Discover Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Cornelian Bay, Scarborough: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cornelian_Bay,_Scarborough,_North_Yorkshire_(2).jpg
Author: Thomas Tolkien


Scarborough is a coastal town in North Yorkshire, England. The town has a population of about 55,000 people 2012 estimate). Scarborough is the biggest tourist resort on the North Yorkshire coast.

Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bar_Street,_Scarborough_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1398238.jpg
Author: JThomas


While the original part of town is near the harbor, it stretches north and west to higher ground. The harbor itself is sheltered by a rocky promontory with the ruins of the 11th century Scarborough Castle.

Scarborough is claimed to have been founded during the Viking period, by Viking raider Thorgils Skarthi, in AD 966. This claim is however not backed by archaeological evidence, and is believed to be based on myth rather than substantiated sources.

Scarborough Bridge: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scarborough_Bridge.jpg
Author: Alex Liivet
There is evidence however that the land has been inhabited since the Stone and Bronze Ages, and that the Romans left signs of their presence there. Rival bands of Viking raiders may have brought so much destruction and pillage to the Scarborough area that there was little left to document when the Norman carried out the survey of the Domesday Book in 1086.

Scarborough received a royal charter in 1253 to hold a fair. The Scarborough Fair developed into an annual six-week expo attracting merchants from all over Europe. It run from the 13th to the 18th century.

The discovery of therapeutic properties of Scarborough water led to the town becoming Britain's first seaside spa resort. This was further helped by the construction of the Scarborough-York railway line in 1845. Its train station boasts of a 152-yard (139 m) seat, the longest station seat in the world.

The Scarborough Station Seat, at 139 meters claimed to be the longest station seat in the world: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scarborough_-_the_long_seat_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1495929.jpg
Author: Dave Bevis


After a decline in tourism in the late 20th century, Scarborough in today undergoing an renaissance, redeveloping itself to be relevant in the future. The town has a number of fine historic buildings worth exploring.

Visiting Scarborough

Take the A1(M) motorway from London to Junction 45, then take the A64 road heading northeast in the direction of York. Passing York, continue on the A64 until you reach Scarborough.

Scarborough Castle: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battlements_-_geograph.org.uk_-_192400.jpg
Author: Scott Rimmer

Places of Interest in Scarborough

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Thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye. My hobby is to research information about places, and share the information with people on this website. I started this website on 5 January 2003, and since then, have written about over 20,000 places, mostly in Malaysia and Singapore.

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