Residents, businesses, voluntary groups and council staff have come together to boost civic pride, revitalise run-down areas and encourage more people to visit Scarborough. North Yorkshire Council have teamed up with local people and organisations for a significant programme of improvement work in Scarborough, ahead of the busy summer season. The initiative follows confirmation from the Government that the area will receive almost £20 million as part of a national programme of investment in towns. Previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns, it has been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods with an expanded remit to improve health and wellbeing along with work, productivity and skills. NYC carried out a consultation process called ‘Let’s Talk Scarborough’ to identify people’s priorities. More than 60 per cent of respondents thought there was a need for a town centre that looked better, felt safer, and was more welcoming, with tidier shopfronts and well-maintained public spaces. As a result, money was allocated to ensure progress is made in the interim period before proposals under the Plan for Neighbourhoods take shape. In addition to work routinely carried out in the resort, We have allocated over £200,000 to revitalise parts of the town through a range of improvements, including: Investment in state-of-the-art cleaning equipment to tackle problem areas more effectively. Support for community-led activities and initiatives. Brightening spaces with vibrant flower and shrub planting. Provision of a town centre caretaker. Commissioning a large-scale mural to celebrate Scarborough’s identity and create a new town centre landmark. Improving shopfronts and bringing empty units back into use. Installing new litter bins and benches and refreshing existing street furniture. Work is also underway on developing a new town centre design guide to help ensure building improvements and the wider public realm reflect the town’s unique character. The aim is to support high-quality changes that fit in with the town’s look and feel, especially in areas with historic significance.

National Geographic has named its 7 top seaside resorts to visit in 2025 and Scarborough features. This is what they say about Scarborough: "The North Yorkshire town has a decent claim to be Britain’s first seaside resort; health-giving springs discovered here in the early 17th century started the cascade of coastal visitors. But its fall was long and sustained, and the rebound very much a work in progress. The strategy? To woo a diverse crowd with a beyond-eclectic blend of attractions and events, from poetry recitals to punk festivals, while continuing to cater to the deckchaired masses on sun-trap South Bay Beach or Blue Flag North Bay Beach. Why go? The nostalgists will love strolling through the revamped Esplanade and Italian gardens, marvelling at the imposing silhouette of the Grand — the largest hotel in Europe when it was completed in 1867. The century-old ‘OAT’ (Open Air Theatre), which re-opened in 2010, now draws some of the country’s biggest acts, often leaning into nostalgic revivals. A £20 million transformation of the West Pier is also on the horizon, set to breathe new life into the historic waterfront".