The Town of Scarborough

A university town

Scarborough provides students with a vibrant campus, satisfyingly reasonable living costs and high-quality affordable accommodation - plus two beaches, harbourside cafes, a castle, museums and funfairs - Scarborough is a special place to live learn and play.

Hit the town, then hit the beach

The South Bay beach and the busy Brunswick shopping centre are only minutes apart, linked by the popular cliff lifts. Scarborough's largely pedestrianised centre incorporating all the major high-street names plus many specialist shops - some opened by our graduates - which contribute to the town's unique character. Boutique shopping and cafe culture are part of Scarborough's unique appeal.

The cultural mix

The student nights in many of Scarborough's pubs and clubs feature DJ's bands and open mic evenings in an eclectic music scene - on which our own student bands wield an important influence.

You'll be able to participate in the annual National Student Drama Festival which our students help to run, while other recurring highlights include a literature festival; Seafest (a combination of music, seafood and maritime-themed activities); a national acclaimed jazz festival; and Beached - a free two day live music event on the beach, attended by thousands of people each year. Headline bands have included the Fratellis, the Kaiser Chiefs and The Hoosiers.

Renaissance Scarborough

Substantial private and public sector investment supports Scarborough's resurgence. Recent projects include the harbour's tranformation into a stylish marina, free seafront Wi-Fi; The Sands, a £120 million residential facility, and the installation of one of Europe's fastest broadband connections (100MB).

The 'creative industries' are a rapidly developing sector in Scarborough, with the new Woodend Creative Centre providing a focus. This is a sector that many of our students and recent graduates engage with. Scarborough has also been named Most Enterprising Place in Britain 2008, and more recently in 2009 the Most Enterprising Town in Europe.