Once the world’s largest whaling and fishing port, Hull has cleaned up its image and become an interesting place to stay for a few days. A big plus, if staying in a centrally located hotel, is being able to forget about the car for a couple of days. Another, is being able to drive straight into the centre of Hull along the M62. Also, another added bonus, York and the Yorkshire Dales are within easy reach.

Hull has been put on the map in a big way since The Deep, the World’s only submarium, opened in March 2002. From there, a 10 minute walk leads over the Millennium Bride to a selection of small museums in the Museum Quarter. These excellent museums, with free entrance, are next to each other and house a host of interesting exhibits. Besides more museums and an art gallery, a Fish Trail and an Ale Trail are innovative additions. The modern marina overlays Hull’s maritime past a testament to which lies at anchor in the museum quarter, the 1960’s trawler Arctic Corsair. What is so striking, with all the attractions, is the high number of interactive displays. This alone makes Hull an ideal location for keeping children amused; the educational element being a painless extra. Not many places can boast award winning toilets, but Hull has some pristinely kept Edwardian public toilets which are a riotous floral display in summer. Take a stroll out to Victoria Pier, where all kinds of entertainment take place, to view them. Finally, if shopping is more of an attraction, the modern Princes Quay Shopping Centre is centrally placed for frequent forays.

The Deep.

An attraction which is definitely user friendly and will keep kids, large and small, absorbed for ages. Visitor numbers where expected to be in region of a quarter of a million annually, when it was opened in March 2002, but passed the two million mark by August 2005. This gigantic aquarium, connected by the Millennium footbridge to Hull city centre, is so deep it holds 2.5 million litres of water and 87 tonnes of salt. A ride in the underwater glass lift, the full depth of the aquarium, surrounded by sharks, green moray eel and hundreds of other sea creatures is an experience in itself. The fish of the ocean are observed swimming at depths in which they would normally be seen in their natural environment, from surface marine life down to life at the bottom of the ocean. Different varieties of shark lurk in the depths and there are shark feeding shows. Plenty of hands-on diversions line the walkway from the top to the bottom of the tank with viewing windows along the way. New in 2005, The Twilight Zone is a major extension which, through a series of audio-visual presentations, explores life in the murky depths of the ocean between 200m and 1000m. As welcome retreats, the self service Observatory cafe and 2 Rivers cafe restaurant offer the choice of a light snack or something more substantial. Finally, there is no escape from the large revamped souvenir shop. There is ample parking with the added bonus of reclaiming two thirds (two squids) of the parking fee when using the attractions cafe. Telephone 01482 381000 or visit the deep for further information.

Streetlife Transport Museum.                                                        

An authentic streetscene with shops open for inspection. Vehicles of all kinds including motor cars, a tram, bicycles, carriages from the days of coaching and railways are all represented. The large walk through exhibition of coaches is presented within life-like cameos of their time. There’s even an opportunity to sit in a coach and be subjected to a simulation of riding in a horse drawn carriage.

Wilberforce House.

Birthplace of William Wilberforce, the abolitionist, who was the driving force behind the ending of the slave trade. The exhibits in this 17th century house tell the story of the slave trade and the events leading to the abolition of slavery. It’s well worth taking the time to sit and watch the excellent video which describes Wilberforce’ struggle to gain politicians backing for the campaign.

Hull & East Riding Museum.

Go back in time to life during the Iron Age. What was it like to be a Celt in this part of Britain? This realistic reconstruction of a Celtic village aims to convey some idea of how life was lived during those unsettled times. The language heard spoken is an ancient form of Welsh; the language thought most closely related to the speech of the East Riding Celts.

It’s a surprise to discover such a wealth of Roman remains within this museum and the mosaics in the Roman bath-house are particularly excellent. The reconstructions of the bath house, shop fronts and interiors are particularly well presented

Here is a really great little museum packed with a wealth of information and full of interactive opportunities.

The Museum Quarter is definitely a must do!

Hands - on - History.

Showcased on two floors. Victorian Britain is a themed interactive exhibition and local social history is presented as The story of Hull and its People. An unexpected display is life and death in Ancient Egypt with tomb furniture and the mummy of an Ancient Egyptian priest.

The Maritime Museum.

Housed in the former Town Docks Office, it tells the story of Hull’s rich and colourful maritime history.

Arctic Corsair.

A veteran of the cod wars and now a museum, berthed in the museum quarter, free guided tours are a feature round this former fishing trawler, built in 1960.

Ferens Art Gallery.

Holds an internationally renowned permanent collection of paintings and has a thriving programme of exhibitions. There is also a children’s gallery.

The Fish Trail.

The low cost leaflet explaining the route of the fish trail includes a souvenir certificate on its completion. Brass Rubbing kits are also available so this trail could easily fill a huge chunk of the day. All in all there are 41 fish to spot. The compiler didn’t lack a touch of humour either as the Shark lurks outside the bank, the Electric Eel by the electricity station and the Hake outside a pub specialising in Hake and Chips.

The Ale Trail.

Tucked away in the narrow streets of the Historic Centre, but only a stone’s throw from the main shopping centre, is found a selection of the city’s most interesting pubs and café bars. Many of the pubs serve real ales and food and have been doing so for the past few centuries. One such, Ye Olde White Harte, was the traditional home of Hull’s military governor until the late 1700’s. The military governor in 1642 barred King Charles 1st from the town, an act which reputedly triggered the English Civil War. Pick up a leaflet with a map and a detailed list of 16 establishments to visit within this historic quarter.

Shopping Galore!

Princes Quay Shopping Centre is a huge new modern complex which floats above the waters of a former dock and overlooks the Marina. More shops line the streets of the modern town and Victorian Hepworth’s Arcade and Edwardian Market Hall offer further diversions.

Check out the websites below for a current programme of events. Summer events especially are a big attraction but Hull itself has plenty on offer for both young and old at any time of the year.

For further details, including accommodation, contact Tourist Information on 01482 223559 e-mail: hullparagon@ytbtic.co.uk

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