Why study in Scarborough?

Who Scarborough suits

Scarborough is a good fit if you want:

A seaside town where you can walk to the beach after class.
A small place where you see the same people every day, so speaking practice builds up quickly.
To live with a local family and use English at home as well as at school.
Lower costs than London, Oxford or Cambridge.

Why the English learning works here

There are few other international students. Scarborough has a big British tourist trade but a small student population, so most of the people you meet in shops, cafés and on the bus speak English as their first language. It is hard to fall back on your own language.

You will hear a Yorkshire accent. Locals are friendly and usually happy to chat. The accent takes a week or two to tune into, and after that it helps your listening everywhere else in the UK.

The town changes with the seasons. Summer is busy with day-trippers and families. From October to March the town is much quieter, classes are often smaller and prices drop.

The Scarborough Spa building and its terrace on the South Bay

Is it right for you?

Consider another city if you want

A bigger city with more nightlife and students (try Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield).
Seaside life in a warmer part of England (try Bournemouth or Weymouth).
The widest choice of schools and courses (try London).

Schools in Scarborough

Every school here is accredited. Enquiries go straight to the school, with no commission and no middleman.

Schools on paid plans are listed first. Featured schools pay for extra visibility.

ScarboroughAnglotec AcademyGeneral EnglishJuniors

11 coursesSee school →

Courses in Scarborough

Compare all 11

GEGeneral English10 courses · typically £290 a week JRJuniors and young learners1 course

Student life and areas

Daily rhythm and social scene

Scarborough has two bays split by a headland with a castle on top. The South Bay has the harbour, the old town, arcades and fish and chips. The North Bay is quieter, with a long promenade, Peasholm Park and the open-air theatre. The town centre, the Spa and both beaches are within walking distance of each other.

Evenings are relaxed: pubs, cafés, the cinema and the Stephen Joseph Theatre, where Alan Ayckbourn premiered most of his plays. At weekends you can take the train to York or the bus along the coast to Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay. The North York Moors start just outside town.

Waves on the North Bay beach in Scarborough

Practical realities

Scale and course choice

A small town of around 60,000 people. Expect a focused choice of courses at a single school rather than the wide range you find in London.

Accommodation and costs

Living costs are lower than in the South East. Most students stay with a host family arranged by their school, usually within walking distance of classes. Summer holiday lets get booked up early.

Getting around

The centre is easy to walk around, though some streets are steep. Direct trains run to York in under an hour, with connections to Leeds and Manchester. The nearest airports are Leeds Bradford and Manchester, so plan the last part of your journey in advance.