Playgroups and classes
Scarborough & Whitby and the surrounding areas are a fantastic place for bringing up children and there is plenty going on for children.
Below is a list of all the local playgroups and drop in clinics throughout the week and also details of all the children’s activities classes available across our area. Please contact the organisers directly if you would like to find out further information or to confirm class times or costs.
If you know of any other classes or groups which are not already listed, then please contact us here. Basic listings are free. ’Featured’ listings are £10 per month. For our full advertising rates then please click here.
Ashburn Road, Off Valley Road, Scarborough, YO11 2JW
Telephone: 0172 337 7500
Monday: 09:00 – 09:50, 11:00 – 11:50, 14:00 – 14:50
Tuesday: 12:00 – 12:50
Wednesday: 09:00 – 09:50, 11:00 – 11:50
Friday: 10:00 – 10:50, 12:00 – 12:50
Saturday: 14:00 – 14:50, 16:00 – 16:50
Sunday: 10:00 – 10:50, 12:00 – 12:50, 14:00 – 14:50
Sensory Swim Sessions are designed for families to build water confidence in a calm environment with unique ambience created by coloured lighting effects and sounds/music. This activity ideal for those looking to enjoy a sensory experience based around visual, hearing and touch sense. Children under 5 years old swim for free.
Learning to swim is a key life skill for any child. Swimming lessons teach them independence, gives them the ability to get themselves out of potentially life-threatening situations, and allows them to get active while enjoying themselves.
Everyone Active’s swimming lessons start for children as young as 4 months old and are available for all ages. Choose from private one-to-one lessons, adult lessons, adult and child lessons or junior lessons. Students work towards badges and certificates, collecting them at each stage.
Why choose Everyone Active lessons?
For more details about swimming lessons in Scarborough, please contact one of your local centres below:
Telephone: 0172 337 7500
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/scarborough-sports-village/
Telephone: 0194 760 4640
Website: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/whitby-leisure-centre/
Join Kathy for a session of musical fun perfect for babies and children up to 4 years of age.
You can choose between Baby Fun Music for babies up to 14 months OR Family Fun Music for both toddlers and babies up to 4 years old.
Fun Music sessions last around 50 minutes during which time there will be nursery rhymes, new and traditional songs, dancing and movement to music, often with props and scarves, and there’s always a chance to play on different percussion instruments.
As a special treat, Kathy always plays her flute, piccolo or saxophone in the sessions, either for jamming along to or for listening time. The children love hearing and seeing these wind instruments, and so the Fun Music sessions just fly by!
All sessions are weekly during term time with the exception of the Wednesday session at Little Lambs.
Just click on your chosen class and date below to book your place!
NB. If you book 6 classes at once, you will only be charged for 5 – this discount is applied automatically
Book HERE
Photograph Credit: East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Any parents are welcome to join us for the opportunity to meet new friends whilst getting out for a walk around our wonderful town!
Children are welcome, with or without a pram, but please read the route and see if the length of each walk is suitable for your little one to manage on foot.
Alternate weeks the walk will be kept around the Marine Drive to try and keep central for those who don’t drive or can’t access walks further away, the in between weeks will be walks in the surrounding area of Scarborough, somewhere different every week to discover new areas and keep it fresh for the children! All walks will be pushchair friendly 😊
Keep an eye on the Facebook Page here
Discover an amazing underwater world.
Parent & Toddler Ticket – £16
There is so much to see at SEA LIFE Scarborough! Dive in and you’ll discover:
Annual passes available for £40.
Scalby Mills, Scarborough, YO12 6RP
Sewerby Hall & Gardens have 2 weekly activities for under 5s:
Under 5s Go Wild will take place every Friday morning from 13th May – 15th July 2022. This will be a fun programme of activities for under 5s, all about wildlife, animals and the natural world, featuring music, art, drama, historical toys, stories, crafts and zoo experiences. This is to celebrate Sewerby hosting the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition from 7th May to 17th July 2022. Full details of these sessions and all the exhibition extra events can be found on Mumbler here. These events are included within general admission to Sewerby Hall and Gardens.
Sewerby Squirrels are weekly sessions for under 5s at Sewerby Hall and Gardens, taking place every Monday term time 10.00-11.30am in the Orangery. A small charge of £2 applies for each child aged 3-4, including one accompanying adult, please call to book as places are limited. For more information or to book call 01262 673769.
Or find out more on the Sewerby website here. Follow Sewerby on facebook here for more updates. Church Lane, Sewerby, Bridlington, YO15 1ED.
Dance classes for girls and boys from beginners to advances, starting at 2 years old:
Benson Stage Academy, Commercial Street Scarborough
07749 377598
Mondays 9.30am – 11.15am (term time only)
A friendly group for children aged 0 – 5 years and their parents, grandparents and carers. Join us for free play, sensory play. stories and rhymes. £1.50 per child plus 50p for additional siblings (over 6 months). Includes a healthy snack, drink for little ones and a hot drink for grown ups
Ayton Methodist Church Hall, Pickering Road, West Ayton. YO13 9JE
Martial Arts Classes in Whitby.
Lil Ninjas: Age 4 – 6 years Mon & Wed, 4.00 to 4.30pm, Sat 9.30am to 10am
Combat Kids: Age 6 – 9 years Mon & Wed 4.45 to 5.30pm, Sat 10.15 to 11am
Combat Kids: Age 9 – 14 years Mon & Wed 5.40 to 6.30pm, Sat 10.15 to 11am
Green Lane Centre, Green Lane, Whitby, YO22 4EH
Contact James 07889 797147
Every Monday in term time 9.15am – 10.45am
A group for peeople with pre-school children
Cost is FREE but a £|1 donation per family can be given.
The Auborough Room in Parish House (The Rainbow Centre)
Mondays 11.30-1pm and 1.15pm-2.45pm (term time and holidays)
Role play scenes
Suitable for ages 1 – 5 years
St. Michael’s Lane, Scarborough
Monday 10.30-11.15am
Early years Music session for 0-5 years.
FREE
Whitby YO21 3BA
Monday 10.30am – 11.15am
Wednesday 9.30am – 10.15am
FREE
Flowergate Hall Community Arts Centre, Whitby
07588 692449
1st Monday of the month 10am – 12pm
For young explorers aged 18 months to 5 years old
2 hour sessions include outdoor play, storytelling, music and games. Each session is themed, from wiggly worms to hedgehogs and hibernation. Outdoors (storms, extreme winds or dangerous weather not included!), so dress warmly and don’t forget your wellies!
Adult + 1 Child: £7; Additional under 5: £2 (RSPB members receive a 20% discount on tickets) includes reserve entry, on site parking, squash and an adult drink.
Booking via the RSPB website is recommended especially over the summer (will reserve parking spaces)
Both classes, £4 per child:
Mondays 9.30-11am
A special session aimed specifically for the little ones. An activity will be provided but you may just want to make use of the mud kitchen, have some sensory play or just socialise with other families of young children in a safe outdoor space. £2.50 per child for children of walking age up to 5 years. Babes in arms free of charge. You can also pre-pay £10 for 5 sessions.
Based in a 2 acre field just outside the tiny village of Thwing on the Yorkshire Wolds. Call Mel on 07432 736226 for more info.
Community sports club offering competitive and recreational opportunities in gymnastics for children of all ages and abilities. Classes are run in a safe, child friendly environment under the guidance of appropriately qualified coaches.
Unit 1, Barrys Lane Leisure Complex, Barrys Lane, Scarborough, YO12 4HA
01723 366271
07340720487
The centre offers swimming lessons from 19 months old, 4 years+, 7 years+, and then adult lessons. These all take place across multiple days and times
Ashburn Road, Scarborough YO11 2JW
Phone Number: 01723 377500
Weekly sessions for children at Scarborough Library
They also hold a Breastfeeding group on Fridays 9.30 – 10.45am.
Scarborough Library, Vernon Road, Scarborough. YO11 2NN
01609 536602
Sleights Village Hall, 53 Coach Rd , Whitby, YO22 5BT
Monday 9:00am – 10:30am
A friendly group for children and their parents, grandparents and caregivers. Join us for free play, sensory play, stories and songs. Donations welcome, includes toast for little ones and a hot drink for grown-ups, please bring your own snacks and drinks.
Ring the bell at reception to enter the school and head to the Hall for a warm welcome!
St Peter’s Primary School, North Leas Ave, Scarborough. YO12 6LX
Marie 07717 492190
Mondays 12.45 to 1.30 for birth to 2 1/2 years at Primrose Valley
Come and listen to stories and join in with rhymes, music and sensory play activities. Baby sensory and massage sessions also available.
Meet new parents while your little ones enjoy sensory play. Join me for as a well- known story is brought to life with puppets, music and dance.
A wonderful opportunity to make new friends and explore the great outdoors.
Telephone or email to book.
Tel 07907722069 Facebook Stories Under the Stars
Mondays & Fridays at 10.30am (term time only). Story time for the under 5s.
Station Ave, Filey YO14 9AE
01609 536608
Mondays:
Tuesdays:
Whitby Library, Windsor Terrace, Whitby YO21 1ET
01609 534350
Lessons in Freestyle, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Disco, Commercial, Street, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Song & Dance, Drama, Acro & Show Work. Private Tuition is also available. Ages start at 18months.
35 Durham St, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 7PT
07967 375534
I cover all aspects of baby massage from head to toe, including handy tips on dealing with colic and teething, courses are over 6 weeks and cost £55.
Our venues are:
The Street, Lower Clarke St, Scarborough – Mondays 10am-11am
The Legacy, Ashmead Sq, Eastfield – Wednesdays 1pm-2pm
Samantha Griffiths – 07743952433
Classes for dancers of all ages in Filey and Hunmanby, with the aim of developing confidence and dance technique in a fun and welcoming environment.
Contact Mary-Ann on 07784 130698
Tennis coaching for all ages and abilities across Scarborough, Hackness and Filey.
Contact Jake to book a session 07928752833
Kid’s sessions at The Secret Realm:
The Secret Realm, 5-8 Newchase Court, Scarborough YO11 3YS
01723 583788
Mondays
Rhyme Time for the under twos is 9.45am-10.15am and Story tots for two to fives 10.30am-11.15am.
No need to book, just drop in. If you have children of both age groups you are welcome to come to either one or both of the sessions.
Whitby Library, Windsor Terrace, Whitby YO21 1ET
01609 534350
Regular sessions at various locations across Scarborough:
Mark – 07533 753948
Tony – 07793 662152