Quick answer
For a playground on this coast, try South Cliff Gardens in Scarborough, Filey Country Park in Filey or Sewerby Hall and Gardens near Bridlington. None lists an entry charge for its playground, though some toilets and car parks charge. Peasholm Park in Scarborough, Danes Dyke near Bridlington and Sneaton Forest near Whitby suit a walk more than play. Cliffs, tides, steep steps and open water need close watching.
This guide covers parks and outdoor spaces on the Yorkshire coast, from Scarborough and Filey to Whitby and Bridlington. Each one has its own checked page on VisitKids.
South Cliff Gardens, Scarborough: a timber play area on the cliff
South Cliff Gardens are restored Victorian gardens above the South Bay. The council lists no entry charge and publishes no opening hours. The gardens website describes a bespoke timber play area and a giant Star Map.
- Slopes and steps: the site is steep, and many paths include steps. A step-free path runs from the Holbeck Clock Tower to the Spa Bridge.
- Cliff Lift: the council closed the Spa Cliff Lift on 21 August 2026. We found no reopening news on 13 November 2026.
- Water and cliffs: the lily pond in the Italian Gardens is open water, so keep toddlers close. Our venue page found no specific cliff-edge warning on the council pages.
- Toilets: pay on entry, with disabled facilities, open 8am to 6pm from 1 November to 31 March. Baby changing is not mentioned.
- Food: the Clock Café’s winter opening is unclear, so bring snacks.
- Parking: the Spa Forecourt and Spa Drive car parks charge from £3.20 for 1 hour, 9am to 6pm. Blue Badge holders park free there with a valid badge displayed.
Filey Country Park, Filey: play, kites and the Brigg
Filey Country Park lists no entry charge. The council says its children’s play area was renovated in 2023 to be enjoyed year-round, with accessible equipment. It also calls the park an excellent spot for flying kites.
- Cliffs and tides: the council says to treat all cliffs as dangerous and supervise children at all times. Check predicted tide times, and beware of being trapped by incoming tides.
- Beach access: from the cliff top, use only a signed and designated beach access point. Keep dogs on leads on the cliff tops.
- Toilets: pay on entry, open 8am to 6pm from 1 November to 31 March. A Changing Places toilet is at the Filey Beach toilets on The Beach. Baby changing is not mentioned.
- Food and parking: the council gives no café hours, so take snacks. Car park charges are listed only from 1 March to 31 October.
Sewerby Hall and Gardens, Bridlington: free gardens and a playground
Sewerby Hall and Gardens is in Sewerby, on the edge of Bridlington. The gardens are free from 2 November 2026 to 19 March 2027, open 9.30am to 3.30pm. The Fairytales page lists the playground as free.
- Closed days: the whole site closes on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Any facility may close in poor weather.
- Zoo (paid): open 10am to 3.30pm, with last admission at 3pm. Adults pay £4.75 and children aged 3 to 15 pay £3.75. Under 3s go free.
- Supervision: the Fairytales page says children under 8 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
- Pushchairs: not allowed in the house or Orangery. The Woodland Walk has steps and is not accessible with prams or pushchairs.
- Toilets: baby changing is in the courtyard and Orangery toilets. A Changing Places unit in the courtyard opens with a radar key.
- Parking and dogs: parking is free for visitors. Only assistance dogs may enter the playground or zoo.
Peasholm Park, Scarborough: a pagoda, a lake and the Glen
Peasholm Park has a pagoda, a lake, waterfalls and the tree-filled Peasholm Glen. The council lists no entry charge. Its Peasholm page does not list a children’s play area.
- Boats: the boat deck is closed from 2 November 2026 until Easter 2027.
- Water: keep young children close by the boating lake, lily pond and waterfalls.
- Toilets: pay on entry, open 8am to 6pm from 1 November to 31 March. Baby changing is not mentioned.
- Café: the council says it opens at weekends and in school holidays from October to December, with no times given.
- Paths: the council lists disabled access but does not describe slopes or steps.
Danes Dyke, on the Flamborough headland: woods and a rocky beach
Danes Dyke is a free Local Nature Reserve about 2 miles east of Bridlington. It has a wooded ravine, a Tree Trail and a beach. Its venue page does not mention a play area.
- Steps: the Tree Trail has flights of up to 100 steep steps. The council says some walks may not be suitable for small children.
- Beach: the path down is very steep and sometimes wet and slippery, and the beach is often very rocky. Check predicted tide times and storm warnings first.
- Cliffs: the Coast Code says to treat all cliffs as dangerous, supervise children at all times and never walk at the foot of the cliffs.
- Pushchairs: not mentioned. Most of the site is not wheelchair accessible, though an “access for all” route goes around part of it.
- Toilets and café: toilets normally close at 4.15pm Monday to Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday. The council gives no café dates or hours, so bring food.
- Parking: pay and display, 8am to 6pm every day. The council charges Blue Badge holders for off-street parking.
Sneaton Forest, near Whitby: the Falling Foss waterfall
Sneaton Forest is a Forestry England woodland about five miles south of Whitby. It is open dawn until dusk, with no entry charge listed. Children can find the Falling Foss waterfall and the Hermitage, a hollowed-out boulder.
- Paths: trails are not waymarked and there is no easy access route. The tea garden calls the terrain unsuitable for pushchairs.
- Safety: a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust walk guide warns of a steep drop beside the beck past the waterfall.
- No toilets: Forestry England lists none at either car park. Bring your own food.
- Parking: £3.50 up to 2 hours or £6.00 over 2 hours, with no cash payments and no Blue Badge discount.
Which place suits your family?
- Playgrounds: South Cliff Gardens, Filey Country Park or Sewerby Hall.
- Animals with play: Sewerby’s free playground, plus its paid zoo.
- A pushchair walk: the step-free South Cliff Gardens path.
- Older walkers: Danes Dyke or Falling Foss, in boots, with the steps and drops in mind.
Frequently asked questions
Which parks near Scarborough have a playground?
South Cliff Gardens in Scarborough, Filey Country Park and Sewerby Hall near Bridlington all have one. The council’s Peasholm Park page does not list a play area.
Are these parks free?
The five parks other than Sewerby list no entry charge. At Sewerby, the gardens are free to 19 March 2027 and the playground is listed as free, but the house and zoo charge. Some toilets and car parks charge too.
Are the toilets open in winter?
The council lists 8am to 6pm from 1 November to 31 March at Peasholm, South Cliff and Filey. Sneaton Forest has none at its car parks.
Is Filey Brigg safe for children?
The council gives no assurance that it is. It says to supervise children at all times, check predicted tide times and beware of being trapped by incoming tides.
Can I take a pushchair?
Use the step-free path at South Cliff Gardens. Sneaton Forest has no easy access route, and the Danes Dyke Tree Trail has steep steps.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official websites, through our Scarborough venue pages. Prices and opening times change, so check before you travel.
Photo: habiloid, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.