Scarborough · North Yorkshire · June to September
Where to stay for Scarborough Open Air Theatre
Europe's largest open-air theatre is a mile and a half from Scarborough station, in a seaside town at the end of the line.
Stay in the North Bay and walk home. It's three to ten minutes on foot, with no timetable, fare or queue.
If the North Bay is full, stay in the town centre and take the £2 shuttle back. It's a twenty-five-minute walk otherwise, the hotels have staffed front desks, and the station is close for an early train the next morning.
Don't plan on catching a train home after the show — it doesn't work.
Where to look first · Affiliate links
What time does it finish?
Around 22:30. Gates open at 18:00. The promoter expects the music to start at 19:00 and end at 22:30, though it says show times can change.
Source: Cuffe & Taylor — Scarborough Open Air Theatre FAQ, Timings
Before you book: the last train leaves before you can reach it
The show finishes around 22:30. The station is 25 minutes (1.3 miles) from the venue. The last westbound train is 22:43.
Walk and you'll get there at 22:55 at the earliest, twelve minutes too late. Take the post-show shuttle and you'll get there at about 22:47, four minutes too late. It only works if you leave during the encore.
The post-show buses run until 23:00, but the last train leaves at 22:43.
The 2027 shows announced so far
Eight headline nights, from the theatre's own listing. The day of the week matters here more than at most venues: on a Sunday the last train along the coast to Filey, Bridlington and Hull goes at 20:00, two hours after the gates open.
Alex Warren and Simply Red had sold out when we checked on 11 October 2026. The rest were on sale. Each link opens a search for that night.
| Artist | Date | Day | Getting home | Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Chiefs | 11 June 2027 | Friday | No train after the show | Rooms for 11 June |
| Alex Warren Sold out | 30 June 2027 | Wednesday | No train after the show | Rooms for 30 June |
| SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators | 1 July 2027 | Thursday | No train after the show | Rooms for 1 July |
| Jack Savoretti & James Morrison | 9 July 2027 | Friday | No train after the show | Rooms for 9 July |
| Bananarama | 17 July 2027 | Saturday | No train after the show | Rooms for 17 July |
| Ronan Keating & Blue | 18 July 2027 | Sunday | Coast trains end 20:00 | Rooms for 18 July |
| Alfie Boe with Gravity | 25 July 2027 | Sunday | Coast trains end 20:00 | Rooms for 25 July |
| Simply Red Sold out | 17 August 2027 | Tuesday | No train after the show | Rooms for 17 August |
The train times on this page are from the timetable running to 12 December 2026. The 2027 summer shows will run on the timetable that starts in May 2027, which hasn't been published yet; we'll re-check every time on this page when it is, and until then treat them as a guide to the pattern rather than the exact minute. Planning permission caps the venue at 30 shows a year, a maximum of 20 of them between May and September. The 2026 season ran 28 headline shows to 175,000 people from 64 countries. Eight 2027 shows had been announced when we checked on 11 October 2026, and more are usually added through the winter.
The trains, in full
Westbound · York
Last22:43
The last train of the day, reaching York at 23:33 (on Sundays it's the 22:44, arriving 23:36). Nothing runs after it, and you can't reach it on foot or by bus after the show.
Hull, Bridlington, Filey
Last21:17
21:58 on Fridays and Saturdays, 20:00 on Sundays. All of them leave before the headliner finishes.
Manchester, Liverpool
LastNone
The last through train west of York leaves in the early evening. There's no post-show option at all.
Post-show shuttle bus
Lastuntil 23:00
The buses keep running for seventeen minutes after the last train has gone.
Rail times are from the 17 May – 12 December 2026 timetable, checked against National Rail on 5 September 2026, and must be re-checked every season. 22:43 Monday to Saturday, arriving York 23:33. On Sundays it is the 22:44, arriving 23:36. Checked against National Rail for every day of the week on 5 September 2026, inside the 17 May – 12 December 2026 timetable. Nothing departs Scarborough for York after it on any day: a search for services leaving after 23:00 returns no result at all.
Why you'll need to stay the night
Scarborough is at the end of the line. Once the last train goes, there's no other service, no through traffic, and no nearby city to fall back on.
Hull, Bridlington and Filey are no better. The last train along the coast is 21:17 on weekdays, 21:58 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 20:00 on Sundays — all before the headliner finishes. There's no post-show train to Manchester or Liverpool at all.
So most people stay over, and the venue's own visitor survey confirms it: 44,000 hotel nights across the 2025 season, 70% of visitors travelling more than an hour, and 53% staying exactly one night.
Places to stay near the Open Air Theatre
Live pricesThe six areas, compared
Walk times are to the venue on Burniston Road. Prices are rough per-night ranges for a summer concert night, not quotes — there's more on prices further down.
| Area | Verdict | To the venue | How you get back | Est. per night | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Bay · Peasholm | Walk home | 3–10 min walk Peasholm Park, the boating lake, the North Bay beach. | No bus, no taxi, no train needed | £60–160 | See stays |
| Town centre | For the morning train | 25–30 min walk The station, the bus interchange and the shops. Practical rather than pretty. | Shuttle to the station £2, or Shoreline OAT 3 £3 | £55–140 | See stays |
| South Bay · South Cliff | The prettiest area | 30–40 min walk The postcard Scarborough — the sweep of the bay, the Grand, the Spa. | Shoreline OAT 1 and OAT 2, £3, from the exit | £80–220 | See stays |
| Whitby | Works, just | ~20 miles · 56 min by bus Full of character, and a good night out in its own right. | X93 leaves the station 23:00, into Whitby 23:56 | £90–200 | See stays |
| Filey | No way back | ~8 miles A smaller, quieter resort. Lovely in daylight. | The last train left before the show ended | £70–150 | See stays |
| York | Only if you leave early | ~42 miles A far bigger hotel market and far better onward connections. | The 22:43, which means leaving during the encore | £90–250 | See stays |
No dates are set on these links, because shows run all season — add your own dates in the search.
Places to stay
From Premier Inn Scarborough South Bay, the walk to the theatre is about 1.9 km (1.2 miles) — 25 to 30 minutes on foot. From the railway station it's about the same. Both are measured walking routes, not straight lines, and neither gets you to the last train in time, which is why we recommend the North Bay.
Check the night desk column. The places closest to the venue are mostly small seaside guesthouses and self-catering apartments without a night desk. Those with 24-hour reception are mostly twenty-five to forty minutes away, in the town centre and South Bay.
The show finishes at 22:30 and you'll be back between 23:00 and 23:30, so it's a real choice: a key code and a three-minute walk, or a staffed desk and a £3 bus. Either is fine, but phone to confirm late access before booking anywhere that isn't a chain.
Some links below earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.
| Property | Area | Type | To the venue | Night desk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Inn Scarborough North Bay | North Bay | Chain hotel | ~0.2 km · 3–5 min | Ask first | Book direct |
| Seaside Hideaway Adults Only | North Bay | Guest house | ~0.2 km · 3–5 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| Lysander Hotel Scarborough | North Bay | Small hotel | ~0.3 km · 4–6 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| The Headlands Hotel Scarborough | North Bay | Small hotel | ~0.3 km · 4–6 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| North Bay Sands Apartments | North Bay | Apartments | ~0.3 km · 4–6 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| The Sands Sea Front Apartments Scarborough | North Bay | Apartments | ~0.4 km · 5–8 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| North Sands Lodge Scarborough | Peasholm | Guest house | ~10 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| Kenways Guest House Scarborough | Peasholm | Guest house | ~10 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| Meltham Guest House Scarborough | Peasholm | Guest house | ~10 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| Paragon Hotel Scarborough | North Bay | Hotel | ~10–15 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| Castleview Guest House Scarborough | North Bay | Guest house | ~10–15 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| The Grand Hotel Scarborough | Town centre | Large Victorian hotel | ~1.6 km · 25–30 min | 24 hours | Check prices |
| Travelodge Scarborough St Nicholas | Town centre | Chain hotel | ~1.6 km · 25–30 min | 24 hours | Book direct |
| Premier Inn Scarborough South Bay | South Bay | Chain hotel | ~1.9 km · 25–30 min | Ask first | Book direct |
| Crown Spa Hotel Scarborough | South Cliff | 4★ hotel and spa | ~2 km · 30–40 min | 24 hours | Check prices |
| Bike and Boot Inns Scarborough | South Bay | Hotel | ~2 km · 30–35 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| The Mansion House Scarborough | South Cliff | Hotel | ~2 km · 30–40 min | Ask first | Check prices |
| Blands Cliff Lodge Scarborough | South Bay | Hotel | ~1.7 km · 25–30 min | Ask first | Check prices |
"Ask first" means we couldn't confirm the reception hours, which is normal for small British seaside guesthouses — very few publish them. It's not a criticism, just a prompt to phone.
"Book direct" means Premier Inn and this Travelodge aren't on Booking.com, so the link goes to the hotel's own website. We don't earn anything from these bookings.
Each area in more detail
North Bay · Peasholm — Walk home
Suits: Anyone who wants to walk home and not worry about transport.
Quieter and more residential than the South Bay, with lots of small guesthouses that lock up early. You'll be back fifteen minutes after the last song — but check someone will let you in.
Town centre — For the morning train
Suits: Anyone catching an early train the next morning, or who wants dinner and a drink either side.
The walk back is flat and takes about half an hour. The chain hotels are here, so you'll find a staffed desk at midnight.
South Bay · South Cliff — The prettiest area
Suits: People making a Scarborough trip of it, with the gig as one evening.
It's over the headland. Don't plan to walk it at 22:45 in the rain — take the £3 bus, which runs because this is where the hotels are.
Whitby — Works, just
Suits: Anyone who wanted to see Whitby anyway and does not mind a late bus.
The only base outside Scarborough you can reach by public transport the same night — but you'll need the £2 shuttle to the station first, then a 23:00 bus after a long evening. Check Sunday times.
Filey — No way back
Suits: Drivers only.
The last coast train on weekdays is 21:17. Without a car you'd need a taxi you haven't booked, just as 8,000 people pour onto one road.
York — Only if you leave early
Suits: Anyone travelling on the next day, or priced out of Scarborough.
Useful if Scarborough is full, but you'll miss the end of the show. Don't assume there's an onward connection from York at 23:33.
Every way out, ranked
1. Walk — if you're staying in the North Bay Reliable
Three to ten minutes on foot, with no timetable, fare or queue.
The catch: Only works if you've booked within about half a mile of the venue. There aren't many rooms that close, so book early.
2. The post-show shuttle buses Reliable
Two operators. East Yorkshire's Service OAT runs to the railway station from 22:00, every ten minutes, last bus 23:00, £2 single. Shoreline's OAT 1 goes to the South Bay and lower town, OAT 2 to the town centre, South Cliff, Osgodby and Eastfield, and OAT 3 to the town centre, the station and Seamer — all £3, waiting just left of the exit with staff on hand.
The catch: They run later than the last train, but that doesn't help you catch it. Check the service is running for your show.
3. Your own car Reliable
Council car parks are free after 18:00 — Marine Drive, Northstead Upper and Lower, Scalby Mills, William Street and Victoria Park, about 1,770 spaces between them. Reviewers report an easy exit, and the road closure and stewarding seem to work.
The catch: 1,770 spaces for 8,000 people. And the A64 to York and Leeds is single carriageway for much of the way — though at 23:00 it's about as quiet as it gets.
4. Taxi from Peasholm Gap Usually fine
There is an official rank at Peasholm Gap, the designated pick-up point about 400 metres from the venue. Local firms: Nippy 01723 377377, Beeline 01723 366666, Boro Cars 01723 361111.
The catch: Burniston Road is closed after the show, so nobody can collect you at the gate. Tell your driver Peasholm Gap, not the Open Air Theatre, and expect a queue: 8,000 people leave at once, in a town of 60,000.
5. The train Not a plan
Scarborough station is 1.3 miles from the venue, about 25 minutes on foot, and the last westbound departure is 22:43 into York at 23:33.
The catch: With a 22:30 finish, you can't make it unless you leave during the encore. No operator runs extra trains — neither Northern nor TransPennine Express mentions the venue.
6. Park and Ride Useless
Two sites, Filey Road and Seamer Road, 1,100 free spaces between them, £3.10 return.
The catch: The last bus from town leaves around 18:40 — before the show starts — so it's no use for concerts.
Will Scarborough be full?
Probably not. Scarborough is a big seaside resort with hundreds of places to stay, built for summer holiday crowds that last far longer than a few concert nights. The venue is limited to thirty shows a year, just over half of concert-goers stay a single night, and many don't stay at all.
What's scarce is location, not rooms. Only a few dozen rooms are within a five-minute walk of the venue, and given the train times, those are the ones to get. You'll almost certainly find a room in Scarborough, but not necessarily one you can walk back to. Book the North Bay early; everything else can wait.
We couldn't find any reporting that compares a normal summer night's rate with a concert night's. The only hard figure is a £128 average nightly spend across the 2025 season — a season-wide survey average, not a concert-night price. Treat the ranges in the table above as a rough guide.
Things that will catch you out
The station is 25 minutes away, not 5
The venue's own information mentions a five-minute, 400-metre walk. That's Peasholm Gap, the taxi and pick-up point — not the railway station, which is 1.3 miles south. Mix them up and you'll miss your train.
No re-entry, and no cloakroom
Once you're in, you can't leave and come back, which catches smokers out (there's a smoking area inside). There's also nowhere to leave coats, bags, cameras or umbrellas, so you'll carry whatever you bring for four hours. Eat before you go in.
Umbrellas are banned, and rain won't cancel the show
The venue has no roof, faces the North Sea, and only cancels concerts if conditions become dangerous. Umbrellas and chairs are banned, bags larger than A4 are refused, and there are no refunds if you leave early because you're wet. Bring a hooded waterproof and more layers than the forecast suggests.
Say Peasholm Gap, not the Open Air Theatre
Burniston Road is closed after every show, so anyone collecting you must use Peasholm Gap, about 400 metres away.
Council parking is free after 18:00
A 19:00 show means free parking in any of the six council car parks near the venue.
The steps are steep
Blocks A and B are on decking over the former lake, and the coloured blocks are reached by steep stairs — reviewers mention a climb up and back down. Worth knowing if anyone in your group is unsteady on their feet. The venue's access line is 01723 818111.
Worth arriving early for
Peasholm Park is right next to the venue: thirty-five acres of Japanese-themed park with a pagoda and a boating lake. Three times a week in summer it stages the Battle of Peasholm, a naval battle fought with model boats that the town calls the smallest manned navy in the world. It has run for over eighty years.
Gates open at 18:00 and there's no re-entry, so it's a good way to spend the afternoon before you go in.
If you have the whole day
With gates at 18:00 you have the afternoon free, and most visitors travel more than an hour to get here. There isn't much to book in Scarborough itself, but there's plenty across the rest of Yorkshire — the North York Moors, Whitby, and York, an hour away by train.
One local option is the Scarborough ghost walk, which takes seventy-five minutes. Anything in Whitby or the Moors takes a full day and won't fit before an 18:00 gate.
See what's bookableNext
Getting home from the Open Air Theatre — both shuttle operators and where each one goes, the Peasholm Gap taxi rank, free council parking after 18:00, and why the trains don't work.
Elsewhere: Slane Castle, a hillside above a village of 1,445 with no camping at all, and Eden Park, where Sunday concerts now run to 11pm on the night Auckland's trains stop earliest.
Checked and last updated 27 September 2026. Transport times and prices change — we re-verify before each edition.