The UK’s ‘first’ seaside resort has an Australian-style beach, world’s best B&B and new summer attraction

BRITAIN’S first seaside town dates back more than 360 years – and is now home to amazing B&Bs, beaches and attractions.

The seaside staycation holiday became popular in the Victorian era.

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But Scarborough as a beach town destination is said to go as far back as the 1600s, making it the ‘first’ in the UK.

This was after a stream of mineral water was found in 1626 by a local woman, which ran from the cliffs through the town and created the Scarborough Spa.

And this saw a flood of tourists come to visit the town, with bathing ‘machines’ – used to allow people to change into swimwear – added in 1735.

This also resulted in the the construction of the new railway line connecting Scarborough to York in 1845, as well as the Grand Hotel in 1867, then one of the biggest in the world.

What was thought to be the first cliff-front passenger railway was also built in Scarborough in 1875, which cost tourists 1p.

It once even has it’s own pleasure pier which was built in 1869, although was demolished in the early 1900s due to damage.

While seaside towns across the UK slowly fell into disrepair in the 1950s and 1960s following the popularity of the cheap package holiday, many have since seen a resurgence once more.

And Scarborough is one of them, having been named as having the best B&B in the world last year.

The Toulson Court was given the accolade for the third year running.

With just eight bedrooms, the hotel has been given thousands of rave reviews with many praising it’s cleanliness and amazing food.

The town’s North Bay Beach has even been compared to Australia shores.

It’s white sands and multicoloured beach huts seen people call it a dupe of Brighton Bay.

An article at Enjoy Travel said: “When placed side by side, the colourful beach huts at North Bay Beach and at Australia’s Brighton Beach look extremely similar.”

And new plans for the town include a 2,100ft zipline across the seafront.

The new experience – which hopes to open in time for the summer holidays – will run from the former Mr Marvel’s Leisure Park to south of the Scalby Mills Miniature Railway Station.

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scarborough.gov.uk

Other new additions this year could also be the Alpamare water park, with the £14million attraction looking for a new owner this summer.

And  Conservative candidate, Keane Duncan, who is running for North Yorkshire mayor, said she would “buy and restore the Grand Hotel” is elected.

In the mean time, other attractions tourists can visit include the beachfront Ferris Wheel or the Scarborough Open Air Theatre, the largest in Europe.

Madeleine Bunting, who has visited more than 40 coastal resorts around the UK, even said Scarborough was one of her favourite beach towns.

The seaside expert previously said, when asked about her favourite: “[Its] such a tough question because I enjoyed so many of them but I think Scarborough is stunning and full of intriguing reminders of its glamorous past.”

She praised it’s lesser-known attractions as well, such as Woodend Art Gallery.

We’ve rounded up four beach towns which are set to be big in 2024.

And here are three UK seaside towns which are just as good to visit in the winter as the summer.

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