Scarborough

Two golden bays sweep round a dramatic headland crowned by a medieval castle, making this Yorkshire coast stalwart feel more Mediterranean than northern English on a good day. Scarborough splits personality between its refined South Bay, where the Italian Garden cascades down the cliff face, and the livelier North Bay with Luna Park's vintage fairground rides still drawing families after decades.

The town's Victorian grandeur hasn't entirely faded. Wander the Rose Garden for proper seaside elegance, or climb Holbeck Hill for cracking views across the coastline - though you'll find only grass where the famous Holbeck Hall Hotel once stood before the cliff claimed it back in 1993. That's Scarborough for you: dramatic, unpredictable, shaped by the restless North Sea.

East Harbour buzzes with fishing boats and pleasure craft, while the castle ruins dominate everything from their rocky perch. It's a town that works year-round, not just during the summer rush. The surrounding countryside rolls inland through villages like Seamer, connected by reliable train links to York and beyond.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense here. Cayton Bay stretches south with excellent walking, while spots like Lebberston offer peaceful bases within easy reach of both coast and moors. You're perfectly placed for day trips to Whitby or the North York Moors, but honestly, Scarborough's twin bays and cliff-top drama provide entertainment enough for a proper Yorkshire seaside holiday.