Peasholm Park opened in 1912 in Scarborough’s North Bay, and it is an oriental-themed municipal park — a Japanese-style pagoda, a cascade, a pagoda-roofed island in an artificial boating lake, red bridges and dense planting.
It was extended in 1924 to take in Peasholm Glen, a natural wooded ravine behind it, and the whole thing is on the Historic England Register of Parks and Gardens.
It declined from the 1970s as Scarborough’s holiday trade fell away, and has been restored with Heritage Lottery funding.
Peasholm’s genuinely unique attraction is Naval Warfare: a re-enactment of a sea battle fought on the boating lake using model warships up to six metres long, crewed by men sitting inside them, with commentary, explosions, smoke and aircraft.
It has run since 1927. It is the only show of its kind in the world.
The scenario has changed over the decades — it has been Jutland, a Second World War convoy action and other engagements — and the current version is performed to a script with pyrotechnics and a soundtrack.
It runs two or three times a week through the summer season, is ticketed and is inexpensive. Families with children of nine to thirteen consistently report it as one of the better things they did in Scarborough, and the honest assessment is that it is one of those events that ought to be ridiculous and is instead completely charming.
Check the schedule — performances are on set days only.
The boating lake, with pedalos and rowing boats, hired by the half hour and repeatedly flagged by visitors as good value.
The island with its pagoda and cascade, reached by a bridge, floodlit at night in season.
A putting green.
The Tree Trail — Peasholm Glen holds a notable collection with several champion trees, and a waymarked walk through the ravine, which is a completely different and much quieter experience from the lake.
A café with a reasonable choice.
Bandstand concerts and events in season.
Clean, well kept and not overcrowded — this is the consistent report, and it contrasts sharply with the seafront a few hundred metres away.
The park is a twenty-minute walk or a short ride from the town centre, and it is where Scarborough goes to be pleasant rather than to be a resort.
Time: an hour to walk round; two or three with a boat and the glen; half a day with Naval Warfare.
Free to enter. Boating, putting and Naval Warfare are charged.
Location: North Bay Promenade, about 1.2 kilometres from the town centre.
Facilities: café, toilets.
Access: the main circuit of the lake is level and surfaced; the glen climbs.
Getting there: the North Bay Railway miniature line runs from beside the park to Scalby Mills, and the open-top bus and the seafront services stop here.
Scarborough North Bay Railway starts at the park.
SEA LIFE Scarborough is at the far end of the line at Scalby Mills.
Alpamare waterpark is a few minutes away.
North Bay beach is across the road.
A re-enacted sea battle fought on the boating lake with large model warships crewed by men inside them, running since 1927 — the only show of its kind in the world.
Two or three times a week through the summer season, on set days. Check the schedule.
Yes. Boating, putting and Naval Warfare are charged separately.
They are hired by the half hour, and reviewers consider the charge good value.
The wooded ravine added in 1924, with a tree trail and several champion trees — much quieter than the lake.