Hull, England
GO. Hull is a two hour drive from us, and the reason we went? Not entirely sure! We were looking for something different for a long half term weekend, and the big aquarium looked good. So there we were loaded up and on the M62. We even managed a stop at Birch services and a win on the grabber machines next to the toiltes, so this trip got of to a fab start!
STAY. Centrally located is the Holiday Inn Express - pretty much on top of the main shopping centre, St Stephen’s. Parking is therefore simple, as the hotel has spaces within the large and secure shopping centre car park. Everything you would expect from a Holiday Inn here, and a great location for exploring the city.
EAT. We did try a few places in Hull (including a return trip), but the one that really stands out is the Aegean Taverna Greek in Newland. We hopped on a bus to get here, and had to hop in a taxi back when the buses seemed to suddenly stop running (strike, apparently). The Meze platter was that large, and continuous, that we had to ask them to stop bringing food. At this point the chef came out to ask what was up, simply putting the portion sizes down to the fact that “we are Greek!”. The food was amazing, the atmosphere great and you will definitely not go hungry.
ASK Italian. Situated near the Princes Quay shopping centre area, the ASK Hull branch is a nice space, with all the usual trappings of this chain. Kids can eat well here, with a good three course menu. A good, solid option when unsure where on earth to go and not having booked anything.
Hearth Café. We only really dived in here because it got very, very cold walking around and we all needed warming up. However, a great find with super hot drinks and a great selection of cakes and small dishes - we visited the bakery - there is also a very nice looked menu at the restaurant.
Wendy’s… how have I now had a Wendy’s before?! The burgers here are vastly superior to McDonalds - although to be fair cost a little bit more. Chips are proper fries, and not very salty - and there’s a distinct Canadian slant to the menu.
There is a Brazilian rodizio on the Kingswood shopping park on the outskirts (Beleza). These places always promise and hardly ever deliver. There was plenty of meat, of really good quality, but the eyes are always bigger than the belly and we ended up stuffed after about four plates. Its’ also a shame that the food hall opposite the station has closed down - this had a great selection of food stalls and a nice bar. A great place to sit and chill watching the bustle outside - but as of early 2025 is being transformed into something else.
For drinks… two places stood out, enjoyed with a little one. The Hispanist was a nice pit stop as we wandered around the centre - and the food here did look amazing - this has now unfortunately closed. We enjoyed the BrewDog in Hull as well - although just for drinks - there was a good atmosphere and there’s nothing like your 7 year old playing shuffleboard with a hen party carrying inflatable cocks. Lovely.
“Daddy what is that?”…
DO. A surprising amount to do in Hull, which is maybe not the top of everyone’s holiday list. Great for a few days away somewhere different.
The Deep. This is what really drew us to visit Hull in the first place - maybe the UK’s best aquarium. There’s more than 10 different zones, from sharks to penguins to piranhas, and it is all told in a really great way - so much more than just aquatic animals on display. We all loved visiting the Deep, definitely worth the entrance fee.
The Streetlife Museum. Home to over 200 years of transport history - containing a good range of stories and exhibits about the history of transport from around the world and the Hull area. A good museum enjoyed by us all.
Hull and East Riding Museum. Trumping the Streetlife Museum by promising 235 million years of history, this smaller offer just nextdoor seemed intriguing, so in we went. It’s free to enter, which is always a bonus, and tells the story of the local area through the ages.
The Humber Bridge. Yeah it’s a big old bridge which gets shut to lories when it’s windy - but for a little one this is fascinating. In fact, probably fascinating for a 40 something year old bloke as well. Maybe. You can stop at the car park at Hessle Foreshore for good views of the bridge, and alter your route to arrive at Hull to drive over it, if you really wanted to.
Lost City Adventure Golf. In Hull, Nottingham and Belfast, the Lost City indoor golf chain has two 18 hole crazy golf courses and a bar. An enjoyabl hour or two playing the 36 holes and having a drink - although it has to be said that crazy golf always feels a bit expensive when it boils down to it.
