – the Hispaniola – on which passengers were taken to "Treasure Island" to dig for doubloons. Since the late 1990s the emphasis has been on nature, with "Treasure Island" being paved over to form a new pier area. The lake is now part of the Oliver's Mount Country Park and the Hispaniola now sails out of the South Bay. Scarborough is one of Yorkshire's 'renaissance towns', having been granted government support for securing a vibrant future. As a result there are many building projects to renovate classic Victorian buildings and quality contemporary architecture. The town has a fine Anglican church, St. Martin-on-the-Hill. It was built in 1862-63 as the parish church of South Cliff and contains works by Dante Gabriel Rosetti, William Morris,Edward Burne Jones and Ford Maddox Brown. The church remains very active and thriving. Scarborough's fishing industry is still active, though only a shadow of its former self. The working harbour is home to a fish market including a shop and wooden stalls where fresh, locally-caught seafood can be purchased by the public. The tourism trade continues to be a major part of the local economy despite the current affordability of foreign holidays. While weekend and mid-week-break trade are tending to replace the traditional week-long family holiday, the beaches and attractions are always very busy throughout summer – a marked contrast to the quieter winter months when Scarborough is often seen as a peaceful bolt-hole from cities such as Leeds and Bradford. Confidence in the hospitality industry is high, evidenced by major refits in recent years, often targeted at a higher-spending clientèle. Significant amongst these is the Grand, Scarborough's biggest hotel, which overlooks the South Bay, and also the Palm Court Hotel. Scarborough's busy town centre has many major shopping chains alongside boutique independent shops. As well as a main pedestrianised shopping street (home to various chain stores and eateries) and the Brunswick shopping centre, boutique stores can be found on Bar Street and St Thomas Street. The town also has an indoor market with a large range of antique shops and independent traders in its vaults, and a smaller market on the South Bay. Scarborough's recent investment in digital connectivity is significant. The town has the UK's first free Wi-Fi seafront and harbour area and one of Europe's fastest internet connections (100MB). The population of the Town (comprising Castle, Central, Eastfield, Falsgrave Park, Newby, North Bay, Northstead, Ramshill, Stepney, Weaponness and Woodlands wards) is 50,135. Scarborough is at the heart of an Urban Area of just under 100,000 residents, and the entire district (Borough of Scarborough) is well over that figure; during the peak season, tourism can double the population. Scarborough has four major roads serving the town and also links it to other major towns and city's.
Scarborough has 25 main bus routes, operated by Scarborough and District, Arriva North East and Yorkshire Coastliner. These link the town centre with its suburbs and local towns, York, Hull, Middlesbrough and the North York Moors. The town is served by two Park and Ride services, located on the A64 and A165. Buses run from each terminus to the town centre and South Bay at least every 12 minutes seven days a week, with stopping points around the town centre. Buses from the Filey Road terminus on the A165 also stop at the University. Open top tourist buses also run along the sea front and Marine Drive, linking the South and North bays. Although the town has no ferry services, there are transport links to Hull which runs frequent services to northern Europe. Scarborough has a wide cultural scene, spread across the town and seafront. It draws people not only from around the country, but from across the world. Dramatist Alan Ayckbourn is based in Scarborough where he has lived for a number of years. He has produced seventy five plays in Scarborough and is the artistic director of the famous Stephen Joseph Theatre, where almost all his plays receive their first performance. The town also plays host to the annual National Student Drama Festival, which takes place at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, the Spa Centre and other venues around the town. The Futurist Theatre is a theatre and cinema on the seafront, of the South Bay. The Open Air Theatre, seating 6,500, has been recently restored. The area is also home to hundreds of artists working in a wide variety of media and boasts several galleries. The presence of the University of Hull's School of Arts and New Media in the town helps fuel the vibrant music and arts scene. These fairly recent developments, married to a long-established museum and visual arts facilities, hint at Scarborough's desire to re-invent itself as a creative and arts-based town. The town's Rotunda Museum has undergone a multi-million-pound redevelopment to become a national centre for geology. 2006 also saw the formation of a creative industries network called 'Creative Coast' comprising artists, designers, writers and other creatives with the shared vision of a culturally vibrant economy on the North Yorkshire coast. Scarborough is also home to Yorkshire Coast Art. Check out the website www.yorkshirecoastart.co.uk Scarborough currently has two cinemas, one at the Futurist Theatre on Sandside and the other is Hollywood Plaza on North Marine Road. Unfortunately the Futurist is now closed and faces demolition unless a developer can be found. The Grade II listed Scarborough Spa complex is home to the Scarborough Spa Orchestra, the last remaining seaside orchestra in the UK. The orchestra gives ten concerts every week during the summer months, playing music from an extensive repertoire of classical and light music with no programme repeats. The town is home to a significant jazz festival each September and in the summer boasts 'Beached Festival' – an eclectic rock and pop festival which takes place on the South Bay beach and features at least 50% local talent alongside internationally-known artists. 'Acoustic Gathering', a free one-day music festival, has been held annually in Peasholm Park since September 2005. This features over 20 bands and singer/songwriters from all parts of the UK including a number of local groups and musicians, all performing from the bandstand in the centre of the lake. Singer-songwriter Ashley Hicklin grew up in Scarborough and recorded a music video for the song "All The Time In The World" at Scarborough's Spa Complex and in the amusement arcades. The indie band One Night Only also recorded a video in Scarborough for their song "Just for Tonight". It features Scarborough's South Bay and the amusement arcades. The town and was the main influence behind Alternative Rock band Everyone An Army's second EP "A Coastal Dance On The Grave Of Romance" who were born and raised there. There is an expanding bar scene on St. Thomas Street, with 'The Barbican', 'Blue Lounge' and 'Quids Inn', with nightclubs such as 'Boleyn's' and 'Vivaz' in the town centre. There has been significant change in the last few years with many of the older bars undergoing refurbishment. Also on St. Thomas Street is the new Opera House Casino which was the biggest entertainment investment in Scarborough for over thirty years at time of construction. Mecca Bingo has operated in the town centre for over 30 years and has just been refurbished. There are a wide variety of restaurants such as Italian, Indian, Mexican, Chinese Thai food and classic Fish venues, again centred around St. Thomas Street. Scarborough is famous for its strong independent chains as well as larger chains like Ask on the seafront. Seafest is an annual festival which takes place at West Pier and around the harbour area in July. It celebrates the region's connection to fishing and hosts the region's biggest gathering of folk singers, shanty-men and musicians. The festival is based around Scarborough's West Pier and North Wharf where you will find a maritime themed exhibition, The Cropton Brewery Real Ale Bar and Children's Entertainment and our festival main stage. In addition there is the well known ‘Sea Fish Cookery’ marquee where visiting chefs demonstrate the art of sea - food preparation. In recent years, arts, business and education have collaborated annually to produce Digital Scarborough – a celebration of the town's digital activities including a wide range of events from business networking to film showings and gigs with DJs and VJs. Scarborough has a considerable graffiti culture, with as many as 20 'writers' currently active. There are two areas where graffiti art is legal in Scarborough, Sainsbury's basketball courts, and Falsgrave Park wall. Both have seen many collaborations and murals. The films Little Voice, Possession, and A Chorus of Disapproval were filmed on location in Scarborough and the surrounding area. Other films that have filmed scenes in Scarborough include Miranda, Dancing Queen, Beltenbros, The Brides in the Bath and The Damned United. Television drama series filmed in the Scarborough area include Heartbeat, its spin-off series The Royal and Five Days 2, the sequel to Five Days, was partly filmed in the town. Innovative events are continually added to the Scarborough calendar, including in February 2009, when 'Coastival' a musical arts extravaganza was launched. |
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