Your Guide to Family Beach days
Pack your bucket and spade, we're off to the seaside!
- Stories & Inspiration
- Family Friendly Beaches
The summer holidays wouldn't be complete without a day at the seaside. We've put together this guide to help make your family beach days as stress-free as possible, with information on lifeguarded areas, accessibility and parking all in one place. Whether you're heading to the original seaside resort of Scarborough, exploring rock pools in Filey or enjoying boat trip rides in Whitby, you'll find plenty of inspiration for your next family day out by the coast.
Filey
Filey Beach is a wonderful spot for a family day out, with miles of coastline to explore. Enjoy the wide stretch of golden sands, perfect for building sandcastles, playing beach games, or simply paddling in the sea. Or, for curious explorers, head to the beach below Filey Brigg peninsular, where you can hunt for treasures and spot local wildlife in the rock pools.
Whilst you're in the area why not visit Filey Zoo, an award-winning park where you can meet a range of animals including cheeky meercats and greedy goats!
Lifeguards: 23 May - 6 September, 10am-6pm. Please remember, no flags means no lifeguards.
Accessibility: Good access via ramps and slipways; several wheelchair-friendly points.
Tide times: Please be aware you can get cut off by the tide here. Always check tide times.
Parking: Council operated car parks include Station Avenue and West Avenue car park.
Public toilets: Ravine Road, Filey Beach and Royal Parade toilets.
Scarborough
With a choice of two beautiful bays, Scarborough is packed with family fun.
North Bay is great for building sandcastles, learning to surf, or dolphin spotting. Just a short walk away, Peasholm Park is a favourite with families, where you can ride on a pedalo or enjoy the famous Peasholm Park Naval Warfare - Battle of Peasholm.
Over at South Bay, you'll find a sandy beach alongside traditional seaside attractions, including arcades and a funfair. Keep an eye out for the Scarborough 400 deckchair trail from now until 6th September, with 10 colourful deckchairs dotted around the town, each celebrating a different part of Scarborough's history and heritage.
For added fun, head to SEA Life Scarborough! Discover a magical underwater world and learn about Yorkshire’s only Seal Hospital.
Lifeguards: 23 May - 6 September, 10am-6pm. Please remember, no flags means no lifeguards.
Accessibility: Excellent access with ramps and wheelchair‑friendly paths.
Tide times: Always check tide times before you visit.
Parking: Council operated car parks are located on both North and South Bay.
Public toilets: North Bay beach, Peasholm Park, Vincent Pier, West Pier and St Nicholas Garden toilets.
Whitby
Whitby is one of the most iconic seaside towns, with plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Take a stroll around the busy harbour, watch the boats come and go, and stop off for some famous fish and chips.
For fantastic views across the town and coastline, climb the 199 Steps up to Whitby Abbey.
West Cliff Beach is a great spot for enjoying a traditional day at the seaside, while nearby Tate Hill Sands offers a smaller, sheltered beach tucked beside the harbour.
Lifeguards: 23 May - 6 September, 10am-6pm. Please remember, no flags means no lifeguards.
Accessibility: Access to the West Cliff beach is via a slope suitable for wheelchairs. Beach‑friendly wheelchairs are available to hire. Tate Hill Sands is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Tide times: Always check tide times before you visit.
Parking: There are several council operated car parks within the town, including West Cliff car park.
Public toilets: Whitby Beach Management Centre
Sandsend
Just north of Whitby, Sandsend is a lovely coastal village that's perfect for a family day by the sea. Grab an ice cream, homemade cake or lunch from one of the cafés before heading down to the beach. With plenty of space for little ones to run around, paddle and explore, it's ideal for a slower-paced day on the coast.
The long stretch of sandy beach connects all the way back to Whitby and, when the tide is out, you can walk between the two with fantastic views of the coastline.
Lifeguards: 11 July - 6 September, 10am-6pm. Please remember, no flags means no lifeguards.
Accessibility: The slope next to the car park is steeper, while the central slope is better suited to wheelchair users.
Tide times: High tide can reach the sea wall in places, always check tide times before you visit.
Runswick Bay
Runswick Bay is a picture-postcard village tucked into the hillside, overlooking a sweeping, sheltered bay. Depending on the tide, you'll find either a long stretch of sandy beach or a smaller cove. Be sure to check tide times before setting off.
A beachside café provides the all-important ice cream, along with refreshments and beach toys to keep everyone entertained.
It’s a favourite spot for fossil hunting, with rocky edges revealed at low tide, and its calm, gentle waters make it an ideal place for a dip in the sea.
Lifeguards: 11 July - 6 September, 10am-6pm. Please remember, no flags means no lifeguards.
Accessibility: Steep hill down to the beach; limited wheelchair access.
Tide times: Large sandy beach at low tide; high tide can sometimes cover the full beach. Always check tide times before you visit.
Parking: Council operated car parks include Bank Top and Bank Bottom.
Public toilets: Located near Bank Bottom car park, behind the café.
Whether you're paddling in the sea, hunting for fossils or enjoying fish and chips on the promenade, beach days in North Yorkshire are the family memories you'll treasure for years to come.
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