Central Tramway Company
Central Tramway Company
4.5
9:30 AM - 5:45 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:45 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:45 PM
About
Central Tramway is Scarborough’s Victorian cliff railway on the historic South Bay. Opened in 1881 the company carries 500,000 passengers a year and is preserving the heritage of the site for future generations.
Duration: < 1 hour
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  • Gordon R
    Bathgate, United Kingdom826 contributions
    Quick, easy and nostalgic way to get to the Upper area of the South Bay.
    Great way to get up from the beech to Marine Parade for £1.30 each way. I recommend using for up journey and walking back down to the beech through the gardens. Another great piece of nostalgia the Scarborough does so well. Highly recommend even if you only use once.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 March 2023
  • Ian1200
    Derby, United Kingdom445 contributions
    Let the tram take the strain
    We used the tram link in town both up and down the Cliff. If you don’t fancy the walk it’s worth taking at £1.30 each way. It is poorly sign posted and advertised, but worth finding, really pleased they are back in working order.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 March 2023
  • Claire C
    13 contributions
    Fantastic service
    Fantastic service in the centre of South Bay. Staff are very friendly, payment is taken at the top of the cliffs via cash or card. Fare is very cheap: we paid £1.30p each. There is a gift/souvenir table laden with goodies such as pens, pencils, notebooks, pin badges, magnets, postcards.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 31 July 2023
  • Vivienne R
    London, United Kingdom58 contributions
    Great for, erm, fans of cliff lifts
    Erm, it’s a cliff lift. HOWEVER (and this is a big however), my boys aged three and six made this the centrepiece of their visit to Scarborough. They are massive fans of cliff lifts and we have visited places purely for the cliff lift. If you are a grown-up who is not fascinated by lifts then this is obviously not the best thing in Scarborough (or even close), but it does take you up and down the cliff near the big Victorian hotel. Has a nice vintage vibe and is pretty cheap.
    Visited August 2023
    Written 25 August 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
792 reviews
Excellent
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150
Average
39
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3
Terrible
5

Alec C
Doncaster, UK233 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Great price of local history well preserved and £1.30 well spent to save the steps after a long day walking.

Pay at the top and there is a small cafe and gift shop as well.
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

holidaymanWashington
Washington, UK2,108 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We have been meaning to go on this for a while. The first time we tried, it was closed. Couldn't find a nearby parking space last time and finally made it this time, probably because of an incoming storm and foul weather. It is a superb piece of engineering which has more than stood the test of time and thank goodness it has. The journey takes seconds and given the alternatives, is well worth the £1.30 per person for the single journey, payable at the top. There are some interesting facts and old pictures to look at and the odd souvenir of your visit.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michelle N
7 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
We took the lift as a family of 4. We parked up the top near the castle and walked down the Seafront, after a busy day the lift back to the top was a welcome sight, no queing straight on and up to the top, great fun, our children aged 8 and 10 loved it.
Written 22 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bourn07
Peterborough, UK83 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We recently attended the free Heritage Open Day ‘Behind The Scenes’ 45 minute tour of the Central Tramway.

The staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. We were able to visit the engine room and see how the Tramway works, as well as see old documents, photos etc.

Everything was explained in detail, as well as some information on the history of the immediate area near the Tramway.

We also had a ride on the Tramway itself.

I would recommend looking out for this happening again as part of the Heritage Open Days in September 2024.

Later in the day we made the trip up, as paying customers, and enjoyed knowing what was happening ‘behind the scenes’ to get us safely up the cliff!
Written 15 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vivienne R
London, UK58 contributions
Aug 2023
Erm, it’s a cliff lift. HOWEVER (and this is a big however), my boys aged three and six made this the centrepiece of their visit to Scarborough. They are massive fans of cliff lifts and we have visited places purely for the cliff lift.

If you are a grown-up who is not fascinated by lifts then this is obviously not the best thing in Scarborough (or even close), but it does take you up and down the cliff near the big Victorian hotel. Has a nice vintage vibe and is pretty cheap.
Written 25 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rachel W
Leeds, UK12 contributions
Aug 2023
Worth every penny (cheap as chips!)
Saves a lot of time and indeed effort.
You don't even realise that you're travelling up the side of the cliff!
Written 22 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rachelealison
15 contributions
Aug 2023
Great view going up. Cost only over £1. Took us straight up to the town centre. Struggled finding it at first but its right next to the massive old hotel on the seafront.Fantastic option for those who are uneasy on their feet or those who just don't fancy going up all those steps from the promenade.
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

porter251
Greater Manchester, UK56 contributions
Jul 2023
A ride on the tramway is a must do. Its only a short ride from the promenade up to the town. Its £1.30 and worth it to keep these historical items working.
Written 4 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Claire C
13 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Fantastic service in the centre of South Bay.

Staff are very friendly, payment is taken at the top of the cliffs via cash or card. Fare is very cheap: we paid £1.30p each.

There is a gift/souvenir table laden with goodies such as pens, pencils, notebooks, pin badges, magnets, postcards.
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jenny g
Wigan, UK87 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Excellent service dog friendly very clean. The staff were helpful and friendly would definitely recommend. It’s like a trip into the past loved it.
Written 23 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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CENTRAL TRAMWAY COMPANY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Tramway Company

Central Tramway Company is open:
  • Sat - Sun 09:30 - 17:45