Last Updated on January 22, 2024 by Suzy McCullough
Filey on the North Yorkshire coast is a popular holiday destination for families. It has some excellent holiday parks and a beautiful sandy beach that stretches on and on. As seaside resorts go it is quite low key making it a quieter option to its busier neighbours of Bridlington and Scarborough. We have enjoyed a fair few holidays to Filey over the years. There are a few things to do within the town itself plus some attractions nearby. We list all these things below plus a few other ideas for further afield for a great family-friendly day out. We now live a short drive away from Filey so we visit regularly.
Getting Your Bearings in Filey
There is a promenade in Filey that runs along the seafront. At the southern end, there is Glen Gardens, a cafe and beach access. A little further on you will find a children’s paddling pool and more steps plus one ramp down to the beach. Further again along the promenade, there is crazy golf, a few toddler rides in the summer and more steps down to the beach.
Then at the far end near Filey Brigg, there is the RNLI lifeboat station, an arcade and a cafe. Here there is a ramp down to the beach. At high tide, a lot of Filey’s large sandy beach is covered by the sea. The waves are great fun to watch at high tide on a windy day. It is worth checking the tide times before you visit. There is some parking on the roads around here plus there is a large car park behind Glen Gardens. Uphill from the beach, there are Filey’s shops, cafes and restaurants.
Things to do within Filey
Cray Golf on the Promenade
In the middle of the promenade, right by the sea is Filey’s Crazy Golf Course. It is set on the promenade itself and has a nautical theme including a huge red lobster and a rowing boat. This is open in the warmer months of the year from around early April until late October. There is a small charge for crazy golf.
Paddling Pool
At the southern end of the Royal Parade promenade, you will find a kids’ paddling pool. There is space around it to relax and it’s a lovely shallow pool so it can feel quite warm in the summer months. The paddling pool is free for all visitors and it is open from early May until late September.
Visit the Beach
When the tide is out the beach at Filey is vast and sandy. When the tide is in there is only a small area of sand and pebbles up near Filey Brigg to the north. We love to visit Filey on a windy day as you can see some spectacular waves crashing over the promenade at high tide. There are some rock pools to explore when the tide is going out. The beach is patrolled by an RNLI lifeguard service during the summer season and there are a few chalets you can hire. Dog restrictions apply between the 1st of May and the 30th of September. Find Out More
Glen Gardens
On the south side of Filey a short walk away from the beach you will find Glen Gardens. Built in the 1830s the gardens were originally part of Ravine Hall. Today it’s a great place to take the kids in the warmer months as there is crazy golf, putting, pedalos, coin-operated cars for children and trampolines. These all have a very small charge to use. Also in the park, there is a playground that is free to use and open all year round. Find Out More
Filey Bird and Animal Garden
This place is only small but we love to spend an hour or two here. The animals and birds are well looked after plus you can purchase a bag of food to feed their four-legged animals. It has a pretty little garden area plus a secret garden. The children’s playground is good with some fun wooden play equipment. Filey Bird Garden closes over late autumn and the winter. It is a short drive out of the town centre. Find Out More
Filey Brigg
Filey Brigg is a peninsula that juts out into the sea at the northern end of Filey Beach. There is a path along the top of it which you can walk along plus access down to the sea, this part is tide-dependent. It is designated as a local Nature Reserve and there is a children’s play area in the car park area.
Things to do Near Filey
There are quite a few things for families to do close to Filey. Plus, there is plenty further afield. Below we take a look at some of our favourite family-friendly things to do close to Filey.
Playdale Farm Park
We love Playdale Farm Park and with very few farms near us, we visit Playdale regularly. There is a large indoor barn with lots of animals to feed so make sure you purchase plenty of food. Also indoors there is a soft play area with an indoor toddler playground plus a hay barn with lots of bales kids can play on. Outdoors there is a go-kart track which even adults can have a go at. Plus a fun sledge track, frisbee golf and a couple of play areas. Find Out More
Cayton Bay Beach
This is one of our favourite beaches on the North Yorkshire coast. It is just a short drive away from Filey and it is located between Filey and Scarborough. Access down and back up again is via a steep walk but it is worth the effort. The beach here is where you will find the Scarborough Surf School. There is a beautiful stretch of sandy beach, some pillboxes from WWII and opportunities for rockpooling. There is a pay-and-display car park at the surf school or you can park on the road for free. Toilets are about halfway down the beach near the kiosk that sells beach goods. Find Out More
Scarborough Fair Collection
This is a great indoor day out on the southern side of Scarborough. It is one of the most unique museums I’ve ever visited and it has some excellent fairground rides, vintage rides and transport of the past. We love the penny arcade and the hall full of vintage organs. You can usually see some of these in action. Find Out More
Visit Scarborough
Scarborough has been my favourite seaside destination ever since I was a kid. It’s a proper seaside resort with a long main road on the south side full of arcades. There’s a beach here plus a harbour with boat trips. High up on the hill, you can visit Scarborough Castle which is now a ruin with some amazing views. On the north side of Scarborough, you have another even bigger beach plus crazy golf, the wonderful Peasholm Park, North Bay Railway and Scarborough Sea Life.
Visit Bridlington
We love Bridlington so much that we moved here. It’s another proper seaside town with plenty of amusements and other great things to do. On the south side, there is a huge sandy beach plus the Bridlington Spa which has some great artists come to play there. Then there is the harbour with speed boat rides, a pirate ship and cruises out to sea on the Yorkshire Belle. Northside you will find two areas with fairground rides, amusements, a cinema, a bowling alley, another beach and a fantastic leisure centre. You can also take a land train in the warmer months up to Sewerby Hall and Gardens.
Sewerby Hall and Gardens
As one of our favourite days out we can not recommend Sewerby Hall and Gardens enough. It’s great value for money, so much so we purchase an annual pass every year. There are some beautiful gardens to explore which look amazing in the warmer months. You can look around the house here plus there is a small zoo. The animals here are extremely well looked after and are very friendly. Although it’s small we usually spend at least an hour in here talking to and stroking many of their animals. They also have a penguin enclosure where the penguins are just on the other side of a very short wall. Find Out More
Filey is so popular Haven chose to build 3 holiday parks nearby which you can find out more about in this post. (Plus a fourth one in Flamborough, East Yorkshire)
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