SEA LIFE Scarborough

The underwater tunnel at SEA LIFE Scarborough does something rather clever - it makes you feel like you're walking along the seabed with sharks cruising overhead. It's the main draw, and fair play, it works. You'll spend a solid couple of hours wandering through tanks watching rays glide past, octopuses doing their thing, and various fish species that most people couldn't name if their lives depended on it.

Families with young kids will get the most mileage here. There's enough interactive bits and discovery pools to keep them engaged, though teenagers might find it a touch samey by the end. The whole experience moves at its own pace - you're not rushed, and you can linger at whichever tank catches your eye.

It's not cheap, so do check current prices and opening hours before you head down. Budget around two hours minimum, more if your kids are the type to examine every single fish. Best to visit mid-week if you can stomach it, as weekends pull in proper crowds.

Location-wise, you're right in Scarborough itself, which makes it easy to combine with a beach day or a walk up to the seafront. If you're basing yourself at Scarborough Camping and Caravanning Club or one of the other parks dotted between here and Cayton Bay, SEA LIFE is an easy jaunt when the weather turns iffy. It's not essential to your holiday, but for a rainy Tuesday afternoon with the family, it beats sitting in a caravan playing board games.