Bridlington

Bridlington is a seaside town and fishing port in East Yorkshire. It was originally two towns: the Old Town, about a mile inland, grew up around the medieval Augustinian priory, while Bridlington Quay was the fishing settlement and harbour. The two merged in the mid-19th C when the railway arrived and Brid (as it's often called) developed rapidly as a resort.

• The harbour and fishing port.
• The Old Town, about half a mile inland from the harbour.
• Priory Church of St. Mary, Church Green, Bridlington YO16 7JX. Apr-Oct M-F 10:00-16:00, Sa 10:00-12:00, Su 14:00-16:00; Nov-Mar daily 10:00-12:00. Built on the site of the Augustinian Priory dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538. Part of it continued in use as a church then it was rebuilt in the 19th C by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Note the Victorian organ (restored 2004-6), monument to the Great Storm of 1871 (which led to the "Plimsoll Line" and other marine safety measures), and plaque to George Symons VC (wounded in the Crimea). Modern features are the plaque to WW2 pilot “Ginger” Lacey, leger stone to 14th C prior St John of Bridlington, the applique tapestries, and “Lamb of God” tree carving. Free.
• Flamborough Head. This spectacular line of chalk cliffs begins just north of town and juts out for six miles into the North Sea. Admire them from below from the Prom or beach. Do not attempt the shore walk round the Head unless you have checked the tide times, and are confident that you can walk the six miles to the next access point before the tide rolls in - the sea will come right up to the cliffs, with no escape path. To admire the views from above, drive or cycle the minor roads out to the Head or to the "North Landing". This northern part is called "Bempton Cliffs" and there's a wild-life centre.
• Sewerby Hall, Bridlington YO15 1EA (2 miles E of Bridlington on the B-road to Flamborough Head, +44 1262 673769. April-early Nov daily, house 11:00-16:30. Georgian mansion incorporating the East Yorkshire Museum (with a room dedicated to aviator Amy Johnson) and Coastguard Museum. Gardens, putting green, family-oriented events. A “land-train” runs here from central Brid, if you don’t have kids you could still use it ironically. Adult £2.20, child 5-15 £1.10, extra fee for some attractions.
• Burton Agnes Hall, Driffield YO25 5NB (7 miles SW of Bridlington on A614, +44 1262 490324. April-Dec daily 11:00-17:00. Fine Elizabethan Mansion House plus remains of its Norman predecessor. Extensive gardens, hosting the National Collection of Campanulas. Adult £10.50, child 5-15 £5; concessions, and 10% discount if you come by bus.

Priory Church of St. Mary, Church Green, Bridlington YO16 7JX. Apr-Oct M-F 10:00-16:00, Sa 10:00-12:00, Su 14:00-16:00; Nov-Mar daily 10:00-12:00. Built on the site of the Augustinian Priory dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538. Part of it continued in use as a church then it was rebuilt in the 19th C by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Note the Victorian organ (restored 2004-6), monument to the Great Storm of 1871 (which led to the "Plimsoll Line" and other marine safety measures), and plaque to George Symons VC (wounded in the Crimea). Modern features are the plaque to WW2 pilot “Ginger” Lacey, leger stone to 14th C prior St John of Bridlington, the applique tapestries, and “Lamb of God” tree carving. Free.

Flamborough Head. This spectacular line of chalk cliffs begins just north of town and juts out for six miles into the North Sea. Admire them from below from the Prom or beach. Do not attempt the shore walk round the Head unless you have checked the tide times, and are confident that you can walk the six miles to the next access point before the tide rolls in - the sea will come right up to the cliffs, with no escape path. To admire the views from above, drive or cycle the minor roads out to the Head or to the "North Landing". This northern part is called "Bempton Cliffs" and there's a wild-life centre.

Sewerby Hall, Bridlington YO15 1EA (2 miles E of Bridlington on the B-road to Flamborough Head, +44 1262 673769. April-early Nov daily, house 11:00-16:30. Georgian mansion incorporating the East Yorkshire Museum (with a room dedicated to aviator Amy Johnson) and Coastguard Museum. Gardens, putting green, family-oriented events. A “land-train” runs here from central Brid, if you don’t have kids you could still use it ironically. Adult £2.20, child 5-15 £1.10, extra fee for some attractions.

Burton Agnes Hall, Driffield YO25 5NB (7 miles SW of Bridlington on A614, +44 1262 490324. April-Dec daily 11:00-17:00. Fine Elizabethan Mansion House plus remains of its Norman predecessor. Extensive gardens, hosting the National Collection of Campanulas. Adult £10.50, child 5-15 £5; concessions, and 10% discount if you come by bus.

• Sandy beaches.
• Small fanfare and amusement arcades by the North Beach.
• Boat trips from the harbour, including speedboat rides.
• Bridlington Spa, +44 1262 678258 (Box Office). Main venues are the Royal Hall (1930s décor), 3800 standing, often used for rock concerts; Spa Theatre (Edwardian) seats 676; and Harbour Suite with 120 seats. Rebuilt several times (most recently in 2016) after fires, floods and other calamity, but preserving the original features. Often hosts conferences.
• Bridlington Birds of Prey and Animal Park, Carnaby Covert Lane (Take coast rd A165 S for 2 miles then turn inland on Moor Lane, signs for Carnaby, +44 1262 673653. Apr-Sept daily 10:30-16:30, October weekends only. Surprising number of pigs for a bird centre.
• John Bull Candy Factory, Moor Lane, Carnaby YO16 7UT (3 miles S of Brid, near Birds of Prey Centre. late July-Aug M-F 10:30-12:00 & 12:45-15:45. Tour the factory where they make seaside rock and other confectionery, have a go at making your own. Adults £3.50, children over four £3.

• Dance at the Northern Soul Weekender in June
• Check out the Custom Scooter Rally in October

Bridlington Spa, +44 1262 678258 (Box Office). Main venues are the Royal Hall (1930s décor), 3800 standing, often used for rock concerts; Spa Theatre (Edwardian) seats 676; and Harbour Suite with 120 seats. Rebuilt several times (most recently in 2016) after fires, floods and other calamity, but preserving the original features. Often hosts conferences.

Bridlington Birds of Prey and Animal Park, Carnaby Covert Lane (Take coast rd A165 S for 2 miles then turn inland on Moor Lane, signs for Carnaby, +44 1262 673653. Apr-Sept daily 10:30-16:30, October weekends only. Surprising number of pigs for a bird centre.

John Bull Candy Factory, Moor Lane, Carnaby YO16 7UT (3 miles S of Brid, near Birds of Prey Centre. late July-Aug M-F 10:30-12:00 & 12:45-15:45. Tour the factory where they make seaside rock and other confectionery, have a go at making your own. Adults £3.50, children over four £3.

• Freshly caught fish.
• Farmer's Market, Christ Church, 2 Quay Road, Bridlington, YO15 2AP, +44 1262 404200. 10:00-15:00. Open air market selling fresh local produce, straight from the farm, on the third Friday of every month free entrance.

Farmer's Market, Christ Church, 2 Quay Road, Bridlington, YO15 2AP, +44 1262 404200. 10:00-15:00. Open air market selling fresh local produce, straight from the farm, on the third Friday of every month free entrance.

• There are several Fish and Chip shops near the harbour.
• Fish and Chips at 149, 149 Marton Road, Bridlington, YO16 7DJ, +44 1262 678378. 11:30-21:00. UK National Fish and Chip Shop Award winner 2011. From £5.40 for fish and chips.
• Supattra, 29 Quay Road, +44 1262 678565. Tu-Su 18:00-22:00. All food cooked to order so can cater to special dietary needs. Full vegetarian menu available. £4-22.

Fish and Chips at 149, 149 Marton Road, Bridlington, YO16 7DJ, +44 1262 678378. 11:30-21:00. UK National Fish and Chip Shop Award winner 2011. From £5.40 for fish and chips.

Supattra, 29 Quay Road, +44 1262 678565. Tu-Su 18:00-22:00. All food cooked to order so can cater to special dietary needs. Full vegetarian menu available. £4-22.

• Marine Bar, Expanse Hotel, North Marine Drive, Bridlington YO15 2LS, +44 1262 675347. CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) recommended pub, serving Wold Top, Timothy Taylor's and at least two other real ales throughout the year. Besides serving real ale, the Marine Bar has a wide range of services including disabled access, free wifi, Live music, quizzes, a DJ and both food and accommodation available.

Marine Bar, Expanse Hotel, North Marine Drive, Bridlington YO15 2LS, +44 1262 675347. CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) recommended pub, serving Wold Top, Timothy Taylor's and at least two other real ales throughout the year. Besides serving real ale, the Marine Bar has a wide range of services including disabled access, free wifi, Live music, quizzes, a DJ and both food and accommodation available.

• Many hotels, Bed and Breakfasts and self-catering rentals now provide free wifi.
• You can relax in one of several pubs with free Wi-Fi

• To the north, Scarborough and Filey are agreeable nearby beach resorts, easily done as day trips by bus or train. The coast further north is rugged and scenic, with the little harbour of Robin Hood's Bay, and then gothic Whitby.
• Inland, explore the North York Moors National Park.
• To the south is the small resort of Hornsea, a 1950s time-warp, then come the strange "toffee-castle" cliffs of East Yorkshire. Here the soft hills of the Wolds are being rapidly eroded by the sea, leaving farm buildings dangling over the edge or crumpled sideways on the shore, while humbug-hued turrets of ground await the next high tide. Erosion is so rapid that even a recent map is likely to be out of date, with access roads closed off, or gone over the edge to join the medieval villages drowned offshore. These 15-30 foot high cliffs stretch for some 20 miles, then the coast becomes sand hills. It culminates in Spurn Point, a nature reserve - look out for birds, moths, butterflies, and huge ships churning past the lighthouse along the Humber.
• York, some 40 miles east, is a must-see, and for big city amusements head for Leeds.

To the south is the small resort of [[Hornsea]], a 1950s time-warp, then come the strange "toffee-castle" cliffs of East Yorkshire. Here the soft hills of the Wolds are being rapidly eroded by the sea, leaving farm buildings dangling over the edge or crumpled sideways on the shore, while humbug-hued turrets of ground await the next high tide. Erosion is so rapid that even a recent map is likely to be out of date, with access roads closed off, or gone over the edge to join the medieval villages drowned offshore. These 15-30 foot high cliffs stretch for some 20 miles, then the coast becomes sand hills. It culminates in Spurn Point, a nature reserve - look out for birds, moths, butterflies, and huge ships churning past the lighthouse along the Humber.