Moving to Scarborough

With its expanses of beach, ruined castle, and proximity to the North Yorkshire Moors, Scarborough has been named the town with the greatest heritage in the UK.

Research by think tank RSA and the Heritage Lottery Fund found that while London was the city with the most impressive heritage, when it comes to towns it was Scarborough. Its Victorian hotels, range of theatres, parks and museums couldn't be beaten.

On the wild and beautiful North Sea coast of North Yorkshire.

For buyers, the current average asking price in Scarborough is £179,343. The table, below, shows how many properties have sold in Scarborough over the past 12 months, the average sale price and the current average value based on Zoopla's data.

Average asking rents for homes in Scarborough currently stand at £510 per month. Renters will need to budget £522 for a two-bedroom flat and £857 for a four-bedroom house.

Whether you’re buying or renting, you can choose the right agent with our handy AgentFinder tool. It allows you to compare the number of listings and time it takes to sell from local agents. There's a total of 11 sales and letting agents in Scarborough listed on Zoopla.

Charles Tipple, managing director of Tipple Underwood estate agents, said he sees Scarborough as a local market, with only a small number of investors, second-home buyers and retirees.

If you want to live on the "front row" as close to the seaside as possible, then Tipple says the Esplanade is the place to go. Prices veer dramatically from around £180,000 for a two-bedroom garden flat, to around £265,000 for a three-bedroom upper floor apartment.

In town Ralph Shalom, director of RJS Estates recommends Stepney, just north of the town centre, for its "tree-lined avenues" and easy walk to the town and the beach. Prices here range from around £90,000 for a two-bedroom flat in a period building, up to around £350,000 for a detached four-bedroom mock-Tudor house.

Another sought-after suburb, this time just to the south of the town centre, is Deepdale, where Coventry University has a new campus. Houses here are some of the grandest in town.

For buyers who prefer a slightly more rural feel, then the adjacent suburbs of Newby – around two miles from the centre of town – and Scalby, which is around three miles away, are the most popular choices.

Dionne Rawlings, branch manager of Reed Rains estate agents, said Scalby’s pretty rural feel – it is right on the edge of the moors - and period property with six bedrooms could set you back up to £700,000. It also has a good stock of modern bungalows, priced from between £250,000 to £350,000.

Newby is not quite as pretty, but it has a parade of shops and its proximity to Scarborough’s main schools make it a magnet for families. It is also excellent value, with detached four-bedroom family homes priced around £280,000.

Two-bedroom flat for £140,000

With spectacular views of the seafront and Scarborough Castle, this two-bedroom flat makes a big impression. Both bedrooms are doubles and there’s off street parking available – crucial features for most first-time buyers. There’s also room to update the décor and make the place your own.

Available via Reeds Rains

Five-bedroom terraced house for £249,950

This Georgian cottage with sea views is packed full of character features that include sash windows, elegant fireplaces and the original spindle staircase. It’s been surprisingly well adapted for modern family life, with two bathrooms, five double bedrooms and even a double garage on offer.

Available via CPH Property Services

One-bedroom flat for £425 per calendar month

Tucked away on a quiet square a stone’s throw from the centre of town is this recently-converted second floor apartment. There’s a brand new fully-fitted kitchen and en suite bathroom in place, while large sash windows and high ceilings make the property feel bright and spacious.

Available viaAndrew Cowen

One-bedroom flat for £74,000

This surprisingly spacious one-bedroom upper floor flat has had its price knocked down by £11,000 or 26% since it was first put up for sale. There’s no work necessary and the town is easily accessible, making it a great option for someone stepping onto the property ladder.

Available via Hunters

Three-bedroom end of terraced house for £150,000

With its beautiful bay window and a tastefully modernised interior, it easy to see why this property has caught people’s attention. It sits in a great location within walking distance of the town centre and the seafront, so it would make a great family home or holiday let.

Available via Housesimple

There's a variety of types of schools in Scarborough, from infant schools, through to secondary schools, special schools and independent schools.

The top performer is Springhead School, which is rated "outstanding" by Ofsted, while a total of 11 other schools and colleges are rated “good”.

You can find more information on the Scarborough Borough Council website and the Government website.

By rail: Trains run from Scarborough Grade-II listed station to Hull and to Liverpool, with key stops including York, Leeds and Manchester. The journey to Liverpool takes around 2 hours 45 minutes, while Hull can be reached in an hour and 20 minutes.

Car: Scarborough is largely connected by A roads, including the A171 to Middlesbrough, A170 to Thirsk, A64 to York and A165 to Kingston upon Hull. The nearest motorway is the A1M, around 50 miles drive away.

Air: Both Leeds Bradford Airport and Doncaster Sheffield Airport are around an hour and 50 minutes away by car, with both offering flights to a wide variety of destinations within the UK and Europe.

Scarborough is Britain’s oldest seaside resort. Its popularity in the seventeenth century was based on the belief in the healing power of local spring waters.

You can immerse yourself in history of the area by taking a trip to the ruins of the eleventh century Scarborough Castle, which overlook the town. For more of the town’s past head to the Rotunda Museum of geology, where you’ll find everything from 17th century oil paintings to Bronze Age artefacts.

Charming tea shops are plentiful, with Eat Me Café & Social, Relish and Yew Tree Café all proving popular. Pop in for a pint in a traditional pub like the Bryherstones Inn, or cracking fish and chips courtesy of Lifeboat Fishbar. For a posh dinner try The Green Room Brasserie on Victoria Road.

There’s plenty of chains at the Brunswick Shopping Centre and along Westborough, while cute boutiques occupy the old town, and seaside trinkets are available on the sea front. For something a little quirkier, try Scarborough Market Hall & Vaults which contain an underground labyrinth of unique shops selling everything from food to vintage clothing.

Residents of Scarborough have been given permission to legally destroy the eggs and nests of herring gulls after a series of attacks on people and pets.

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