Kingston Upon Hull holidays

Good to know for your Hull holiday

Planning a trip to Hull? Here are some essential tips and information to help you make the most of your visit to this vibrant and historic city in East Yorkshire.

Getting there

• By train: Hull is well-connected by train, with regular direct services from London, Manchester, Leeds, and other major cities. The journey from London King’s Cross to Hull Paragon Interchange takes approximately 2.5 hours. Once you arrive, the city centre is easily accessible by foot, bus, or taxi.

• By car: Hull is conveniently located near major motorways, including the M62 and A63. If you’re driving, there are several car parks available in the city centre, such as the Princes Quay and St Stephen’s shopping centre car parks.

• By bus: National Express and other coach services operate routes to Hull from various UK cities. The main bus terminal is located next to the Hull Paragon Interchange, making transfers easy and convenient.

• By ferry: Hull’s ferry port offers services to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge, providing a great option for those travelling from mainland Europe. The port is a short bus or taxi ride from the city centre.

Accommodation

Hull offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets. Whether you’re looking for luxury hotels, cosy bed and breakfasts, or budget-friendly hostels, you’ll find plenty of choices. Popular areas to stay include the city centre, the historic Old Town, and the Marina area.

Weather and best time to visit Hull

Weather conditions are invariably a consideration, but a must-see list will help pinpoint the optimum time for your Hull holidays.

• Spring (March to May): Moderate rainfall, rising temperatures – 11°C in March to 17°C by May – and brightening days make this a pleasant time to visit outdoor sites like the Hull Marina or sprawling East Park.

• Summer (June to August): With temperatures between 21–22°C, fairly consistent hours of sunshine and water temperatures hovering around 15°C, this is the season for open-water swimming, exploring the bustling Fruit Market, Hull’s cultural quarter, and outdoor festivals – Humber Street Sesh and the Freedom Festival both return in August.

• Autumn (September to November): Between September and November, temperatures drop from 19°C to 11°C, and hours of sunshine shrink from 147 hours to 66 hours; rainfall is about the only constant, ranging from 61–68mm. These are the months for crisp walks and cosy pubs, candy floss and funfair rides – the Hull Fair hits town in October – parkin and fireworks.

• Winter (December to February): The chill is in, with maximum temperatures struggling to get above 8°C. Christmas markets aside, it’s an excellent time to catch a show at one of the city’s performance venues or visit country houses like Burton Constable Hall, as they often stage festive events.

Practical information

• Getting around: Compact and relatively flat, Hull is very walkable and cyclable, with on-road cycle lanes covering most areas. The Hull Paragon Interchange is the city’s rail and bus services hub. Buses are the most popular mode of public transport; one-day unlimited travel bus passes cost £5.20. Hull is also well-served by taxis.

Local dishes in Hull

Discovering the local food scene, especially in and around Trinity Square and the Fruit Market, is one of the unexpected pleasures of holidays to Hull.

Some typical dishes

• Pattie Butty: A local favourite, battered and deep-fried potato patty served in a bread roll.

• Chip Spice: In Hull, chips wouldn’t be the same without a sprinkle of this paprika-based seasoning.

• Yorkshire Pudding: Associated with Yorkshire since the 18th century, this savoury batter pudding is traditionally served with roast beef.

Meat dishes

• Grouse: Only available during shooting season (August to December), this game bird is usually served with fruit jelly, game chips and a jus.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Fish and Chips: The ultimate British comfort food, freshly fried battered white fish fillet and fried potatoes.

• Scampi: Breaded and fried pieces of langoustine, typically served with tartare sauce and a lemon wedge.

Street food

• Yorkshire Pudding Wrap: Picture a burrito, then replace it with a flattened Yorkshire pudding, throw in the ingredients of a Sunday roast, and you’ll have the general gist.

Sweets and desserts

• Yorkshire Curd Tart: A sweet treat made from curd cheese, currants, butter and dusted with nutmeg.

• Parkin: Made with oatmeal, black treacle and ground ginger, this cake is common across Yorkshire, but there are regional variations; East Yorkshire parkin tends to be more biscuity.

Local drinks

• Real Ale: Hull has a thriving real ale (unfiltered, unpasteurised “live” beer) scene, with numerous pubs offering locally brewed options that showcase the craft of Yorkshire brewers.

Best things to do in Hull

Up until fairly recently, holidays to Hull would have been easy to dismiss out of hand. Dogged by a negative reputation, the city was more likely to crop up in conservation as the butt of a joke than as a go-to destination. A lot has changed in recent years; it would be fair to say Hull is enjoying a long-awaited renaissance.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• K2 Building: SEBU restaurant is on the twelfth floor and has enviable city centre views, but the rooftop terrace offers a better vantage point.

• Hull Marina: With its bobbing pleasure boats and a floating lighthouse, Hull’s lively waterfront is incredibly picturesque at sunset.

The best districts

• Old Town: Paved with cobblestones and architecturally rich, Hull’s historic heart has characterful pubs, independent shops and a trio of winning museums.

• Fruit Market: Close by the marina, the city’s historic fruit market has been reimagined into a cultural hub with a raft of contemporary art venues, shops and eateries.

Parks and gardens

• Queen's Gardens: The city centre’s green lung since the 1930s, the gardens are undergoing a major revamp and are expected to reopen in late 2024 or early 2025.

Museums

• Wilberforce House: William Wilberforce’s birthplace is now a museum dedicated to the transatlantic slave trade and its aftermath.

Historical monuments

• Hull Minster: Hull’s majestic minster is the city’s oldest brick-built building; the visitor centre has the skinny on its 700-year history.

Day trips in the area

Hull's central location makes it an excellent base for exploring the beautiful countryside and charming towns of Yorkshire and beyond. Here are some popular destinations for day trips from Hull:

• Beverley: Just a short drive from Hull, this market town is worth checking out for its minster and thriving market. Discover the best deals on hotels in Beverley.

• Spurn National Nature Reserve: This tidal island in Kilnsea is a birders' hot spot; a weekend bus service shuttles between Hull Interchange and the Spurn Discovery Centre between March and November.

• Burton Constable Hall & Grounds: Located in nearby Skirlaugh, it’s a toss-up which is more impressive, the Elizabethan country house or Capability Brown’s landscaped park.

• York: Just an hour's drive or train ride from Hull, York is a historic city known for its medieval architecture, the stunning York Minster, and the ancient city walls. Don't miss the Shambles, a narrow street with overhanging timber-framed buildings. Check our deals on hotels in York.

• Scarborough: About an hour and a half by car, Scarborough is a popular seaside resort with beautiful beaches, a historic castle, and family-friendly attractions like the Sea Life Centre. Discover the best hotels in Scarborough.

• The Yorkshire Wolds: A scenic area of rolling hills and charming villages, the Yorkshire Wolds are perfect for hiking, cycling, and exploring quaint market towns like Driffield and Pocklington.

• Bridlington: Located about an hour from Hull, Bridlington offers lovely sandy beaches, a bustling harbour, and the impressive Bridlington Priory. It's a great spot for a relaxing seaside day out. Stay in one of the best hotels in Bridlington at the best price.

• The North York Moors National Park: Just over an hour's drive from Hull, this national park offers stunning landscapes, picturesque villages like Helmsley and Goathland, and historic sites like Rievaulx Abbey.

• Whitby: Approximately two hours by car, Whitby is a charming coastal town known for its dramatic abbey ruins, historic harbour, and connections to Bram Stoker's Dracula. Don't miss the best offers in hotels in Whitby.

These destinations provide a variety of experiences, from historic sites and natural beauty to seaside fun and charming market towns, all easily accessible from Hull.

Activities for families in Hull

There are loads of family-friendly attractions in Hull, both indoors and out.

• Parks and gardens: You won’t go far wrong with East Park. It’s the city’s largest green space, with a boating lake, children's playground, wet play area and a splash boat ride.

• Aquariums and zoos: The Deep, Hull’s gargantuan aquarium, strikes the right balance between entertainment and education. It has a 10m deep whopper of a tank (with glass lift), an array of marine life, a jellyfish lab, numerous interactive stations and various behind-the-scenes areas. The city doesn’t have a zoo per se, but the Animal Education Centre, home to some 200 animals, including some very vocal squirrel monkeys, is the next best thing.

• Interactive museums: Let’s face it; kids aren’t always the most cooperative of museum companions, but Hull’s immersive Streetlife Museum – two centuries of carts, carriages, cycles, cars, trains, trams and an arcade with vintage games (a bit of a thematic head-scratcher but good fun) – and near neighbour the Hull and East Riding Museum of Archaeology – 235 million years of regional history – have enough bells and whistles – audio tracks, reconstructions and life-size dioramas – to win over even reluctant museumgoers. If all else fails, there’s always Dinostar, with taglines like ‘See dinosaur skulls!’ and ‘Touch dinosaur bones!’ and ‘Hear dinosaurs roar!’ you shouldn’t even have to use hard-sell tactics.

• Ice rink: Budding Olympian or two left feet? You’ll find out at the Hull Ice Arena. It's suitable for all ages, with pre-school and junior disco skate sessions.

Free things to do in Hull

Whether you're cash-strapped or just looking after the pennies, there are plenty of free things to see and do on your Hull holidays, from public parks and museums to festivals and events.

• Free museums: All Hull Museums and Galleries sites can be accessed free of charge.

• Free events: The city hosts numerous free events throughout the year, including the Freedom Festival, which features street theatre, live music and dance.

• Free guided tours: Docents offer tours at the Ferens Art Gallery, Wilberforce House Museum, the Streetlife Museum, and the Hull and East Riding Museum of Archaeology. Hull Maritime volunteers run regular city centre walking tours that explore Hull’s rich maritime heritage.

• Self-guided trails: The city centre has several walking trails, but the ‘Hull Fish Trail’ is possibly the most whimsical, with 41 life-size fish sculptures to find. The tourist information office can provide a map.

Nature and outdoor activities in Hull and its environs

• Orienteering: Tackling one of Humber Bridge Country Park’s six permanent orienteering courses (three easy and three medium difficulties) is a fun way to explore the woods and meadows of Hessle’s “Little Switzerland”.

• Cycling: Largely traffic-free, the 21km Hornsea Rail Trail (part of the Trans Pennine Trail) runs from the city centre across the Holderness Plain to the seaside town of Hornsea.

• Hiking: The 21km Hessle to South Cave stretch of the Yorkshire Wolds Way officially begins in Hessle, but you can pick up the trail near the Humber Bridge (look for the sculpture on the foreshore). Assuming you don’t fancy backtracking on foot, you can catch a bus back to Hull from South Cave.

• Bird-watching: A mix of mudflats and salt marsh, Paull Holme Strays Nature Reserve is prime birding territory year-round with cuckoos and warblers in spring, curlews and little stints in summer, sandpipers and avocets in autumn, and merlins and golden plovers in winter.

• Wild swimming: With an enclosed lake, Welton Waters Adventure Centre near Brough is a favourite with the local open-water swimming set.