Castles are my favourite places to visit – there’s something magical about standing in the same place as Kings and Queens and knowing the only thing that separates you is time. Scarborough Castle, in North Yorkshire, is a great place to experience this because there are so many stories here and it is steeped in history, right from Roman Times to WW1, when it was attacked by German Warships. I usually visit at least once a year despite living nearly two hours away, because it is such a fantastic family day out.
Opening Times and Tickets:
Tickets are cheaper if you book online at least a day in advance, and are free for English Heritage Members. Children under 5 years old go free.
Through the warmer months they are open daily, then only open during weekends and school holidays during the Winter months.
Click here for more information on opening times and tickets.
Parking and Travelling:
Scarborough Castle does not have its own car park, but there are plenty in Scarborough. I tend to use St. Mary’s Pay and Display car park as it is very close, but there is still a steep (but short) walk up to the castle entrance. Disabled visitors can pre-book parking at Scarborough Castle by contacting their number: 01723 372451.
Scarborough is served by good bus and train transport, but you will still need to walk up the hill to the castle from these.
Prams and Accessibility:
Due to the nature of castles, I wouldn’t reccomend taking a pram if you want to explore the whole place. There is an electric all-terrain mobility scooter now available to hire at Scarborough Castle that can be booked here for anyone with mobility issues.
Things to do at Scarborough Castle
1. Explore the ruins
There is obviously a magnificent ruined keep and plenty of castle to explore, but there are also ruins from Roman times! You can see the Roman Signal Tower and chapel too. We really enjoyed the audio tour as we learned lots of great stories, including one where an invader was blown off the walls when a gust of wind caught his cloak and delayed the attack by 6 weeks!
2. See the sea
As you explore the headland, which is a gigantic wildflower meadow, you are treated to the most beautiful views of Scarborough and the North Sea. You can see both North Bay and South Bay from the castle grounds.
3. Visit the Exhibition
There is evidence of settlements on the site of Scarborough Castle for thousands of years, and the full story is told through artifacts in this small exhibition. It is also a great place to shelter from rain, which I discovered when watching a Knight’s Tournament here in stormy weather!
Things to do nearby
These oriental themed gardens are full to bursting with activities, including low cost activities such as feeding the friendly squirrels, to taking a miniture train to the Sealife Centre and back again.
This seaside town has tons of family friendly activities to offer, from visiting the abbey ruins that inspired Dracula, to exploring the coast with a boat trip. There is also a great beach to spend some time on.
