Places for Children

There’s much more to Scarborough than the beaches, amusement arcades and donkey rides. Here are a few ideas for a great day out with the kids. If you discover somewhere new, please let us know so we can share it!

This farm is packed with things to entertain kids, whatever the weather. There’s a huge indoor play area with ball pool, tractor zone and adventure trail. The Animal Barn and Interactive Paddocks are designed to allow children to see animals in a natural environment –where they can get up close and join in with feeding. You can eat at the café or take your own picnic!

Open daily at 10am from 21 March – 2 November.
Killerby Grange, Station Road, Cayton, Scarborough YO11 3TL

Link to Playdale Farm Park Website
Link to Tripadvisor Reviews


Situated about five miles inland from the Steeple & Belfry, Betton Farm is a working farm with a tea room, farm shop, onsite bakery and a good children’s play area – complete with climbing frames and yellow chutes. Entry is free and the kids will love the pigs, rabbits, chickens and horses.

Opening times: 10am – 5pm (4pm from end Oct to Easter)
Racecourt Road, East Ayton, Scarborough YO13 9HT, England

Link to Betton Farm Website
Link to Tripadvisor Reviews

A number of local farms invite you to come and Pick Your Own fruit and veg. The kids love it, so make sure they don’t get carried away!  We recommend phoning beforehand, as opening hours are dependent on the farmers’ schedules, season and weather.

Rillington Fields, Malton YO17 8JW tel. 01944758614
Link to Paddock House Fruit Farm, 

Named one of the UK’s Top 6 parks by Trip Advisor, this oriental-themed park in Scarborough’s North Bay offers a beautiful landscape of streams and waterfalls, mini bridges and mystical gardens.

The kids will love the local wildlife, including tame grey squirrels, ducks, swans and geese – so don’t forget your bread!

The park is home to the famous Naval Warfare, a miniature sea battle that takes place on the lake. And during the summer months, you can play 18-hole mini golf or take the water yourself by hiring a rowing boat, canoe or dragon-themed pedalo.

Link to Peasholm Park Website
Link to Tripadvisor Reviews

This really is a beautiful neck of the woods. If it’s a nice day, pack a disposable BBQ and head to the visitors’ centre, where a freshwater stream winds around a great adventure play area and picnic spot. It costs £7 to drive through Dalby Forest in peak season, but it’s well worth it. As well as lakes, forest walks and bike trails, there’s also the Dalby Activity Centre, which offers a range of outdoor pursuits, including archery, tree climbing and paintballing.

Dalby is also home to the Go Ape Experience – the UK’s top forest adventure –  where you can fly through the treetops on zip slides and tackle forest trails on an all-terrain Segway Safari. For Go Ape, we highly recommend booking in advance.

Dalby Forest Visitor Centre Low Dalby Dalby Forest YO18 7LT
Link to Dalby Forest
Link to Go Ape
Link to Tripadvisor Reviews

If it’s a rainy day, Mini Monsterz offers a large soft play area featuring a 5.5m drop slide, four-lane astro slide, climbing frames and coin-operated race cars. There’s also optional Laser Tag and pottery painting – plus a basic café with free wi-fi. Play time is unlimited, so you can stay as long as you want.

Link to Mini Monsterz
Link to Trip Advisor Reviews
 

If you want to enjoy a meal in peace, the Mayfield is a good option. This newly-renovated country pub has a children’s indoor play area (unsupervised) and the menu is family-friendly. There’s also a good carvery Tuesday to Sunday. It’s run by the same people who own the Copper Horse up the road, which is one of the area’s best pubs.

Link to The Mayfield
Link to Trip Advisor Reviews

The main reason to go to the Plough Inn is the Fun Farm – an indoor soft play area for young children, which features a ball pool, slides, tunnels and ladders. There’s also an outdoor area with climbing apparatus, slides and swings for older children. There is certainly better food to be had around Scarborough, but it’s fine if your kids need to burn off some energy.

Link to The Plough
Link to Trip Advisor Reviews

Located on the North Bay of the main headland, it features over 50 displays of marine line in both indoor and outdoor exhibits – including seals, otters, penguins, sharks and rays. There’s also a hands-on rockpool, a quiz trail and optional gold panning and crazy golf.

The kids will love it, but it’s certainly not cheap. We recommend booking online, as you can save up to 40% on door admission prices. Also, keep an eye out for discount vouchers on parking tickets and receipts, as these are common out of peak season. If you’re driving, there’s a Pay and Display outside the centre – but you can usually find a free spot up the hill on Scholes Park Rd.

Scalby Mills, Scarborough, England
Link to Scarborough Sealife Sanctuary
Link to Trip Advisor Reviews

Around 30 minutes’ drive from the Steeple and Belfry, Flamingo Land is Yorkshire’s biggest theme park attraction and the UK’s most visited zoo. It’s a great family day out, with major attractions that include the Mumbo Jumbo – the steepest rollercoaster in the UK – and the Cliff Hanger, the country’s tallest drop tower.

We would agree with some reviews that the queues and cost can detract from the fun. So it’s a good idea to Google for a voucher code or discount before booking, and to visit at off-peak times.

Kirby Misperton, Malton | North Yorkshire, Malton YO17 6UX, England
Link to Flamingoland
Link to Trip Advisor Reviews

 Under an hour’s drive away, York Maze is the largest maze in the UK. It’s made from over a million growing maize plants, so it’s only open from mid-July to early September. But it’s well worth a visit – with over 20 rides, attractions and shows to keep the kids entertained. York Maze has lots of different theme days, and is constantly changing, so you’ll never get the same day out twice.

You can take your own picnic, but the food on sale is high quality and surprisingly good value. And, of course, they sell corn on the cob!

Scarborough’s new water park. Fantastic for the whole family as both relaxing and fun and open till late. The water is always really warm but be aware the pricing of food and drinks is quite expensive.  

North Bay, 28 Burniston Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 6PH
http://www.alpamare.co.uk/
0172 386 1431

Scarborough’s council run pool has a 6 lane main pool and separate children’s pool. It is quite basic but has plenty of general swimming and Splash fun sessions to take advantage of.  Check out the timetable to ensure the pool is open for your visit.
Ryndle Crescent, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO12 6AQ
Link to Scarborough Pool

The Flower of May holiday park opens its heated swimming pool to the public. You should check the website to confirm the session times before visiting. The pool is very clean and has a lifeguard on patrol. There is a separate shallow paddling pool for toddlers and larger pool with gradual depth for older children and includes a spa area. There is a small arcade area at the entrance and cafe upstairs. (Alternatively within a couple of minutes drive you can have lunch at Redcliffe Farm which has an outdoor area for meals and space for children to run around)

Lebberston Cliff, Scarborough YO11 3NU
Link to Flower of May

Go karting is a fantastic activity for both kids and adults. And this indoor track just under a 10-minute drive away offers affordable fun for anyone over 1.4m tall. We’ve taken a friend’s 8 and 11-year-old boys – and they absolutely loved it, begging to go back the next day. There’s no need to book, but it is advised, especially in peak times.

Link to Scarborough Indoor Karting
Link to Trip Advisor Reviews

This really is a beautiful neck of the woods. If it’s a nice day, pack a disposable BBQ and head to the visitors’ centre, where a freshwater stream winds around a great adventure play area and picnic spot. It costs £7 to drive through Dalby Forest in peak season, but it’s well worth it. As well as lakes, forest walks and bike trails, there’s also the Dalby Activity Centre, which offers a range of outdoor pursuits, including archery, tree climbing and paintballing.

Dalby is also home to the Go Ape Experience – the UK’s top forest adventure – where you can fly through the treetops on zip slides and tackle forest trails on an all-terrain Segway Safari. For Go Ape, we highly recommend booking in advance.

Link to Go Ape
Link to Trip Advisor Reviews

Held every month in the winter. Great value at £6 including skate hire. Tickets are sold on the door
Pindar Leisure Centre or Scarborough Rugby Club
More details & dates: RollerSk8.co.uk

For children who love chocolate, like making things (including a mess) then this is a great activity. Depending on the group the workshops lasts between 1 and 2 hours and the children leave with treats they have made themselves. The workshops which have different themes (chocolate pizza making, Easter egg making, chocolate shapes) are done in the rear of a small chocolate shop so there is not a lot of room for spectators but it is lots of fun for children. Check out Amelia’s website or phone for session times (booking required).

Link to Amelia’s Chocolate
Link to Trip Advisor Reviews


This charming attraction has been operating its service from Peasholm Park to Scalby Mills since 1931 and offers beautiful views across the North Bay. At the station, you’ll also find the Sky Trail Adventure – a two-level rope bridge and beam course – and the Glass House Café, which is a perfect spot to sit back and unwind.

Burniston Rd, Scarborough (01723 368791)
Link to North Bay Miniature Railway
Link to TripAdvisor Reviews


Head up to beautiful Staintondale just north of Scarborough and drive your own team of dogs on a two-wheeled scooter – around a purpose-built husky trail. For a more sedate experience, or if you have young children, you can walk the husky dogs through the North Yorkshire Moors countryside.

Link to PeskyHusky.co.uk
Link to TripAdvisor Reviews