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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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.