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Things to do in Hull

Hull is the UK’s City of Culture 2017-2020 so the city is experiencing a huge promotion of local arts and culture to celebrate and help push urban regeneration projects.

Hull was a traditional port city for many years due to being conveniently located on the Humber Estuary, 40km inland from the North Sea. Because of its location Hull has been a market town, military supply port, trading hub, fishing and whaling centre, and industrial metropolis.

The city suffered greatly from heavy bombing during World War II, a period known as the Hull Blitz, and was one of the UK’s worst-affected cities outside London. After the war was over Hull went through a period of post-industrial decline and was largely neglected for years until the early 21st century, when public spending was distributed to new retail, commercial, education, and housing construction.

This era of regeneration was bolstered by Hull’s success in winning the bid for the UK’s 2017 City of Culture Award. Thanks to this, Hull has become a cultural hub, drawing in visitors and tourists from all over the world – there couldn’t be a better time to book your visit.

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Hull

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Book from £ 318

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Museums Quarter
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Humber Street
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The Deep
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Humber Bridge

Things to do in Hull

Museums Quarter

The Museums Quarter is the ideal place to start your discovery of Hull. Wander up the High Street into the lovely Old Town of Hull to discover the historic Museums Quarter, situated on the banks of the River Hull. Soak up the history of this district by admiring the surroundings of old warehouses, merchant dwellings, and traditional pubs all connected by little winding lanes.

The Wilberforce House Museum is the birthplace of William Wilberforce, the British politician (he was MP for Hull) and social reformer who played an important role in campaigning for the abolition of slavery in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The permanent exhibits include many of his personal effects, such as journals and clothes, as well as significant items connected to the trans-Atlantic slave trade and West African culture.

On-board the Arctic Corsair you’ll find yourself in a truly unique museum, a deep-sea trawler that was converted into a museum in 1999. Berthed on the River Hull between Drypool Bridge and Myton Bridge, you can enjoy a free guided tour of the last surviving Hull fishing vessels from 1960 and learn about the city’s history as a maritime port.

Fruit market and Humber Street

Hull’s cultural hub, the Humber Street Market is more than just a place to shop – although if it’s retail therapy you’re in search of, then look no further! Characterised by a collection of market stalls, street food vans, live acoustic music, and tasty food and drink, this unique area has a bit of everything if you’ve got a leisurely afternoon free to spend browsing.

The Fruit Market, open all day every day, is always a vibrant hive of activity. Located between the river and city centre, this is the perfect place to stop off after a morning perusing the Museums Quarter. Historical tell us that local fruit was sold in this area as early as the 16th century, and this rich cultural history has been celebrated by the City of Culture status granted to the city in 2017, with lots of events and festivals being hosted here in recent years.

The Deep

One of the UK’s biggest and most spectacular aquariums with over 3500 creatures, The Deep is the perfect place to visit as a family. The world’s only ‘submarium’, this unique structure created a bold, pioneering image to kick-start city-wide regeneration in 2002. The Deep is also a national centre for marine research with the staff marine biologists looking after the animals and conducting research into the marine environment.

Not just your ordinary aquarium, here you can explore over 4 billion years of ocean history up to the present day and discover how life came to be on Earth. With fun, interactive exhibitions like the underwater viewing tunnel or following Slimon the snail on a quest through the slime, this is the ideal family destination when visiting Hull.

The Humber Bridge

When the Humber Bridge opened to traffic in 1981 it was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world at a length of 1,410m and is still in the top 10 longest of its kind worldwide. As its name suggests, the bridge spans between the South and North banks of the Humber Estuary. The bridge has become a local landmark, with Grade I Listed Building status, and can be seen for miles around.

Walk, cycle, or drive across the Humber to experience this great feat of engineering up close and personal, as well as taking in stunning views of Hull’s Old Town and revitalised waterfront. The bridge also includes its very own country park, originally a chalk quarry, now transformed into a haven for wildlife with many walking trails, lakes, and green spaces to enjoy.