Ah, the English North East coast. Facing the North Sea, windswept, and with a landscape that can’t be beaten, whether it’s the many rocky beaches that dot the landscape, or the rolling hills and meadows of North East Yorkshire.

There’s a beauty to this part of England that you won’t find anywhere else in the country, even on the sunny Cornish coast.

And perhaps the best place to enjoy this particular slice of the United Kingdom is in the seaside town of Scarborough.

Simultaneously a major fishing port in the area, and one of the biggest tourist hotspots in North East England, this little seaside town is a great place to visit for business trips, family holidays, and even nights out.

Add to that how many of North Yorkshire’s other hotspots, like Whitby, are just a short car or bus journey away, and it’s not hard to see how and why Scarborough has stayed an appealing spot for tourists for literal centuries!

With a tourist industry older than some countries, picking a single or even just a few hotels to stay at while here can feel daunting.

Especially in a place with both some of the best and most… questionable, hotels as Scarborough has.

Luckily for you, our guide is packed with nothing but hits for Scarborough visits!

1. Bike & Boot Inn

If we’re starting a list of the best hotels to stay at in Scarborough, we’d better start it off right. And what better way than to show you the new kid on the block that pretty much every visitor to Scarborough is raving about?

Started up just a few years ago, Bike and Boot Inn is the hotel to go to if you’re looking for a place in Scarborough that has that chic modern feeling.

While many of the other hotels that we have visited in this lovely town (this list included) are all great, they can sometimes feel a little stuck in the late 20th century.

Perfectly serviceable, but not exactly fit for friends and families to check out in the 21st century, you know?

Bike and Boot bucks this trend in a way that we’ve seen few other hotels do so far, being kitted out with paired-back furnishing that both open up the space, while also feeling homey and comfortable.

Plus, it’s not like Bike and Boot have sacrificed all the classic trappings of Scarborough buildings to make this hotel comfortable.

It’s still based inside an older building, with several key details that many homes around Scarborough have, like the wall and pillar details that you’ll find inside.

And, of course, it’s located in the heart of Scarborough Bay, so you’re just a short walk from Scarborough beachside!

So, whether you’re with friends or family, this is the place to go if you’re looking for a trendy hotel in Scarborough!

2. Tall Storeys

One of the features that many visitors to the county will notice is that Scarborough and East Yorkshire, despite its main reputation of amazing beaches and seafaring attractions, is also home to some of the most stunning greenery and woodlands that you’ll find in the country too.

So, many tourists to Scarborough, perhaps after staying in the heart of the town on their first-time visit, want to spend their next surrounding by those luscious greens.

Tall Storeys is just such a hotel for those people. A luxuriously kept 7-bedroom BNB, this place has vintage furnishings that make it feel like you’re stepping into a more pleasant, quainter time. 

(Then again, given that this is a Grade II-listed building, perhaps that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise!)

Still, that doesn’t mean that the furnishings of your rooms are so old. You still have plenty of the modern necessities that you could want from a modern hotel room, so it’s not a case of the hotel feeling dated.

The hotel itself has a beautifully kept and luscious garden too. Perfect for those relaxing summer mornings that start your day off just right

Plus, it’s still only just outside Scarborough town, so it’s not like you’re sacrificing much of that town life and sights to see by being here.

It’s the perfect home base for exploring the rest of this gorgeous town, whether you’re doing it by foot, or public transport!

And, like many of the smaller hotels that you’ll find around Scarborough, the owners are personable and ready to help you out with any issues that you may have while staying here.

So, if you’re looking for a nice slice of a quiet corner of Scarborough to set yourself up in, you can do a lot worse than Tall Storeys!

3. The Plough Inn At Scalby

You’ll find no shortage of pubs-turned-inns in and around North East Yorkshire, with many of them being some of the most pleasant stays that you’ll have around Scarborough.

The Plough Inn is one of these places and fits the bill of a pub-to-hotel conversion done right.

Located in the small Yorkshire town of Scalby, the Plough Inn is within a few minute’s drive of Scarborough, making it a great place to set yourself up if you love the countryside, but also prefer the green countryside that this part of England also known for.

With 8 en-suite rooms to pick from, this old building has all the furnishing that you could want from a modern 

Plus, the gastro-pub that takes up the ground floor of this place is great, perfect for a hearty dinner or lunch after a long day of walking.

And walking is perhaps the real selling point here. Of course, you’re located by the seaside in this hotel, making it great for shorefront treks, but there’s so much else to see here besides… well, the sea!

You’re just a stone’s throw away from the North York Moors National Park and Cleveland Way, two natural beauty spots that any hiker and nature lover should visit.

If you’re a lover of the great outdoors and a good pub meal, you know where you should be booking!

4. Wrea Head Hall

Another great hotel to check out, Wrea Head Hall is the perfect place for a romantic getaway for two in North East Yorkshire.

Found just north of Scalby, the first thing that you’ll notice on arrival is just how grand this hotel feels, thanks in part to the Gothic architecture of the main hall.

You feel like you’re entering an impressive estate, a feeling that is emulated in plenty of other aspects of the presentation here.

From the rooms to the original flooring and other architectural features, you can’t escape how amazing this place looks!

From the evening dining hall that you can book yourself in for, to the beautiful rolling hillsides that surround the hotel on every side, you can’t escape from the old-world beauty and feeling that Wrea Head Hall has.

Plus, if you’re still in the mood for a town visit, Scarborough is just a short drive away. So there’s nothing that you have to lose by booking a room here!

5. Red Lea Hotel

Of course, while Bike and Boots might be one of the most popular modern-styled hotels in Scarborough right now, it is far from the only one that you’ll find in this town.

Scratch the surface, and you’ll find a host of great gems when it comes to accommodation for visitors, like the Mariner’s House.

Located on Merchant’s Row, right next to the Scarborough shorefront, Red Lea Hotel is arguably one of the best places to stay if you’re looking to accommodate a larger group.

Whether it’s for 2 or 12 people, there will undoubtedly be rooms available for you!

There’s an undeniable charm that Red Lea Hotel has over many of its competitors, too.

It’s not quite the small-scale establishment that we’ve seen quite a lot of in this guide, but it is still a local and cosy hotel to stay at, full of that classic Northern England friendliness that the county is famous for.

6. Ox Pasture Hall Hotel

Situated a little further into the countryside of Yorkshire’s North Riding, Ox Pasture Hall Hotel are the quintessential green and pleasant land that the English countryside is known for.

Located out past Throxenby, Ox Pasture Hall is right in the heart of Yorkshire’s beautiful countryside, surrounded by beautiful pastures and nature walks for you to explore.

Perfect for that walking holiday that you’ve had planned on the back burner for a while.

Of course, some people looking at this list might prefer that hustle and bustle of being in town that they love on a holiday.

Well, you don’t even have to worry about that, either! It only takes a short car journey of around 10 minutes to get to Scarborough from here.

Final Notes

So, there you have it!

North and East Yorkshire may have fallen off of some people’s radars when it comes to the best places for a seaside getaway, but it’s never lost that distinct charm of the beautiful seafront, cosy cost town, and rolling green hills that this part of the country loves.

It’s something that more and more people are discovering for themselves, as more and more people are looking to the north for holidays in the country.

Best Hotels In Scarborough - For Families, Couples, Work Trips, Luxury & Budget