Like a great many Seaside resorts in England, Scarborough can be considered a "Victorian" or nineteenth century town. Most of old town Scarborough; the Hotels; the amusement centres; and famous Landmarks such as Valley Bridge and Marine Drive were realised during this era.

A brief look at England's Monarchs during the nineteenth century saw "George III" pass away in 1820. He was succeed by George IV (King 1820 - 1830). William IV (King 1830 - 1837), and one of England more famous monarchs, Queen Victoria (Queen 1837 - 1901).

One of the biggest event for Scarborough during this period was the opening of the railway from York to Scarborough in 1845. This allowed for a substantial increase in visitors. It saw many new leisure facilities open over the coming decades to support the ever increasing number of health seeking tourists.

Valley bridge was built in 1865, The Grand Hotel was built in 1867, the current Spa was built in 1877, and work on Marine drive started in 1897.

Scarborough was loved by a great many people including Anne Bronte who is buried at Saint Marys church instead of her family tomb in Haworth.

Reforms were the most pressing activities during this era for the poor with economic depression following the Napoleonic wars. Impoverished European markets were unable to absorb stockpiles of British goods. There was mass unemployment and changes could not come fast enough for the working classes. The government could only find £20,000 for the first educational grant in 1833, but was able to find £20 million pound as compensation to slave owners after abolishing slavery in the British colonies during the same period... This is very much the era of writers such as Charles Dickens , and philosophers such as Karl Marx .