North Bay Railway

About:

The North Bay Railway is one of Scarborough’s best-loved seaside attractions, offering a gentle miniature railway journey through one of the town’s most scenic coastal areas. Running between Peasholm Park and Scalby Mills, the railway has been carrying passengers since 1931 and is often described as Britain’s biggest miniature railway. Its 20-inch gauge trains travel along Scarborough’s North Bay, giving visitors a relaxed and nostalgic way to enjoy the landscape without rushing from one place to the next.

The journey begins at Peasholm Station, close to the famous Peasholm Park, where visitors can enjoy lakeside walks, gardens and family-friendly attractions before boarding the train. From there, the railway heads towards Scalby Mills, near Scarborough Sea Life, making it a practical link as well as a charming attraction in its own right. The full return journey is around two miles, with views across the North Bay coastline, green slopes and the sea beyond.

Part of the railway’s appeal is its sense of old-fashioned holiday fun. The locomotives and carriages feel like a proper seaside tradition, and the ride is short enough for young children but scenic enough for adults to enjoy too. It is ideal for families spending the day around North Bay, visitors exploring Scarborough without a car, or anyone who enjoys heritage transport with a relaxed coastal setting. Around the railway, there is plenty to make a longer visit worthwhile, including the Historic Water Chute, Skytrail, boating lake, snack stops and station gift shops.

The railway also connects neatly with Great Scenic Journeys Scarborough and the Scenic Explorer bus, giving visitors an easy way to link up some of Scarborough’s most enjoyable sights. Customers showing a Great Scenic Journeys Scarborough or Scenic Explorer bus ticket can enjoy 10% off the fare on the North Bay Railway. In return, visitors showing a North Bay Railway ticket can receive £2 off an adult ticket on the Great Scenic Journeys Scarborough open top service, with a £1 discount for children.

Together, the railway and open top bus create a lovely way to see Scarborough from different perspectives: one from the tracks along North Bay, the other from the top deck as the coast, town and seafront unfold around you.