If you’ve seen Hot Fuzz, you might remember the fictional village of Sandford.
It was a place that looks picture-perfect on the surface, with a fiercely proud local community behind it. Oddly enough, visiting Kingston upon Hull gave me a similar feeling… just without all the chaos.
Before this trip, I’d never even considered visiting Hull. It wasn’t a city I’d seen on England itineraries or travel guides, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. But after being named the UK City of Culture in 2017, it started to gain attention — and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.
After spending two days exploring the city, wandering through its Old Town and along the marina, it didn’t take long to understand why people are so passionate about this place. Hull has a quiet kind of charm — the kind that sneaks up on you rather than trying to impress straight away.
In this guide, I’m sharing a few of the things that stood out most during my visit — from historic streets and free museums to some of the small, unexpected details that make Hull a surprisingly worthwhile city break.
Quick summary:
Hull isn’t usually on most UK itineraries, but after two days exploring its Old Town, marina and museums, I quickly understood the hype. This guide shares what surprised me most — plus a few reasons why this underrated city is worth visiting.
Where to stay:
🏨 Holiday Inn Hull Marina – Budget-friendly stay with waterfront views and easy walking distance to Old Town.
How to get to Hull from London
The easiest way to get to Kingston upon Hull from London is by train. I took a direct service which took just over two and a half hours, making it a very manageable journey for a short city break.
Trains typically depart from London King’s Cross and arrive at Hull Paragon Interchange, which is conveniently located right in the city centre. From there, it’s an easy walk to most hotels and attractions, including the marina and Old Town.
For booking tickets, I’d recommend using Omio to compare Hull train times and prices. It’s a simple way to see all your options in one place, especially if you’re trying to find the best fare or a convenient departure time.
One thing I always try to do when travelling by train in the UK is book in advance where possible. Ticket prices can vary quite a bit depending on demand, and I’ve found that locking in a fare early can make a noticeable difference. If you’re travelling at peak times, it’s also worth reserving a seat to make the journey a bit more comfortable.
Where to stay in Hull, UK
🏨 During my visit to Kingston upon Hull, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Hull Marina — and for a short city break, it turned out to be a really convenient base.
The biggest selling point here is the location. The hotel sits right on the edge of the marina, which gives it a slightly more scenic feel than you might expect from a budget-friendly chain. It’s also only about a 10-minute walk into the Old Town, meaning I could easily explore most of Hull’s main attractions on foot without needing to worry about transport.
The rooms themselves are fairly simple and no-frills, but they had everything I needed for a comfortable stay. If you’re planning a quick visit — especially one focused on sightseeing rather than spending lots of time in your hotel — it does the job perfectly well.
I also found it to be a good option value-wise compared to some of the other hotels in the city centre. For the price and location alone, I’d happily stay here again on a return visit to Hull.
Best things to do in Hull, UK
Explore Hull Old Town: What to see & do
I had no idea that Hull would have such a pretty historic area! If you’re looking for things to do in Hull, this is easily where you’ll spend most of your time.
A large chunk of my trip was spent walking through the Old Town with my camera pointed at all the pretty streets and buildings. And the best thing is, I had the whole place to myself – there was no need to wait for tourists to get out of the way before I took each photo.
Hull dates back to the 1100’s as a military port, fishing and whaling center, and trading hub. These days it acts as a major ferry port for travel between the UK and the European continent.
There are a few interesting hidden attractions to find in the Old Town, including the Fish Trail (a walking route with an A-Z of fish engraved in the pavement) and the smallest window in England. This sliver of glass is located on the exterior wall of the George Hotel, and beside it you’ll find a plaque on the wall commemorating it.
Hull Old Town is also known for having a large number of pubs within close proximity. If you want to spend a day drinking pints in British pubs (who wouldn’t?), then start at the Lion and Key on High Street and pub-hop your way to the George Hotel, stopping in at Ye Olde Black Boy, William Hawkes, The Manchester Arms, and Ye Olde White Harte on the way.
Take a tour of the Old Town
If you want to properly understand Hull’s history, taking a walking tour is well worth it.
Almost every day, Paul Schofield takes walking tours around Hull’s Old Town from the Tourist Information Centre. Paul’s in-depth knowledge of Hull is one of the reasons that he has been nominated as one of Visit England’s Top 10 Tourism Superstars of 2017.
I was lucky enough to take one of his tours, and even though the weather was awful, there were about 15 of us who braved the wind and rain to learn about Hull from this amazing guide. It was 100% worth it – Paul really does know how to show his little city in the best light.
Find the cute white telephone boxes
Telephone boxes in the UK are usually red, but not in Hull – it’s the only place in England that has white telephone boxes! The reason for this is that the city used to have its own telephone network which was separate to the rest of the country. Most of the white boxes have disappeared now, but you can still spot a few scattered around the Old Town.
Free museums in Hull: What you can visit
Free museums? Yes please! I’m always tempted by destinations where I can see most of the attractions for little or no cost. In my 2 days of exploring, I managed to see the Streetlife Museum, Ferens Art Gallery, Humber Street Gallery, and Maritime Museum. I paid a grand total of zero pounds for all of these.
There is one museum in Hull which has an entry fee. The Deep is an aquarium and ocean learning center on the waterfront which costs only £12.50 for adults and £10.50 for kids. It’s hardly going to break the bank.
Hull also has some public art about the city, with more appearing as part of the UK City of Culture celebrations. When I was there, the poppies that had spewed out of the Tower of London in 2014 were being placed on the exterior of the Maritime Museum building on Queen Victoria Square. I’m positive that they will look spectacular once finished.
Is Hull worth visiting?
I’ll be honest — before this trip, Kingston upon Hull wasn’t even on my radar, and I didn’t really know what to expect when I arrived.
But after spending a couple of days exploring, it completely surprised me.
Hull isn’t flashy or overly touristy, and that’s actually part of its appeal. You’ve got a genuinely historic Old Town, a waterfront that’s easy to wander around, and a surprisingly good mix of museums — many of which are free. It also feels refreshingly uncrowded compared to more popular UK destinations, which made exploring at my own pace so much more enjoyable.
I wouldn’t say it’s a must-visit destination on a first trip to the UK, but if you’re looking to go a little beyond the usual stops, Hull is well worth considering. It’s the kind of place that quietly grows on you.
*My trip to Hull was sponsored by Visit Britain + Hull 2017, who invited me to see how much of the city I could see on a small budget. I’m proud to be an honest and transparent blogger, so every opinion expressed on AGWT is a true review of my experience!
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