Scarborough's main activities divide by bay. The South Bay is the traditional seaside resort — the Grand Hotel, the Spa, amusement arcades, fish and chips, and the funicular railway down to the beach. The North Bay is quieter, popular with surfers, and home to the Sea Life Centre. Between the two, the castle headland offers the best views in town and a 12th-century fortress that's worth the steep walk up.
The Stephen Joseph Theatre — where Alan Ayckbourn has premiered his plays for decades — elevates Scarborough's cultural life well above what you'd expect from a seaside town.