East Ayton Lodge Hotel, Scarborough
Countryside lodge on the forest park's edge
About this hotel
East Ayton Lodge sits on the edge of North Riding Forest Park, less than five miles from Scarborough and about a ten-minute drive from the coast, set among three acres of grounds with a conservatory overlooking secluded gardens, making it one of the more rural bases on this list relative to Alpamare's North Bay location. Guest bedrooms are elegant and en-suite with TVs and tea and coffee facilities, and family and ground-floor rooms are available for groups needing extra space or easier access. The restaurant, bar and conservatory give families a relaxed evening on site rather than driving back into Scarborough for dinner. The historic city of York sits under an hour's drive away, adding a change-of-pace day trip option beyond the water park. It closes as a genuinely quiet countryside base a short drive from Alpamare.
- Countryside setting
- On-site restaurant and bar
- Family rooms available
Our take
This suits families who want a genuinely quiet countryside evening after a day of slides, with the flexibility to also visit York on a day away from the water park. The scenic setting and family-run feel are real strengths, though the roughly ten-minute drive to the coast means this is not a walkable Alpamare base.
- ✓Book a ground-floor room if travelling with a baby or anyone who finds stairs difficult in the lodge.
- ✓Plan a York day trip into your itinerary, since the historic city sits under an hour's drive from the lodge.
- ✓Eat at the on-site restaurant after an Alpamare day rather than driving back into Scarborough for dinner.
Why we love it
- Three acres of countryside grounds
- Family-run with a conservatory restaurant
- Under an hour's drive to York
- Family and ground-floor rooms available
Why guests love itWe used East Ayton Lodge as a quiet countryside base and drove in for Alpamare on two of our five days, spending the rest exploring the forest park and a day trip to York. The conservatory restaurant meant we never had to drive back into town for dinner after a tiring slides day, and the grounds gave our kids space to run that a town-centre hotel simply could not offer.