What to do in Scarborough during the winter
Famed as a seaside resort since the Victorian era, Scarborough has always attracted many visitors. This is true throughout the winter too. Here’s a list of things to keep those of us who live in this wonderful coastal town occupied during the winter months.
Active Types
For active people there is a range of indoor sports. Scarborough’s Leisure Village boasts a heated indoor swimming pool, indoor sports Hall and Gym. There are plenty of clubs and groups for anyone sporty as well as a studio for yoga, spinning and other guided classes.
Evening sessions of laser tag might just bring out your youthful side; you could also spend time at Alpamare waterpark on one of their award-winning slides or just chilling in the outdoor infinity pool with a cocktail.
Animal Lovers
More than an aquarium, the Scarborough Sea Life Centre is a marine conservation centre and well worth a visit. You can walk with the penguins, hear feeding talks and understand their ‘Breed, Rescue, Protect’ policy for all marine animals.
Christmas Traditions
The newly re-vamped Market Hall and vaults transforms into a Christmas Market, tickling the tastebuds with Christmas fayre and festive music. And the town centre’s pedestrian precinct hosts a European Style Christmas Market every year.
Over Christmas itself, Scarborough celebrates some quirky traditions. Boxing Day is known locally as Ladies Day, a day when all the women of the town are encouraged to dress up and visit the town’s pubs. But not before they have witnessed the annual raft race across Scarborough harbour. A fancy-dress competition also takes place where no tactics are too low!
On the beach at mid-morning, there is a fishing and fire service charity football match and a golden mile of pennies is laid along the foreshore to raise money for local charities. Boxing Day on Scarborough’s South Bay is not to be missed!
Style on Show
The roots of Scarborough’s heritage are found in the Victoria era, with buildings such as the amazing Grand Hotel and Scarborough Spa, but it was the 30s when Scarborough hit its heyday. The Art Deco era lives on in the town, acting as the equivalent to the Scandinavian hugge.
The town’s Art Deco cinema, The Hollywood Plaza, still has its original Wurlitzer Organ. This independent cinema is a great place to snuggle up in winter. And you’ll be supporting a local business.
Still on the art deco theme, the amazing Harbour Bar has operated as an art deco style milk bar since 1945. Its iconic red seating is offset by the bright yellow of the servers’ uniforms. Horlicks and Bovril are still served in glass and their Knickerbockerglory is to die for!
Originally an Odeon cinema, the Stephen Joseph Theatre has the iconic shape and style of the era. Sympathetically restored in the 1980s, the interior of the building even has an original mural on the wall and the carpets are an exact copy of the originals. An amazing venue for watching live theatre and spiritual home to the playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn.
Night Owls
For those of us who come alive at night, the bars and pubs open until late in Scarborough’s town centre, or you can stay up all night in our local Casino. Ideal for night owls who fancy a flutter. Open until 6am Scarborough’s Casino sits on the site of a former Opera House. It is a spacious airy venue with a restaurant area for fine dining. Not restricted to just gamblers!
Culture Vultures
The art galleries and workshops of Scarborough are open throughout the winter for visitors to the town. The main art gallery is on The Crescent in the town centre. It is home to resident artists who have their studios in the same building. The Coast Gallery has a more contemporary feel and a fabulous café too!
So whatever your interests, Scarborough has something to offer. Our campus is also a great place to curl up with a book or start a course, even if we do say so ourselves!