A glorious riverfront, history round every corner and activities for all the family to enjoy - there are so many things to do in Hull, it's worth staying a little while longer than you might have first planned. There are free museums, a place where you can dine with sharks and nightlife to get you in the mood. And with the coast only 25 miles away, this city has everything wrapped up in one package just waiting to be opened and explored.
This vibrant city was originally a market town back in the 13th century and was given its full name of Kingston upon Hull in 1299 by King Edward I. Sitting on the River Hull at the junction with the Humber estuary in East Yorkshire, it was one of Britain's key trading cities for centuries, with links as far away as Australia and New Zealand.
The city is also renowned for having a thriving fishing industry and one of the many Hull activities to do is to follow the 'Seven Seas' Fish Trail, a path of metal fish inlaid into the city's pavements that illustrate the many different varieties of fish life that have been landed just out to sea.
For more fishy tales and one of the newest of Hull attractions on offer why not visit The Deep, the world's only submarium, which is basically a huge fish tank filled with 3,500 fish and 40 sharks. You can learn how the oceans were formed and take a ride in a glass lift through a 10m tank. The Deep is also a conservation and educational charity.
Another one of the many Hull attractions is the William Wilberforce House in the heart of the Old Town. One of the city's most famous sons, Wilberforce pushed through a bill as a Member of Parliament to abolish slavery in 1807. His house is one of the few remaining examples of brick merchants' dwellings and dates from the 17th century.
If history isn't your thing, there are so many more things to do in Hull. The city has been described as 'the most poetic city in Britain'. Philip Larkin, a librarian at the university, set a lot of his poems in the area, Andrew Motion, a past Poet Laureate, lectured here and Roger McGough studied here. There is also a statue in Trinity Square of Andrew Marvell, the 17th century metaphysical poet, who was born nearby.
Whatever your need for Hull accommodation, it can be provided here. Hull accommodation ranges from smart waterfront hotels, to welcoming B&Bs, to cosy farmhouses and self catering cottages. All budgets are catered for, whether you are visiting just for one night or for a longer stay.
If you do stay longer, you'll never be stuck for things to do in Hull. The Museums Quarter has four museums to enjoy and there are four more within the city that are free. Art galleries abound, or you could wander round the cobbled, winding streets of the Old Town with its quaint, slightly wonky redbrick houses.
Further afield is the Humber Bridge, built between 1972 and 1981 and at the time was the largest single span suspension bridge in the world measuring 1.5 miles long. It is now the 5th longest and is a spectacular sight as you drive, walk or cycle across.
One of the things to do in Hull is get involved in a festival. There's the Humber Mouth literature festival, an international Sea Shanty Festival in July, a jazz festival in August, a global food festival at the beginning of September and a comedy festival which started in 2007. Of the many Hull activities going on, this is hopefully the funniest! There are so many things to do in Hull that it's time to join in the fun.
