Written by Katie Foster
While the beach offers lots of fun and our homes are equipped with toys and games, and TVs, for the days when you want to be more adventurous, here is a list of child-friendly indoor and outdoor activities that you can find within a 30-minute drive of The Bay. For a list of other local attractions and activities available on site, click here.
1 – Filey Bird Garden & Animal Park
Approximately a 6-minute drive from The Bay
Dog friendly
Family ticket costs £28
More info: https://www.fileybirdgarden.com/
Filey Bird Garden & Animal Park is a family-run zoo, park, and gardens a short distance from The Bay and Filey. Featuring a wide range of animals from goats and alpacas to meerkats and bearded dragons, this is an equally fun and relaxing place to spend the day and enjoyable for people of all ages. Activities include feeding select animals, keeper talks, and the play park; there is also a café and gift shop. We especially recommend going in October where the whole park is intricately decorated for Halloween, and there is a Halloween-themed trail to complete.
2 – Scarborough Fair Collections
Approximately a 9-minute drive from The Bay
Family ticket costs £27
More info: https://www.scarboroughfaircollection.com/
The Scarborough Fair Collection is located on the coast road between Filey and Scarborough, and hosts a collection of Vintage Cars, Steam Engines, Mechanical Organs, and Vintage Fairground Rides. The perfect day out for those looking to combine fun with history, here you can explore a magnificent collection of vintage vehicles, learn the stories behind the fifteen mechanical organs on display, enjoy rides such as carousels, ghost train, and dodgems, and finish your day with delicious food and drink at Café Fayre.
3 – Scarborough Surf School
Approximately a 10-minute drive from The Bay
Dog friendly
Group surf lessons £40 per person
More info: https://scarboroughsurfschool.co.uk/
Located in the picturesque Cayton Bay, Scarborough Surf School offers not only quality instruction in surfing, but other activities such as paddleboarding and coasteering. Cayton Bay is a particularly good location to learn to or practice surfing, as it can be surfed through all stages of the tide; furthermore, even if you’re not interested in water sports, Cayton Bay is still a great spot for a day out as it is dog friendly, has toilet facilities, a coast guard on watch, and plenty of opportunities for fossil hunting.
4 – RSPB Bempton Cliffs
Approximately a 13-minute drive from The Bay
Dog friendly
Free for RSPB members, £7 for adults and £3.50 for children
More info: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/bempton-cliffs/
A must-see for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers, the RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs features six, safe viewpoints to see birds such as gannets, guillemots, razorbills, and in certain months, puffins. There is also a café on site and a gift shop where you can rent binoculars if you don’t have your own. For the kids there are self-guided nature trails and Discovery Backpacks containing binoculars, spotter sheets, a bird book, and magnifying bug pot for hire throughout the year, in addition to seasonal guided tours.
5 – Playdale Farm
Approximately a 14-minute drive from The Bay
£9.50 for adults and £9 for children (Under 2s free)
More info: https://playdalefarmpark.co.uk/
Playdale Farm is packed with activities for any weather, with the outdoor play areas including a zip wire, frisbee golf course, and a pedal go-kart and the indoor play areas including a soft play, pedal tractors, adventure fort, and a rock wall. Plus, there is a large range of farm animals that you can hand-feed, such as goats, sheep, llamas, and alpacas, in addition to other animals such as rabbits, tortoises, and a range of small birds.
6 – Bondville Model Village
Approximately a 15-minute drive from The Bay
Dog friendly
Family ticket costs £11
More info: https://www.visiteastyorkshire.co.uk/things-to-do/bondville-model-village-p1392521
Bondville Model Village can be found on top of Sewerby Cliffs, Bridlington, and is a charming little kingdom complete with a model train. A family quiz sheet will ensure you look carefully at all the hidden details to be found, and when you’re ready to return to the big world you can stop in the tearoom on your way out.
7 – John Bull’s Candy Kingdom
Approximately a 16-minute drive from The Bay
£6.50 per child
More info: https://www.candy-kingdom.com/
Located in the nearby town of Bridlington, John Bull’s Candy Kingdom is a specially designed soft play park, featuring different areas for different age groups in addition to a sports area. With free parking and cheap admission prices, you can kick back in the café while the kids wear themselves out.
8 – Sewerby Hall & Gardens
Approximately a 16-minute drive from The Bay
Gardens are dog friendly, house and zoo are not
Family ticket costs £32
More info: https://www.sewerbyhall.co.uk/
Sewerby Hall & Gardens offers something for everyone, from a 19th century house to explore to extensive, well-maintained gardens to a zoo featuring exotic animals including lemurs, parrots, and penguins. Take a break at the Clock Tower Café, and finish your day at the gift shop for soft toy versions of your favourite animals.
9 – Peasholm Park
Approximately an 18-minute drive from The Bay
Dog friendly
Free admission
More info: https://www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/listing/peasholm-park/128275101/
Voted the 6th best park in the UK, Peasholm Park in Scarborough offers a fun and affordable day out, or pop over for a stroll or boat ride if you’re already in town. Hire one of the brightly painted rowing boats, canoes, or dragon-themed pedalos, or bring a picnic and relax on the lake side, taking in the beautiful views of the landscape and Japanese architecture. Other facilities in the park include a café serving both hot and cold food, toilets, a putting green, and an 18-hole mini golf course.
10 – Pot 2 Doodle Doo
Approximately an 18-minute drive from The Bay
Price varies
More info: https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/attractions/pot-2-doodle-do-a739653f
Pot 2 Doodle Do in Scarborough offers a relaxing atmostphere for all ages to explore their creative sides. Paint a variety of objects including plates, cups, trinkets, and animals using brushes, sponges, and stamps. If you’re not able to pick up your creations a couple days later once fired, they can also be posted back to you!
11 – Scarborough Castle
Approximately a 21-minute drive from The Bay
Free for English Heritage members, or £28.50 for a family ticket
More info: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/scarborough-castle/
Step into the past and visit the ruins of this once-marvellous castle on the cliffs of Scarborough. Enjoy the stunning, wide-reaching views of the coast visible from the high vantage point, listen to an audio tour as you explore the castle grounds, and grab a treat from the coffee shed or ice cream van.
12 – North Yorkshire Water Park
Approximately a 25-minute drive from The Bay
Dog friendly
Price varies
More info: https://www.northyorkshirewaterpark.co.uk
Though a fair distance from Filey and The Bay, the drive is worth it if you’re looking to have an exciting day out with the whole family. The North Yorkshire Water Park offers a range of water sports including paddle boarding, different types of boats, and an inflatable floating obstacle course. If you’d rather stay out of the water, there’s also a zipline and climbing wall, or you can take a stroll around the beautiful lake.