Quick answer
Scarborough and the Yorkshire coast have parks, woods and winter gardens with no entry charge, plus two museums where children go free. On a dry day, try Peasholm Park, South Cliff Gardens, Filey Country Park, Danes Dyke on the Flamborough headland or Sneaton Forest near Whitby. Sewerby Hall’s gardens near Bridlington are free from 2 November 2026 to 19 March 2027. On a wet day, the Rotunda Museum is free for under 18s, and Whitby Museum for under 18s in full-time education. Adults pay at both museums. Parking, toilets and some extras cost money, and the coast walks carry cliff and tide warnings.
Free parks and gardens in Scarborough
- Peasholm Park, Scarborough: an oriental-themed park with a pagoda, a lake, waterfalls and the tree-filled Peasholm Glen. North Yorkshire Council lists no entry charge and publishes no park opening hours. The boat deck is closed from 2 November 2026 until Easter 2027. The council’s Peasholm page does not list a children’s play area. Keep young children close by the lake, the lily pond and the waterfalls. The café opens at weekends and in school holidays from October to December, with no times given. The toilets are pay on entry, open 8am to 6pm from 1 November to 31 March.
- South Cliff Gardens, Scarborough: restored Victorian gardens on steep slopes above the South Bay, with a timber play area and a 26 metre Star Map. The council lists no entry charge and publishes no opening hours. A step-free path runs from the Holbeck Clock Tower to the Spa Bridge, but many other paths include steps. The lily pond is open water, so keep toddlers close. The council closed the Spa Cliff Lift on 21 August 2026, and we found no reopening news on 13 November 2026. The Clock Café’s winter opening is unclear, so pack snacks. The toilets are pay on entry and close at 6pm in winter.
Free coast and country parks
- Filey Country Park, Filey: a coastal park with a children’s play area, room for kite flying and Filey Brigg. The council lists no entry charge and says the play area was renovated in 2023 with accessible equipment. Safety first: this is a cliff and tidal coast. The council says to treat all cliffs as dangerous, supervise children at all times and beware of being trapped by incoming tides. Check the predicted tide times before going near the beach or the Brigg. From the cliff top, reach the beach only by a signed and designated beach access point. The council lists car park charges only from 1 March to 31 October. The pay on entry toilets open 8am to 6pm in winter, and no café hours are published.
- Danes Dyke, on the Flamborough headland near Bridlington: a free Local Nature Reserve with a wooded ravine, an ancient earthwork and a beach. The car park is pay and display from 8am to 6pm every day, and Blue Badge holders are charged too. The Tree Trail has flights of up to 100 steep steps, and the beach path is very steep and sometimes wet and slippery. The beach record says some walks may not suit small children. The Coast Code says to treat all cliffs as dangerous and supervise children at all times. Check tide times before going down to the often very rocky beach. The café opens in the summer months, so bring food in November and December.
A free forest walk near Whitby
- Sneaton Forest (Falling Foss), near Whitby: a Forestry England wood about five miles south of Whitby, home to the Falling Foss waterfall and the Hermitage, a hollowed-out boulder. Forestry England lists no entry charge and says the forest is open every day, dawn until dusk. Parking costs £3.50 up to 2 hours or £6.00 over 2 hours, with no cash payments. Blue Badge holders pay the normal charge. There are no waymarked trails, no easy access route and no toilets at either car park. The tea garden says the terrain is unsuitable for pushchairs. On the path beside the beck past the waterfall, a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust walk guide warns of a steep drop to one side.
Free winter gardens near Bridlington
- Sewerby Hall and Gardens, Sewerby near 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 and woodland walks as free. The zoo and the house cost extra: the zoo is £4.75 for adults and £3.75 for children aged 3 to 15, with under 3s free. The whole site closes on 25 and 26 December and 1 January. Parking is free for visitors. The Woodland Walk has steps, so it is not accessible with prams or pushchairs. Dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds, but only assistance dogs may enter the playground.
Museums where children go free
- Rotunda Museum, Scarborough: fossils and ancient sea creatures, with dinosaur footprints on the floor to follow. Under 18s and registered carers go free, and adults buy a £5 Annual Pass. It opens Tuesday and Wednesday 10am to 4.30pm and Thursday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Over Christmas it also closes on 21 December, 25 to 28 December, 31 December, 1 January and 3 to 8 January. On 13 November 2026, the museum’s page said the West Wing was closed because of water leaks. A lift serves all floors, but there are no toilets upstairs.
- Whitby Museum, Pannett Park, Whitby: gigantic fossils, model ships, old toys and Whitby jet. Children under 18 in full-time education go free, and adults pay £9 for a ticket valid for 12 months. It opens Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm, with last admission at 4pm, and is closed on Mondays. The museum says it closes in December, but it had not published the date on 13 November 2026. Much of the museum is dimly lit, and some objects, such as a mummified hand, may upset young children. The front entrance has 14 steps, so use the level rear entrance with a pushchair. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the museum and Pannett Park.
Plan your visit: money-saving tips
- Budget for parking and toilets. Danes Dyke and Sneaton Forest charge for parking, and the Scarborough and Filey park toilets are pay on entry.
- Bring a phone for Sneaton Forest. Its car parks take no cash.
- Check tide times first. Do this before any beach visit at Filey or Danes Dyke.
- Go early in winter. Sewerby’s gardens close at 3.30pm, and the park toilets in Scarborough and Filey close at 6pm.
Frequently asked questions
What can kids do for free in Scarborough?
Peasholm Park and South Cliff Gardens have no entry charge listed. The Rotunda Museum is free for under 18s, while adults pay £5 for an Annual Pass.
Is there anything free to do in Scarborough when it rains?
The Rotunda Museum is indoors and free for under 18s. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and on set dates over Christmas and early January.
Is Filey Brigg safe for children?
The council gives no assurance that it is safe. It says to treat all cliffs as dangerous, supervise children at all times and check predicted tide times.
Are Sewerby Hall’s gardens free in winter?
Yes, from 2 November 2026 to 19 March 2027. The zoo and house cost extra, and the site closes on 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
Can you take a pushchair to Falling Foss?
Forestry England says there is no easy access route, and the tea garden says the terrain is unsuitable for pushchairs. A baby carrier is our own suggestion, not an official one.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official websites, through our Scarborough venue pages, each checked on 13 November 2026. Prices and opening times change, so check before you travel.
Photo: habiloid, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.