This industrial port city on the River Humber has Gothic architecture, maritime museums, and a renewed waterfront district. Once a major fishing hub, it's now a cultural center.
Hull, a maritime city in East Yorkshire, remains one of Britain's major ports and has transformed itself through £1 billion in recent infrastructure investments. You can watch penguins and sharks at The Deep aquarium, drink at The George Hotel with its 10-inch wide window, or take a 1929 splash boat ride at East Park. After becoming the UK City of Culture in 2017, the city added new exhibitions to its art galleries, expanded its theater productions, and renovated its museums.
Getting to Hull
You can reach Hull from London King's Cross by direct train in about 2.5 hours. Daily ferries connect to Rotterdam, making the city a gateway to continental Europe. From Humberside Airport, 20 miles away, you can fly to Amsterdam and Aberdeen. The 4,626-foot Humber Bridge crosses the river, connecting Hull to destinations south of the Humber.
Museums and Cultural Venues
At the Ferens Art Gallery, which hosted the Turner Prize in 2017, you'll find European Old Masters hanging next to contemporary British art. The Hull New Theatre's 1,159-seat auditorium reopened in 2016 after a £16 million renovation, while Hull Truck Theatre puts on new productions in its 440-seat space. The Maritime Museum displays ship models, fishing equipment, and whale skeletons from the city's seafaring past.
Parks and Recreation
East Park covers 120 acres with a Victorian lake, animal education center, and a splash boat ride from 1929. At Pearson Park, you'll find a Victorian conservatory filled with tropical plants, plus a bowling green and children's playground. Queen's Gardens, built where Hull's first dock once stood, includes a rose garden and central fountain, and becomes a concert venue during summer.
Food and Drink Scene
The Old Town has more than 30 pubs, including The George Hotel where you can peek through its famously narrow 10-inch window. At Humber Fish Co., you can eat cod, haddock, and shellfish brought in daily from the port. The Marina area's restaurants include Italian trattorias and British bistros. Weekly deals include £38 bottomless brunches at Ambiente Tapas, £19.95 afternoon teas at Thieving Harry's, and £22.95 all-you-can-eat tapas at El Toro.
The Deep and Marina
You'll see over 3,000 sea creatures at The Deep, including sharks, rays, and penguins, housed in an angular glass and aluminum building. Hull Marina, converted from railway docks in 1983, has 270 berths for yachts. You can walk along the waterfront promenade, stopping at cafes or sitting on benches to watch the boats.
