The Best Budget-Friendly Hotels to Book in Scarborough

Adventurers, get in line. Whether you’re in town to surf Scarborough’s sandy bays, explore its cultural wares or walk or cycle the North York Moors, Bike and Boot is more than just bed and board. Stylishly decked out rooms offer convenience as well as comfort in various sizes according to your budget. What’s more, there’s a cinema room which hosts free film screenings three times a day and the cosy Retreat Lounge serves up complimentary tea and cake every afternoon.

Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on either location or historic charm. The Central Hotel is a Grade II listed property that was designed by architects Richard Hay Sharp and Samuel Sharp of York in 1833. Located directly opposite Scarborough’s cultural quarter, today it’s a comfortable hotel decked out in antique furniture and its very own trademarked Paradise Sleep mattresses. Comfy, yet cost-effective.

A cosy pub with rooms in the nearby village of Seamer, The Mayfield offers rustic charm and a warm Yorkshire welcome. Its 16 en-suite bedrooms, including a fully wheelchair accessible suite, are modern and well-thought-out — not to mention atmospheric thanks to the black and white images adorning the walls and championing the local scenery including Scarborough’s South Bay beach. And when you get hungry, the pub awaits with hearty, filling fare at good prices. Yorkshire pudding wrap, anyone?

Overlooking South Bay beach, the Weston Hotel is proof that you don’t have to go big budget to get Instagram-worthy sea views. The bedrooms, spread across three floors, are simple but smart, and some even have bay windows to make the most of that spectacular scenery. If you’re really watching the pennies, inland view rooms sacrifice the sights but offer even better value for money – and with a central Scarborough location. The beach is a blowy stroll away.

Like to be away from the hustle and bustle? Scarborough’s North Bay beach is quieter than its southern counterpart, offering wide stretches of sand and beautiful views of Scarborough Castle on the headland to the south. It’s also home to the Leeway Hotel, a family-run bolthole that has a cosy, home-from-home vibe. It may not be super slick, but what it lacks in showy decor it makes up for in value for money – especially since most rooms offer sea views.

The flower-strewn frontage of this cosy B&B tells you everything you need to know about the Palace Hill Hotel. Built in 1763 and brilliantly positioned for perusing Scarborough’s quaint Old Town, the hotel’s nine rooms are clean and comfortable, with some featuring sloping beamed ceilings. Better still, you can add an extra bed in some of the rooms, making it a great value option for families.

Pitching itself as a seaside stay with a personal touch, the Raincliffe Hotel is a family-run B&B that takes pride in its service. Owners Vicky and Steve make it their responsibility to ensure you feel at home in one of their 14 bedrooms, which are an easy 10-minute walk from South Bay beach. The decor is homely, whilst the bar combines an open fire with repurposed beer barrel tables and a pool table, making it excellent nightcap territory.

Let’s be honest: sometimes, all you want from a hotel is a comfortable place to rest your head and use as a base for exciting adventures. If that’s the case, The Granby Hotel delivers with ease. Clean and unfussy, the hotel focuses on functionality and places visitors in the town centre, just eight minutes’ walk from South Bay beach and close to restaurants, casinos and pubs. Simple, but effective.