Station House

Station House is a five-storey terrace in central Scarborough. From the front door it just keeps climbing, with bedrooms stacked across every level and a full kitchen-diner at the bottom. For fourteen people, it works well: there is always another floor to disappear to when the living room fills up.

The lower ground floor is where everyone gravitates. The kitchen has the space to cook properly for fourteen without crowding, and the appliances to match. The large dining table seats the whole group, and when everyone is round it with a bottle open, the kitchen becomes the best room in the house. Through into the sitting room, there is plenty of sofa space to stretch out in front of the TV.

Patio doors from the dining area open onto the rear patio, where the hot tub sits. It is a sheltered, private space with outdoor furniture, and on a still evening after the kids have gone upstairs, it is the quietest spot in the house.

Seven bedrooms run from the ground floor to the top of the house. Every one has a super-king bed with zip/link, so you can split any of them into twins when the group needs it. Two bedrooms sit on the ground floor, which matters if anyone in the party would rather not tackle five flights of stairs. Four have en-suite shower rooms, and a family bathroom with bath and shower covers the rest. A cloakroom on the lower ground floor takes the pressure off in the mornings.

The owner leaves a welcome hamper when you arrive. It is a proper one, and it sets the tone before you have unzipped a bag. Communication before and during the stay is easy, and anything that needs sorting gets sorted quickly.

The location makes a car optional. South Bay is a fifteen-minute walk, and the nearest pub and shops are a short walk from the front door. The town centre, Peasholm Park, and the train station are all within reach on foot. Off-road parking is there if you bring cars.

Scarborough Spa puts on orchestral concerts, comedy, and theatre in its Grand Hall, and the listings are worth checking before you go. The Rotunda Museum on the seafront covers the geology of the Yorkshire coast and is free for under-18s. Twenty minutes by car, Wykeham Lakes has paddleboarding, kayaking, and zip lines thirteen metres above the water, plus an inflatable course that wears children out faster than anything in town. If anyone watches Bangers and Cash, the auction house from the show is at Mathewsons in Thornton Le Dale, and the lots are open to browse.

No pets. The hamper is on the side, the hot tub is ready, and fourteen of you have five floors to spread out across.