The Scarborough South Cliff Tramway Company Limited was created in 1873 to link the South Cliff Esplanade with the panoramic South Bay beach. When it opened on the 6th of July 1875, it was the first funicular railway to be built in the UK, and the first of five such railways to be built in Scarborough.
As well as providing passage to the beach, the cliff lift transports visitors to the Victorian Spa Conference and Entertainment venue. The opening times of the lift vary to enable visitors to enjoy the many functions and shows put on at the Spa. The cliff lift is owned by Scarborough Borough Council and operated by Sheffield International Venues.
The lift was designed by Crossley Brothers of Manchester. The cars were constructed by the Metropolitan Carriage Company of Birmingham. At first seawater was used as a counterweight. Two gas engines (replaced by steam pumps in 1879) were installed to pump the seawater to the upper station to fill the top car (and also a bathing pool!). The water pipe was between the two parallel tracks.
In 1935 the lift was electrified and in 1997 the operation of the lift was completely automated. In 2019 a major refurbishment of the machine room and control systems was undertaken. A new advanced control panel was installed along with many other improvements designed to achieve the highest possible safety standards.
