Have you ever been strolling along the coast in North Yorkshire and been attacked by a seagull?

Maybe you were minding your own business and one swooped down to pinch your sandwich or even an ice cream.

Well, you won’t be alone as many have experienced large flocks of seagulls almost taking over the seaside resorts and scaring tourists away, with over 2 in 5 people having fallen victim to a seagull attack.

With this in mind, pest control experts Eco Care have analysed over 40,000 Tripadvisor reviews to find the beaches you are most likely to be attacked by seagulls.

To do this, the team comprised a list of the 30 most popular beaches in the UK.

From this, they searched each beach on Tripadvisor and ruled out any beaches with fewer than 10 seagull mentions.

They then analysed each individual review to see if the comment was positive or negative which resulted in the findings.

Shockingly, a beach in the county has now been revealed the worst in the UK for seagulls getting up to no good.

Scarborough Beach has more than 100 negative seagull reviews

When did you last visit Scarborough?When did you last visit Scarborough? (Image: Gordon Bell/Getty)

The data revealed that Scarborough was the worst for seagull attacks with over 100 accounts of seagulls attacking, stealing and flocking to the beach.

More specifically, seagulls were mentioned negatively 109 times in Tripadvisor reviews about Scarborough Beach.

Other UK beaches hit with a significant amount of negative seagull reviews on Tripadvisor included:

  • Brighton Beach – 89 (reviews)
  • Woolacombe Beach - 61
  • Weymouth Beach - 38
  • Camber Sands - 23

Edris Latifi, a pest control expert from Eco Care has given his tips on avoiding seagull attacks when visiting the beach.

Best Beaches in the UK

To minimise the risk of an encounter, you can:

  • Be mindful of your surroundings and food
  • Avoid eating outdoors, or if you must, keep food covered and close by
  • Dispose of food waste properly in covered bins
  • Maintain a safe distance from seagull nests and large flocks

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Edris commented: “Seagulls can be aggressive, especially during nesting season (February to August.)

"If you find yourself under attack, remain calm.

“Avoid sudden movements or shouting, as this can provoke the bird further.

“Protect your head with your arms and slowly move away from the area.”

“Remember, while these tips can be helpful, seagull behaviour is unpredictable. Enjoy your beach day, but stay alert.”