Yorkshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>On the picturesque Yorkshire coast, former fishing village Filey is famous for its five-mile-long sandy beach and historic Victorian architecture. Popular with families as well as retirees, the town has a tranquil atmosphere and close-knit community, although summer is busier with an influx of tourists, some owning holiday homes. </p>



<p>Family friendly, with seaside activities and parks, like Glen Gardens with its boating lake, events such as the Filey Folk Festival are held throughout the year. More genteel than its livelier seaside neighbours Scarborough and Bridlington, there is a good selection of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafés ranging from fish ‘n’ chips to more upmarket options. The surrounding countryside is also one of its main draws, from the dramatic Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head in the company of seabirds, seals and shipwrecks to walking trails in Filey Brigg Country Park and along the Cleveland Way National Trail.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="600" height="600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/Untitled-design-307.jpg" alt="The Glass House at Charlotte's grapevine ceiling" class="wp-image-230" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/Untitled-design-307.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/Untitled-design-307-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/Untitled-design-307-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/Untitled-design-307-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Glass House at Charlottes</figcaption></figure>



<p>You feel like you’re dining on the French rather than Yorkshire coast at <a href="https://www.theglasshouseatcharlottes.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Glass House at Charlottes</a> as atmospheric tables sit below the UK’s second oldest grape vine having flourished here for almost two centuries. Inspired by former Filey visitor Charlotte Brontë, we can toast our literary hero at the cocktail bar before tucking into family-friendly menus from seafood and pizzas to burgers and kids’ faves. </p>



<p>Cocktails, gins and sharing food, too, at <a href="https://www.boatshedfiley.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Boat Shed</a> and swap France for Italy at <a href="https://www.bellaitaliaristorantefiley.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bella Italia</a> or <a href="http://www.sanmarcofiley.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Marco</a>, a US diner in Tommy’s or Indian cuisine at <a href="https://monsoonfiley.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monsoon</a>. For good old Blighty fish ’n’ chips, look no further than <a href="https://inghamsfishrestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inghams Fish Restauran</a>t for seagull-safe sit-in or more perilous takeaway to enjoy on nearby Filey Beach or, for afternoon tea, try nautical-themed <a href="https://lighthousetearoom.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Lighthouse</a>. Filey Food &amp; Drink Festival is a summer event showcasing award-winning Yorkshire food, including everything scrummy from lobster, crab and caviar street food to ice cream.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<p>There are a refreshing number of independents here rather than mainstream high street retailers, making shopping a pleasure. It’s the ideal place to pick up handmade crafts, unusual gifts, locally sourced foodie treats and, of course, seaside souvenirs. Jools of Filey sells stylish fashion, not to be confused with the better-known, similar-sounding store, while the <a href="https://www.shoe-bootique.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shoe Bootique</a> is fun for footwear, with an extension now for children’s tootsies. </p>



<p>Interior inspiration at <a href="https://www.katiemalone.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Katie Malone House &amp; Home</a> or Lilly’s Sandcastle, or fish for nautical but nice gifts aplenty at <a href="https://seagullgalleryandframing.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seagull Gallery &amp; Ebbing Tide</a>; <a href="https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/filey-lifeboat-station" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Lifeboat Station</a>; The Red Box Arts &amp; Crafts; <a href="https://www.aquamarinefiley.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aquamarine</a> or The Mermaids Purse Antiques &amp; Collectables. Follow your nose to H G Lovitt fish and seafood; Adrian R Colling Butcher; Sterchi’s Chocolatiers; Filey Deli; All Seasons Fruit &amp; Vegetables; <a href="https://fileydistillery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Gin Distillery</a> and, for four-legged friends, Mrs Bishop’s Doggie Deli as well as a regular Filey Farmers Market.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>Filey is incredibly pet-friendly, so dog walking is a popular pastime on the beach, promenade and parks. The relatively flat countryside also makes it bike-friendly and hybrid, electric and MTBs can he hired or bought at cycle specialist <a href="https://www.wheelyactive.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wheely Active</a>. Fresh, sea air is bracing for walkers with two long-distance challenges, the 109-mile <a href="https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/cleveland-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cleveland Way</a> on the coast to Saltburn and then inland across the moors to Helmsley or 79-mile-long <a href="https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/yorkshire-wolds-way/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yorkshire Wolds Way</a> to the Hessle below the iconic Humber Bridge, or enjoy a circular walk atop the chalk cliffs from <a href="https://www.fileytourism.co.uk/flamborough-head-circular-walk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flamborough Head</a>. Waters-ports like sea swimming, surfing and paddle boarding are popular, as well as yoga on the beach.</p>



<p>Established in 1897, <a href="https://www.fileygolfclub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Golf Club</a> has an 18-hole James Braid course and nine-hole Academy course with scenic views of Filey Bay, while Filey Tennis Club has all-weather courts and a strong social focus. Located in the grounds of nearby Hunmanby Hall, with its nine-hole-pay-and-play golf course overlooking Bempton Cliffs, <a href="https://www.activeyorkshirecoast.co.uk/facilities/hunmanby-hall-sports-and-leisure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunmanby Hall Sports and Leisure</a> offers a breath-taking number of family-friendly activities from gym, exercise classes and health and fitness suite to badminton, volleyball and tennis. Head to neighbouring Scarborough for spa days, like the <a href="https://crownspahotel.com/hotel-facilities/health-club-and-spa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crown Hotel’s Muddy Midweek Spa Break</a> – simply made for us! Scarborough has a hospital, while there are plenty of GPs, dentists and opticians in Filey, as well as alternative treatments such as Five Star Hypnotherapy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1402" height="1051" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/156598493_2097151047094378_645975838165410210_n.jpg" alt="Active Filey groups walking cliff paths in Filey Yorkshire" class="wp-image-233" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/156598493_2097151047094378_645975838165410210_n.jpg 1402w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/156598493_2097151047094378_645975838165410210_n-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/156598493_2097151047094378_645975838165410210_n-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/156598493_2097151047094378_645975838165410210_n-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1402px) 100vw, 1402px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Active Filey</figcaption></figure>



<p>The <a href="https://fileyfolkfestival.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Folk Festival</a> has just celebrated its 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary and it entertains audiences for free in pubs, cafes, restaurants and busking on the seaside streets during the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend. Inspired by literary figures who visited the town such as Charlotte Brontë, Charles Dickens and JRR Tolkien, the Filey Literature Festival, also held in May, is organised by the community for the community, although holidaymakers are, of course, welcome. <a href="https://www.filey.co.uk/filey-folk-festival/filey-fishing-festival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Fishing Festival</a> has been casting lines for more than 100 years and held annually in early September, anglers come from far and wide to make their prize catches. Fireworks, a Kite Festival and a thrilling Trackrod Rally, too, mean that all ages are happy. &nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://www.fileyladiesmondayclub.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Ladies Monday Club</a> sounds just up Muddy’s street, meeting every fortnight at the Methodist Church Community Hall for social, talks and presentations. <a href="https://activefiley.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Active Filey</a>, a community sports club, was set up with the aim of encouraging residents to get involved in all kinds of activities from taster fitness sessions to quiz nights and beach litter picks. Every Sunday afternoon in summer, brass band concerts take place in Crescent Gardens, while Friends of Filey Parks welcome volunteers to help with the gardens. <a href="https://www.fileylionsclub.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey and District Lions Club</a> is also a formidable volunteer force for good amongst the community hosting bonfire events to Santa Sleigh runs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1706" height="1143" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/al-elmes-_s3JV8RrwK0-unsplash-scaled-e1727175691898.jpg" alt="Hunmanby Gap, Filey Yorkshire sandy beach" class="wp-image-234" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/al-elmes-_s3JV8RrwK0-unsplash-scaled-e1727175691898.jpg 1706w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/al-elmes-_s3JV8RrwK0-unsplash-scaled-e1727175691898-300x201.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/al-elmes-_s3JV8RrwK0-unsplash-scaled-e1727175691898-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/al-elmes-_s3JV8RrwK0-unsplash-scaled-e1727175691898-768x515.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/al-elmes-_s3JV8RrwK0-unsplash-scaled-e1727175691898-1536x1029.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1706px) 100vw, 1706px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hunmanby Gap, Filey</figcaption></figure>



<p>Five-mile Filey Beach is often voted one of the best, not just in Britain, but the world, rubbing shoulders alongside icons like Sydney’s Bondi or Siesta in Florida. It may not always have the temperatures for sun-bathing, but the stretch of sandy shore is loved by all ages for paddling, walking and sandcastles. Filey’s town centre stands on an elevated position above the sea, with a long promenade by the beach. Beyond is a series of gardens – Glen, Crescent and Northcliffe, with a boating lake, paddling pool, colourful blooms and cafés.</p>



<p>At Coble Landing, Yorkshire cobles are still winched up – small fishing boats said to be descended from Viking longships. Filey Brigg, a long, narrow peninsula to the north, is now a country park and SSSI with walks and rockpools awash with life below steep cliffs teeming with seabirds, including comical puffins, while there are hides at <a href="https://www.ywt.org.uk/nature-reserves/filey-dams-nature-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Dams Nature Reserve</a> to watch bird life on the freshwater marsh. <a href="http://Filey%20Bird%20Garden%20&amp;%20Animal%20Park" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Bird Garden &amp; Animal Park</a> has a mix of domestic and more exotic residents such as Zebu and lemurs, while the meerkat feeding is a highlight. Neighbouring Scarborough and Bridlington seaside resorts also make easy day trips.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>Look out for the Seafront Sculpture Trail with contemporary works by Russ Coleman. <a href="https://fileyartsociety.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Art Society</a>, founded 50 years ago, has a workshop every Thursday morning in the Community Centre where members meet while working on their latest projects, with two exhibitions open to the public each year. Award-winning <a href="http://Filey%20Museum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Museum</a> in Grade II listed buildings traces the history of the town from a fishing and farming community to its heyday as a seaside resort. <a href="http://Filey%20Evron%20Centre" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Evron Centre</a> is the hub for many of the town’s shows from concerts and plays to pantomimes, though <a href="https://www.scarboroughopenairtheatre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scarborough Open Air Theatre</a> is where to head for the biggest names from Kylie and Elton John to Gary Barlow and Little Mix.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>The Crescent, with its grand white painted properties and sea views, is one of the British coastline’s most elegant and historic streets. During the 19<sup>th</sup> and 20<sup>th</sup> centuries the town attracted prestigious and Royal visitors and that genteel feel continues in Filey today. Properties cost an average £214,865, the majority of sales being flats priced around £134,380. Detached properties sell for an average £320,103 with semi-detached houses fetching £220,586. No wonder holiday homes are popular!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148189394#/?channel=RES_BUY"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/174992_33109913_IMG_14_0000.jpeg" alt="Britannia Drive Filey house for sale with sea view" class="wp-image-235" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/174992_33109913_IMG_14_0000.jpeg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/174992_33109913_IMG_14_0000-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/yorkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2024/09/174992_33109913_IMG_14_0000-768x513.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rooms with a view, tis 4-bed detached holiday home has sea and countryside views. <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148189394#/?channel=RES_BUY" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £500,000</a>. </figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p><a href="https://fileychildcare.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Childcare</a> is a registered charity and not-for-profit social enterprise open to everyone for wrap around childcare as a Day Nursery from 0 – 5 yrs as well as Pre-School, Out of Schools and Holiday Club. The use of Makaton signing is encouraged to assist the spoken word and a lending library is available for children to share books at home. More nurseries are available in Scarborough and Bridlington.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.filey-jun.n-yorks.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey Junior School</a> on West Road is the only primary school and is rated ‘Good’.&nbsp; The state high school, <a href="https://www.filey.coastandvale.academy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filey School</a>, is a co-ed of 455 pupils from ages 11 to 16 at a student teacher ratio of 16:1 and only recently joined multi-academy Coast and Vale Learning Trust, serving the Yorkshire Coast, so there is no Ofsted rating yet. In Scarborough, there are 10 state high schools and two private: <a href="https://scarboroughcollege.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scarborough College</a> is a highly-rated independent co-ed, multi-faith day and boarding school for ages three to 18 years old, while <a href="http://Fyling%20Hall%20School" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fyling Hall School</a> in pretty Robin Hood’s Bay is an independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged from four to 19.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST-KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Of all the Butlin’s holiday camps, Filey was Billy Butlin’s pride and joy as he had spent months travelling around the north of England looking for the ideal location. Sir Billy poured all his new ideas into this camp first, the biggest by far at some 400 acres. But when the rise of the foreign holiday package took off, the British seaside holiday camps declined and Filey closed in 1983, three years after Billy Butlin died on Jersey, aged 80, where the showman’s grave in the parish of St John is shaped to represent a double bed. Yet the former holiday camp magnate’s legacy still remains in the form of Filey Bay’s iconic landmark mansion, the villa he bought to be close to his beloved Filey camp. Billy Butlin’s Art Deco styled White House with private access to the beach and incredible sea views was last on the market in 2022 for £2.7m.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>There are regular trains to Scarborough (15 mins) or Bridlington (23 mins) as well as buses. The average time to London King’s Cross by train takes around 3hrs 23mins, changing at York. By car, the M1 south is reached via the A614, while north to Newcastle is via the A170 and A19. It takes just over an hour to drive to York on the A64. Filey’s nearest international airports are Humberside and Teeside, both around 50 miles away.</p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;</em><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/"><em>Top 300 Best Places to Live</em></a>.</p>


Filey

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