Scarborough Art Gallery

The gallery sits right in Scarborough town centre, housed in a Victorian building that's seen better days but carries proper character. Inside you'll find rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, ceramics, and work by regional artists - nothing too challenging, which is exactly the point. It's the kind of place you dip into for an hour when the weather's turned and you've exhausted the seafront.

Families with older kids might appreciate it more than younger ones. There's usually something engaging on the walls, but it's not a destination in itself - more of a rainy-day pause between beach time and fish and chips. The building itself, perched with views across the town, is worth the visit alone.

Admission is free, which removes any guilt about a quick browse. Allow 45 minutes to an hour depending on what's showing. The space feels intimate without being cramped, and there's rarely a crowd.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby - Cayton Bay is just three miles out, or Parkdean Resorts if you want more facilities - this works as a morning activity before heading back for lunch. It's less essential than Scarborough Sea Life Centre or a proper walk along the cliffs, but on a grey Yorkshire afternoon, it beats another lap of the amusement arcades. Real value if you're stopping in town anyway.