Time Out Highlights Scarborough as One of Best UK Places to Visit in 2023

Time Out has named Scarborough as one of the top UK break destinations for 2023.

Time Out - the global media and hospitality brand which helps people explore and experience the best of the city - cites the revival of Scarborough Fair next autumn and the February Dark Skies Festival around the coast and North York Moors as some of the many reasons to book a holiday or take a day trip to the area next year.

An exploration of Scarborough’s breweries and pubs, Old Town’s quirky independent shops and a walk along South Cliff Gardens are also some of the things highlighted and recommended by Time Out’s team of UK experts, who have put the town at number five on their list of UK Best Places to Visit 2023.

Scarborough is placed 5th in the list of places to visit in the UK

1. Eastbourne
2. Birmingham
3. Cardigan
4. Manchester
5. Scarborough
6. Glasgow
7. Dorset
8. London
9. Edinburgh
10. Liverpool

Eastbourne has been named the best UK village, town or city for a day trip or holiday in 2023.  The second-most recommended UK place on Time Out’s list is Birmingham, with Time Out’s experts calling it “the most underrated food destination in the UK”. In third place is the Welsh town of Cardigan singled out by the Time Out team as the “most underrated” spot in West Wales. Manchester is number four on the list with Manchester Museum reopening in February and Factory International’s new arts centre also to open next year.

The Time Out article says of Scarborough

"It was way back in 1626 that a stream of acidic water running down Scarborough’s epic cliffs and into the sea was discovered. Doctors at the time claimed the water healed ailments because of its chemical make-up. This became a huge catalyst for visitors to Scarborough, and the town became Britain’s first seaside resort. Fast forward to the present day, and it’s thriving again. In 2023 the town will see its famous Scarborough Fair being revived (April 8 to May 29), with a line-up spanning theatre, dance, comedy, juggling and, frighteningly, ‘combat’. Scarborough is increasingly becoming a destination for craft beer fans too – micropubs like The Stumble Inn, Quayside Bar, The Frigate and Craft Bar are attracting connoisseurs to the coast, with Valley Bar in trendy South Cliff the go-to place to start a night out.

The perfect day Order a brew from Yay Coffee’s little truck parked high on the Esplanade with amazing views over South Bay. Then enjoy a walk through the Victorian splendour of South Cliff Gardens, recently restored to their former glory. Browse the vintage stores of the Old Town, including the eclectic Yorkshire interiors from Woolley Edge in the refurbished Market Hall, before a hearty vegan lunch at Love Brew Café. Spend the afternoon at the Alpamare Wellness Spa, with its floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the North Sea. Finish the day with cocktails at Geo before an experimental British-Asian dinner at the Haus of S&M.

Plan your trip Scarborough is on the edge of the North York Moors National Park, which hosts an annual Dark Skies Festival (February 10 to 26). Expect walks, talks and late-night stargazing events in one of Europe’s biggest protected Dark Sky Reserves. —Paul Drury"

Huw Oliver, Time Out’s UK Editor explains why the places on the list have made the cut;  

“Rather than the usual hotspots, we want to highlight places, many of which are ridiculously underrated, which people don’t automatically think to go to. In all of the places on the list, you will find interesting things to see and do, eat and drink during the day and night, a friendly welcome and a community spirit which enables you to connect with locals and really get to know a place. We recommend that you definitely put one or more of these destinations on your travel list for next year”.

To come up with Time Out’s UK Best Places to Visit 2023 list, Time Out’s network of local editors have selected and ranked the destinations based on their current thriving food, drink and arts scene. In addition, it was also taken into consideration for the ranking whether there are also lots of new things to get excited about in the coming year in the chosen places such as new hotels, restaurants, museums or events to put on people’s calendars for 2023.

The full time out guide to the best places to visit in the UK can be found at https://www.timeout.com/uk/things-to-do/best-places-to-visit-in-the-uk