Luna Park

Luna Park sits right on Scarborough's seafront, a proper old-school amusement park that's been entertaining families since the 1970s. You'll find the usual mix of rides - roller coasters, log flumes, dodgems, the lot - plus arcade games and fairground attractions spread across a compact site that won't take more than a couple of hours to work through.

It's best suited to families with younger children and teenagers after a bit of seaside fun rather than serious thrill-seekers. The rides are solid rather than spectacular, but there's enough variety to keep kids occupied for an afternoon, especially if the weather's turned and you need an indoor option. Adults often find themselves enjoying it more than expected - there's something rather endearing about the classic British seaside park experience.

If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Parkdean Resorts at Cayton Bay or Haven Blue Dolphin are both within easy reach - Luna Park works well as a rainy-day backup or a wind-down from longer days exploring the Yorkshire coast. Don't expect modern theme park grandeur; instead, it delivers straightforward seaside entertainment without the price tag of bigger attractions.

Admission is reasonably priced and you can usually get through the main rides in two to three hours. Peak times during summer holidays get crowded, so weekday visits in shoulder seasons work better if you can swing it. It fits neatly into a broader Scarborough itinerary rather than being a full-day destination.