Cottages in Scarborough

Table of Contents

• At a glance: what should you know about renting a cottage in Scarborough?
• Cottages in Scarborough: find your perfect retreat
• Exploring Scarborough: our top recommendations
• Activities: what are the top things to do and see in Scarborough?

• Space and character: Scarborough cottages offer cosy, self-catering comfort, from harbour-side boltholes to roomy family homes, many welcoming dogs.
• Where to stay: Near the harbour and South Bay for the buzz, or quieter North Bay and the old town for peace.
• What guests love: Two sweeping bays, sandy beaches, the castle-topped headland and easy access to the North York Moors.
• Where to eat: Fresh seafood, seasonal cooking and lively bistros, from the harbour to the town centre.
• Things to do: Explore Scarborough Castle, ride the North Bay Railway, visit Peasholm Park and day-trip to Whitby.

Cottages in Scarborough are made for cosy, characterful seaside holidays on the North Yorkshire coast, from snug boltholes for couples to spacious homes with room for the whole family. Set around this classic resort, many are dog-friendly self-catering retreats with a warm, homely feel, tucked into the old town's cobbled streets or a short stroll from the beach. Whether you want to be near the harbour and South Bay or somewhere quieter towards North Bay, there is a cottage to match. Expect features such as:

• A cosy sitting room, often with a wood-burner or open fire
• A well-equipped kitchen for relaxed self-catering
• A garden, patio or terrace for coastal air
• Wi-Fi and parking for an easy stay
• Dog-friendly comforts for holidays with the whole family

Wherever you base yourself, a beach, a bay or the moors is rarely far away.

What are the best areas to stay in Scarborough?

It depends on the holiday you have in mind: the harbour and South Bay are best for the beach and buzz, while North Bay and the old town suit peace and quiet. The table below details areas for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Guests booking cottages in Scarborough through Holidu often highlight the cosy, homely comfort after a day by the sea, the two sweeping bays and the sandy beaches. Many mention the fresh seafood, the castle-topped headland and how easy it is to reach the North York Moors and the pretty coast around Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay, and return for the warm welcome, the dog-friendly homes and the timeless charm of this classic resort.

On the North Yorkshire coast, Scarborough is a classic British seaside resort and one of the country's first spa towns, famed for its two sweeping bays, sandy beaches and the headland-topping ruins of Scarborough Castle. With the Victorian Grand Hotel dominating the skyline, the naval battles of Peasholm Park, the Rotunda geology museum and a busy harbour, it blends nostalgic seaside charm with plenty to explore. As a gateway to the North York Moors and the wider Yorkshire coast, it makes a wonderful base for a cosy cottage holiday.

🥗Where to eat in Scarborough?

According to Google Maps reviews, Embers is one of the best rated restaurants in Scarborough. Below is a table showing top highly-rated spots hand-picked by our travel experts.

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers rate Lookout on the Pier, a relaxed bistro right on the West Pier: a lovely spot for fresh seafood with harbour views, watching the boats come and go as you eat.

1. Relax on the two bays
2. Explore Scarborough Castle
3. Wander Peasholm Park
4. Ride the North Bay Railway
5. Visit the Rotunda Museum
6. Explore the North York Moors
7. Day-trip to Whitby

1. Relax on the two bays

   Scarborough's two sweeping bays give the resort its classic seaside character. Lively South Bay has the harbour, the main sandy beach, arcades and fish-and-chip shops, while quieter North Bay offers a calmer stretch of sand backed by grassy cliffs. Build sandcastles, paddle in the shallows or simply stroll the seafront with an ice cream. With space to spread out on both, the beaches are a firm favourite with families and dog owners alike.

2. Explore Scarborough Castle

   Crowning the headland between the two bays, the ruins of Scarborough Castle are the town's most striking landmark. Standing on a site fortified for more than two and a half thousand years, the medieval fortress offers atmospheric walls to explore and breathtaking views over both bays and out to sea. Learn about its long and turbulent history, picnic on the grassy clifftop and soak up one of the finest vantage points on the Yorkshire coast.

3. Wander Peasholm Park

   Beside North Bay, Peasholm Park is a much-loved Japanese-themed pleasure garden with a boating lake, a pagoda and wooded walks. Hire a pedalo or rowing boat on the lake, follow the paths up through the trees and, in season, watch the famous naval warfare re-enactments played out with model boats. Pretty, peaceful and full of nostalgic charm, it is a lovely spot for a relaxed afternoon with children and dogs in tow.

4. Ride the North Bay Railway

   The miniature North Bay Railway has trundled along the seafront since 1931, carrying passengers between Peasholm Park and Scalby Mills. Hop aboard one of its charming little trains for a gentle ride beside the coast, a nostalgic treat that delights younger travellers. Combined with the boating lake and the beach nearby, it makes the North Bay a wonderfully old-fashioned day out for families staying in a Scarborough cottage.

5. Visit the Rotunda Museum

   Housed in an elegant circular Georgian building on the seafront, the Rotunda Museum is one of the oldest purpose-built museums in the country and a shrine to the geology of the Yorkshire coast. Discover dinosaur footprints, fossils and the story of the pioneering geologist William Smith, whose ideas shaped the way the building was designed. Compact and fascinating, it is a great rainy-day option and a real gem for curious minds.

6. Explore the North York Moors

   Just inland, the wild and beautiful North York Moors National Park is on Scarborough's doorstep. Roam heather-clad hills, follow deep wooded valleys and pretty stone villages, or ride the steam trains of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Perfect for walkers and dog owners, the moors offer big skies, superb scenery and a peaceful contrast to the bustle of the coast, all within an easy drive of your cottage.

7. Day-trip to Whitby

   A short drive up the coast, the atmospheric harbour town of Whitby makes a superb day out. Climb the 199 steps to its clifftop abbey ruins, the setting that inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula, wander the cobbled old town and tuck into famous fish and chips by the harbour. With its Gothic charm, jet jewellery and seafaring history, Whitby adds a shot of drama to a relaxed Yorkshire coast holiday.