Discover Topics: News

One of Europe’s largest travelling fairs will return to Hull this week for its 729th year.

Opening this Friday 6 October, and taking over 16 acres of Walton Street car park, Hull Fair boasts attractions from across the country.

The fair will be officially opened at 5pm by Lord Mayor, Councillor Kalvin Neal with the ringing of the bell on showman Andrew Harniess’, Sea Storm.

It will run until Saturday 14 October (closed Sunday 8 October) and opens from 2 – 11pm daily (from 12noon on Saturday).

This year there are more than 300 attractions from roller-coasters, white-knuckle-rides to hook-a-duck along with over 80 rides for children including trampolines, fun houses, helter skelters and mini versions of the teenage rides such as mini Miami, mini waltzer and jumping jack.

New food and drink offers for this year include bubble tea, loaded hot chocs, footlong fries, and whoopie pies.

For thrill-seekers, new rides for this year include a drop and twist tower, and newly manufactured extreme ride Air Raid.

For those who like to keep their feet firmly on the ground there are in excess of 100 stalls offering games such as bingo, hook-a-duck and darts.

A number of road closures and parking restrictions will be in place from 4 October. They can be found here.

Limited parking is available within the MKM Stadium carpark, charged at £6 per car.

Additional Hull Fair buses will be operating as well as park n rides from Priory Park and Humber Bridge carpark, details available here; East Yorkshire & Stagecoach.

Hull city centre is getting ready to rock with a free live music programme geared to pulling more people into the pubs and café bars.

HullBID is behind the Trinity Festival Rebooted Festival, which will present 80 free gigs in ten venues over two days at the end of this month.

Trinity Rebooted Festival has its roots in the HullBID Trinity Festival, which gave local bands the chance to play support slots to big-name headliners in a series of free outdoor gigs.

The new version takes the live performances into the bars across the city centre. From 2pm until 5.30pm on Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October, there will be eight performances a day in each venue.

Participating pubs in the New Town are the Hull Cheese and the Dram Shop. The six Old Town venues taking part are O’Leary’s, Telstar 2, Nanouk, Calla, Scale & Feather and Crown & Cushion. Venues in the Fruit Market are the Humber Dock Bar & Grill and Taphouse.

Trinity Rebooted Festival will also take place over the weekends of 25 November, 27 and 28 January and 30 and 31 March. It is being programmed by Mark Page and Daniel Mawer from the weekly Sesh night, Trinity Live and Humber Street Sesh.

HullBID is producing brochures detailing the venues and performers. HullBID is also distributing, posters, pop-up banners and media content and is organising event management including booking the acts and engineers.

Richard is Area Sales, Marketing & Events Manager at Advocate Group, which operates the Dram Shop, Hull Cheese and Humber Dock. He added “We’ll have 24 acts at our three venues over the two days and we’re looking forward to it because this is exactly what’s needed to bring people back into the city centre and back into the pubs.

“It’s great holding events in the public spaces during the summer and this builds on that by helping to get the customers in during the winter months. It will help us bring new people into the pubs and introduce them to new places.”

It is a huge day in footballing Sunday is the day the Lionesses take on Spain, the first time the ladies team have appeared in a world cup final!

The excitement is growing and our city centre is ready to come alive in support for the Lionesses.

There are so many amazing city centre businesses that are opening on Sunday to welcome you with a party atmosphere to show the game. You can find screens showing the match in:

Social in partnership with Back to Ours

Kicks (Book in Advance)

Yates (Book in Advance)

Admiral of the Humber

Three John Scott

Ebenezer Morley

The White Hart (Booking only)

Masters Bar

George Hotel

Humber Arena

Taphouse

Come on England – Its coming home!

School’s out for summer!

What better way to make the most of this sunny (or not so sunny) season, than by exploring an array of fun-filled events in Hull?

Whether you’re looking to go back in time, get crafty, or watch family favourites take the stage, Hull has it all this summer.

Check out our guide of fun filled events here SUMMER CALENDAR, print off a copy and get set for a a super summer!

For a summer full of fun… It Must Be Hull!

Hull Truck Theatre are looking forward to welcoming audiences this July with a variety of live entertainment, from wholesome family fun to start the summer holidays, through to laugh out loud comedy, a buzzing eclectic music programme and a public sharing of new work in progress.

Kicking of the July programme, young children from across the city will work together to share the story of William Shakespeare’s classic comedy, Twelfth Night (Tuesday 4 – Wednesday 5 July). The RSC Playmaking Festival is presented by Hull Truck Theatre and St Mary’s College with the aim of enhancing school children’s experiences of Shakespeare.

Ben Lancaster, Head of Performing Arts, St Mary’s College, said:

“Our collaboration with the RSC is a vital step in our mission to further support our students in their introduction to Shakespeare and live theatre. Our partnership with Hull Truck Theatre is very special to us, and one that I hope will continue and develop for years to come”.

For fans of the mighty Hercules, the adventures of Theseus and the Minotaur, and many other myths and legends, Timeless Tales (Saturday 8 July) will captivate audiences as Hull Truck’s Youth Theatre bring a fresh and exciting energy to these classics. Putting their own unique spin on these age-old stories, this production is a vibrant and dynamic re-imagining of classic stories that have passed down through generations.

Josie Lena Davies, Community & Learning Associate Director at Hull Truck Theatre said:

“Our Youth Theatre groups have collaborated this term on creating brand new versions of some of our oldest stories. Their fresh perspectives have added comedy and insight into these retellings, which should be equally thought-provoking and fun.”

First Thursday Theatre Club (Thursday 6 July) also returns for July. This monthly daytime session, designed and hosted by Hull Truck Theatre, is for adults of any age who are looking to sharpen their theatre skills. This session, using European plays, will give participants the opportunity to learn about translation and to test it out in practice. Each month’s the club will cover a different theatre topic ranging from performance techniques, approaches to theatre-making, playwriting and specific influential theatre artist’s work. Keep an eye on the website for future sessions and themes.

Fireman Sam Saves the Circus (Saturday 22 July) returns by popular demand in an all singing, all dancing, action-packed show. With low availability already for these two performances which fall on the first day of the school summer holidays, audiences are urged to get their tickets booked quickly to avoid disappointed. Family tickets available.

Nick Cope’s Family Show (Friday 28 July) is a one-hour acoustic, seated performance recommended for children aged 2+ and their families. Nick sings his uniquely crafted songs while playing his guitar, accompanied by a backdrop of animated projections. You can find Nick on CBeebies in Nick Cope’s Popcast.

Grow Season comes to a close in July having successfully showcased and supported an array of artists over the last three months. Making a welcome return to Hull Truck Theatre, Kevin Precious will take to the stage with The Reluctant Teacher, a funny overview of the pitfalls and pratfalls that go with his former profession of being a teacher. The show, Kevin Precious & Joe Wells (Double-Bill) (Thursday 13 July) will also include a performance from Joe Wells: King Of The Autistics, a stand-up act about representation, role models and the fight for autistic rights. Safer (Friday 28 July) is a contemporary drama inspired by a true story. It’s a hard hitting, tender and a funny exploration of the toxic side of team sports and how one new team decided to tackle it head on. A poignant and thought-provoking piece of work, presented on the eve of Hull Pride.

The Be Our Guest (Friday 14 July) residency programme will present three 30-minutes performances of new work in development as part of a sharing for the Grow Season finale. This is an exciting and unique opportunity to experience new work created by local talent, before anyone else. Jim Norris will present ‘No Scrap No Chips’ (working title), where brothers John and Colin are Rag and Bone men, collecting scrap using a horse and cart. Anastasiia Manina will present ‘Ask Stepan’ (working title), a verbatim piece, comprising of stories from Ukrainian women who came to Hull in 2022. The story will follow one Ukrainian woman and her bicycle Stepan. Laura Elsworthy and Morgan Sproxton will present ‘Good Girl’ (working title), an experimental piece of theatre created to challenge audiences’ perceptions of pole dancing and invoke discussion about what makes a working-class woman and particularly, a good one. Tickets for the sharing are now on sale for £10 and also include a pint and chips!

From new work to the more familiar, One Off Productions return to Hull Truck Theatre with their production of Spamalot (Tuesday 11 July – Sat 15 July). The award-winning musical, which enjoyed huge success on Broadway and in the West End will be a genuinely funny, laugh out loud production not to be missed – especially by Monty Python die-hard fans.

If laughter is what you are looking for then join us for the hilarious one-man show The Very Best of Tommy Cooper (Wednesday 26 July). Written by Danny Taylor, the show includes many of Cooper’s beloved one-liners, dazzling wordplay and celebrated tricks, including Glass/Bottle, Dappy Duck, Spot the Dog and Jar/Spoon.

For music fans, Rock For Heroes (Friday 21 July) is back! The show invites audiences to escape the 9 to 5 and sing, laugh and dance the night away whilst supporting the amazing ‘Help For Heroes’ charity. That weekend, you can also join the Alex Voysey Blues Band as they present Old Dogs New Tricks – A Blues Experience (Saturday 22 July) a highly entertaining travelogue through the Blues, from founding fathers such as BB King and Stevie Ray Vaughan through to current icons such as Joe Bonamassa, Joanne Shaw-Taylor and tracks from Alex’s own debut blues album released last year, ‘Head In A Blur’. If that is not enough, King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys will present Good Time Rhythm and Blues (Saturday 29 July). With nearly 7,000 performances across 27 countries under their belt in their 35 years on the road, they are more than just the world’s greatest jump, jive and swing band – they’re an institution!

Yorkshire Silent Film will present Metropolis (Silent Film) (Saturday 15 July). Brought to vivid life with an improvised piano soundtrack performed by Jonny Best, be transported into the future where it is 2026. In the high-tech city of the future, the rich enjoy a life of luxury while the poor are enslaved underground, in the city’s mechanical underbelly.

To mark Hull Pride (Saturday 29 July), Hull Independent Cinema’s Audience Choice Screening (Wednesday 26 July), will be a celebration of LGBTQ+ filmmakers, the stories they tell and the communities they represent on screen. From audience suggestions the shortlist of films include ‘But I’m A Cheerleader’ (1999), ‘Call Me By Your Name’ (2017), ‘Happy Together’ (1997) and ‘Tangerine’ (2015). The final film nominated by audiences will be announced shortly.

Samuel Sims, Trustee and Programmer at Hull Independent Cinema said:

“We are proud at Hull Independent Cinema to both be allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community. The arts are still heavily saturated with stories that don’t represent marginalised people, so we feel it is incredibly important to highlight them whenever possible – now, more than ever. Keep an eye on Hull Independent Cinema’s socials to find out how to take part and updates on an exciting pre-film event”.

For more information about Hull Truck Theatre and to buy tickets for any of the shows and opportunities taking place in July, find out more here.

Hull’s Time Ball has reclaimed the city’s skyline, situated on top of The Guildhall’s clock tower, 196ft (60m) above ground level.

It is just one of a small number still working in the country and one of the last remaining examples of this type of timekeeping in Britain.

Funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Time Ball and its significance has been saved for the city and its residents.

Restoration includes the Time Ball returning to full working order, renovating the clock tower as well as installing a new internal mechanism, maintaining history whilst adding a modern twist.

As well as the restoration, musician and Director of Music at Hull Minster, Mark Keith, worked with Year 4 classes at Oldfleet Primary school and at Priory Primary School, both members of Hull Museum’s Magical Museums membership scheme.

The two classes of children worked to create a new piece of music to be played on the Guildhall carillon.

Pupils created their original compositions on glockenspiels and these compositions have been combined to create the final piece that will be played on the Guildhall’s carillon bells.

This piece will be showcased at the Time Ball launch and at special events in the future.

Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “It is great to see the city’s Guildhall Time Ball in full working order again after over a century of not working.

“Residents can now learn about this nationally significant timepiece and the important role it played for sailors on the Humber.

“It is important to continue to tell the story of the Guildhall Time Ball and ensure this maritime story lives on for decades to come.”
Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s wonderful news that the Guildhall Time Ball, a timepiece of such great heritage significance has been restored to full working order.

“We’re thrilled that thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we have played a key role in keeping the story of this historic landmark alive and ensuring this unique aspect of Hull’s heritage can be enjoyed by future generations.”

Local contractor Hobson & Porter completed the restoration work.

Joe Booth, Business Development Director at Hobson & Porter, said: “The Time Ball is a very special part of Hull’s Maritime Project and the restoration of The Guildhall.

“To see it working again is hugely rewarding for the city as a whole and everyone involved in this intricate project.

“The feedback from both local people and Hull visitors passing the site has all been extremely positive, with people genuinely happy to see this famous landmark restored to its former glory, and it’s fantastic to see the Time Ball taking pride of place on the city’s skyline once more.”

The Time Ball was last in operation in 1922 and is a rare historic timepiece. It played a key role to help ship’s navigators tell the time on the Humber and River Hull by dropping at 1pm in the summer.

Hull’s Time Ball is the highest Time Ball in the UK and one of the last to be built. It is the only timepiece of its kind on a municipal building and one of only a few nationally.

Installed between April 1915 – November 1916, it is a very late example of this method of timekeeping.

The University of Hull is partnering with Team GB to launch family activity trails as part of a new project in Hull!

The activity trails are a way of getting people out and walking in their local outdoor nature spaces! But this isn’t an ordinary walk – on your route, you will find 13 Team GB signposts. Once you spot a post, use a smart phone to scan the QR code, and you will unlock a challenge to try out! That’s not all – You can also collect online badges for different Olympic sports! New activities will be added every week during the summer holiday – so make sure to keep using the trails!

To celebrate the start of the project, the University will be hosting a launch event in Victoria Dock Park on Saturday 24th June 2023 from 11am to 3pm!
Joining us at the event will be two gold-medal winning Team GB athletes: Rower Mohamed Sbihi and modern pentathlete Kate French!

Moe and Kate will lead a fun family warm up before heading out on the walking trail with you. Join us at 11am or 1pm to take part in the trail with the athletes.
Once you get back from the trail walk, Moe and Kate will be leading exercise challenges and will be around to take photos with you and your family. You can also take part in a Tiger’s Trust football challenge (11am to 1pm), get a free Team GB face paint, and enter a drawing competition to win Team GB prizes!

This is a great chance to get outside with your family and try out the new trails!

Click for more information:

If you are planning a weekend trip to Hull this is for you! Whether by cycle, car or train you’ll need somewhere to stay, places to see and shows to go to and most importantly, places to eat and drink. Firstly, you need somewhere to stay. If you haven’t yet decided where to stay, this is for you. Backpackers, serviced apartments, affordable hotels or staying in the lap of luxury, Hull has it all!

So you are coming to Hull to see one of our top theatre shows. Why not book for a pre-theatre dinner or drink?

If you are not having breakfast in your hotel, then this is a perfect opportunity for you to head down to the Marina and enjoy breakfast at one of our scrumptious independent eateries such as Thieving Harry’s or Nibble.

After breakfast, you can enjoy exhibitions at Humber Street Gallery or take a visit to Hull’s famous aquarium, The Deep.

If museums are your preference, head up to the Museums Quarter and enjoy free admission.

Feeling ready for a cup of freshly ground coffee or loose-leaf tea? Hull is blessed with an array of independent coffee and tea houses.

When you are ready for more sightseeing, head over to Trinity Square, where you will find the magnificent Hull Minster and enjoy the opportunity to join a Hull Minster Tower Tour, the perfect vantage point to see the best view of Hull’s skyline.

You now have options where to have lunch. You can enjoy a range of street food in Trinity Market and if the weather is kind, eat al fresco while watching the mirror pools in Trinity Square. Looking for something indoors? Then you are within five minutes walking distance of some of Hull’s cafe’s, bars and restaurants

If you are feeling particularly energetic, join Paul Schofield, an English Heritage Accredited Tour Guide, or one of his knowledgeable team and take a stroll around the historical streets of Hull and discover the city’s rich heritage and beautiful architecture. Perhaps you could take a leisurely stroll towards Queen Victoria Square to visit Ferens Art Gallery which hosts a magnificent collection of paintings and sculptures, including works by European Old Masters, portraiture, marine painting, and modern and contemporary British art.

You’ve probably now worked up a thirst for a glass of wine or a pre dinner cocktail! We have so many amazing bars in the city centre. Discover them all here!

You must now be ready to enjoy dinner. Depending on what you’re looking for, we have something for every taste from Fine Dining restaurants to Classic Pub food, authentic Italian, Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Spanish cuisine – you name it, we‘ve got it here! 

There are so many entertainment options for you within the city centre on an evening from  Live Music at Hull City Hall or the Connexin Live, to having your ribs tickled at the Comedy Lounge, see the latest blockbuster film or find your way out of an Escape Room. 

Finally, that well earned nightcap at The Lexington Rooftop Terrace or Skyfall Restaurant & Bar to enjoy the nightscape of the city for a relaxing end to the day.

If at any point you need more information, directions or free literature to make the most of your visit, drop-in to The Welcome Information Centre in Hull Paragon Interchange (open 10-4pm Mon- Sat) and the staff and volunteers will be more than happy to assist you. Alternatively, you can call us on 01482 228704.

For your next meeting, how about booking a venue with a spectacular view? Check out these stunning locations in Hull & East Yorkshire that can create an inspiring backdrop for your corporate event.

Bridlington Spa

There’s something magical about gazing out into vast open water, and the conference room at Bridlington Spa offers this exact experience. The floor to ceiling windows enables attendees to experience panoramic views of the North Sea, whilst enjoying the comfortable warmth of the well-equipped conference facilities.

Rise Hall

East Yorkshire is synonymous with beautiful countryside and Rise Hall is a perfect example of this. Set in 30 acres of private grounds and gardens, Rise Hall’s conference room feels like something straight out of Downtown Abbey yet remains modern and chic. This venue is perfect for those wanting an exclusive, luxurious countryside setting for their business event.

MKM Stadium

Calling all sports fans. MKM stadium is home to both Hull City Football Club and Hull FC and the Circle Bar at MKM Stadium has premium views of the magnificent pitch. This space also includes pitch side breakout spaces which will make your event both dynamic and memorable.

Country Park Inn

Often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, The Humber Bridge is one of the most iconic images associated with Hull. The Shoreline Suite at The Country Park Inn, is not only situated right beside it, but has stunning views of the incredible structure. It is said that bridges are symbolic of communication and union; a good sign that you will have a productive meeting.

The Manor Rooms

If you’re looking for a corporate event space with the wow-factor then The Manor Rooms could be exactly what you are looking for. It would be impossible not to fall in love with the breath-taking views across the rolling hills of the East Yorkshire Wolds. The event space opens onto a large terrace so guests can truly experience the grandeur of this location making your business event one to remember.

Hotham’s Distillery has launched a new Vodka School experience, taking guests on a journey to explore the art of vodka distilling, and to create their own uniquely flavoured vodka.

To celebrate the launch of Vodka School, Hotham’s are also introducing their latest edition of the popular Bodka spirit, Mango Bodka. Rich in delicious mango flavour, it’s a delicious addition to the existing Hotham’s line-up, and sure to delight vodka lovers with its natural sweetness and refreshing taste.

The launch of Vodka School comes after the successful launch of Rum School in 2022.

The Vodka School experience will be led by co-founders and distillers, Simon and Emma Pownall, who will guide guests through the process of selecting and distilling botanicals to create their personalised flavoured vodka. Participants will learn about the history and production of vodka and gain insights into the distilling process.

Throughout the experience, guests will have the opportunity to taste and smell a wide range of botanicals, including herbs, fruits and spices, each carefully selected for their unique flavours and aromas. They will be taught how to balance these botanicals to create a vodka with a perfect flavour profile profile. Guests will also have the opportunity to sample Hotham’s Orange Vodka, Original Bodka, and the brand new Mango Bodka.

“The Vodka School experience is the perfect opportunity for enthusiasts to get a behind-the-scenes look at the distillation
process, and to add a personalised flavoured vodka to their spirit cupboards,” said co-founder Emma.

“Our guests will learn how to flavour their vodka with a variety of botanicals, creating a flavour that is truly unique to them.”

The workshop will take place at Hotham’s Distillery, located at 55 Whitefriargate, where guests will experience the distillation process first-hand.

Hotham’s Vodka School experience promises to be an unforgettable afternoon for any vodka enthusiast.

To book the experience or to learn more about Hotham’s Distillery, visit the website: Click here

Over the Hull International Choir Competition, the streets were alive with the sound of music!

In April, Conference Hull welcomed Interkultur’s first International Choir Conference and it’s safe to say the event was a phenomenal success.

• 1000 delegates
• 27 choirs
• 10 nations
• 8 venues
• 2000 hotel room night stays
• 1 opening ceremony
• 9 competitions
• 1 Gala Concert
• 6 friendship concerts
• 69 volunteers who volunteered 373 man hours
• …and 1 spectacular closing ceremony

The team at Conference Hull worked closely with Interkultur to make all aspects of this event successful. The Conference Hull team coordinated site visits, liaised and booked multiple venues and locations, arranged accommodation for all visiting delegates, created an array of marketing materials and city dressing, coordinated volunteers and a whole host of other added extras to make sure the choir competition had that special Hull touch.

The Trophies

Conference Hull approached a collection of local artists and tasked them with creating trophies to reflect Hull and its heritage. 9 trophies were collaboratively handmade by 3 artists, each one as unique and spectacular as the choir they were awarded to. The designs were inspired by Hull’s rich maritime history and reflected the overseas journey necessary for many of the choirs. Interkultur were overwhelmed with the uniqueness and attention to detail of the trophies.

A Warm Welcome

It is noted by locals that one of the most successful things to come out of Hull being City of Culture in 2017 was the HEY Volunteer Programme. The programme allows local residents to volunteer at a variety of events to help provide extra support in a range of different capacities. HEY Volunteers acted as ‘hosts’ for the choirs across the weekend, guiding the around the city, answering their questions about the region and becoming their biggest supporters. Having these dedicated volunteers not only helped choirs to arrive to their venues on time but also encouraged them to explore further in Hull, visit local attractions and fall in love with our city. The bonds created between the choirs and the volunteers were incredible (the last day was very emotional) highlighting just how special our HEY Volunteers really are.

City Dressing

The streets of Hull were awash with green and white as the Conference Hull team worked hard to not only advertise the weekend to local residents but also to make our visitors feel truly welcomed. Banners, posters and leaflets were created plus the extra special feature of lighting up the city centre buildings in green and blue to reflect the competition’s branding colours.

The team at Conference Hull look forward to welcoming back Interkultur and Hull’s 2^nd International Choir Competition in 2025!

With the summer almost upon us, keeping the kids entertained isn’t always easy.

Add in the fact that days out can be expensive and that the nation is in the middle of a cost of living crisis, it could make life difficult for some families.

To help ease those worries, we’ve compiled a list of just some of the many FREE activities and places to visit with the family and to keep everyone entertained.

Museums & Galleries:

Learn about our city’s history and heritage in one of Hull’s museums, starting in the Museums Quarter work.

Climb aboard at the Streetlife Museum of Transport and enjoy all the sights, sounds and smells of the past, experience 200 years of transport history as you walk down a 1940’s high street, board a tram or enjoy the pleasures of our carriage ride.

At the Hull and East Riding Museum, you can journey through 235 million years of history. From a face-to-face encounter with a woolly mammoth to appreciating the beauty of the stunning mosaics within a Roman bathhouse, the museum displays show what it would have been like to live in the region throughout time.

Celebrate the legacy of Hull’s most famous son William Wilberforce (MP and champion of the abolitionist movement) at his birthplace Wilberforce House. The Grade I listed building has recently re-opened following major conservation work.

Ferens Art Gallery has a magnificent collection of paintings and sculptures, including works by European Old Masters, portraiture, marine painting, and modern and contemporary British art. This summer enjoy the Open Exhibition which has celebrated the creativity of local amateur and professional artists since 1967. Each year the Open Exhibition provides an exciting opportunity for artists to display and sell artwork. The Young Artists Open Exhibition is a brilliant opportunity to champion the young artistic spirit of the region. Every year there is a huge variety of work, from paintings and drawings, to pastels, collage, and prints. Both exhibitions can be seen between 28th June – 22nd September.

Parks:

Hull has an abundance of beautiful parks and green spaces. Fun galore can be found at all the parks throughout the city, including;

East Park
There is something for everyone in East Park from a children’s water play area to enjoying a game of bowls, banging and bashing with a selection of musical instruments made from reclaimed materials to riding the Splash Boat and Swan Boats. Take a well earned break at the Central Pavillion Café before visiting the free outdoor gym then rounding off your day at the Animal Education Centre.

West Park
West Park, next to the MKM Stadium, features a wildlife aviary, a children’s playground, outdoor gym, skatepark and outdoor table tennis as well as wide open green spaces. Other facilities include three bowling greens, a model railway and a paddling pool (open during the summer holidays).

Pickering Park
Come and join the fun at Pickering Park, home to a fishing lake, playgrounds, outdoor gym and a paddling pool (open during the summer). The park also has beautiful ornamental gardens and a wildlife pond. The Aviary is now open and a must see with collections of African birds, small mammals such as meerkats, porcupines and reptiles including tortoises.

Pearson Park
As the first public park in Hull, Pearson Park is a key part of the city’s heritage and still retains many of its historic features including the original perimeter carriage drive, a serpentine lake and seven Grade 2 listed structures. Not only is Pearson Park one of our most beautiful parks in the city, but it is also a great location to get active. With an outdoor gym on the park grounds, as well as the paths and carriage road acting as simple routes for jogging and running, Pearson Park meets all your fitness needs helping you to stay active and stay healthy while enjoying the outdoors.

Trails and Walks:

Explore our rich maritime history with a guided tour of the city centre on a Maritime City Guided Walk, a group of dedicated volunteers who are accredited White Badge tours guides are offering guided tours for you to learn more about Hull and how the city has been shaped by its past, present and future. The tours will take place every Thursday and Saturday at 10.30am. Walks also take place on a Sunday at 11.30am and 1.30pm.

Why not pick up a copy of one of our many trails, in person (or download here) from the Welcome Information Centre at Paragon Interchange, including The Fish Trail, which weaves its way through Hull’s Old Town – simply find the 41 fish in the pavements, from the Warty Doris and Lumpsucker, to the wonderful Brill – don’t forget to collect your certificate when you’ve found them all!

FREE children’s activities with Healthy Holidays Hull

Welcome to Healthy Holidays Summer 2024 programme! Here you can find details of the many activities taking place in Hull during the children’s summer holidays. You can search by area; North, East and West or by SEND (special educational need and/or disability) or by the people delivering the sessions.

The programme is open to every child living in Hull, including children who are refugees or asylum seekers. You do not need to be eligible for free school meals to attend. Any food provided at a Healthy Holidays activity is in addition to holiday food vouchers provided to those who do receive free school meals.

Special Events This Summer

*Medieval Mayhem at The Museum Quarter: Enjoy a weekend of medieval merriment and mayhem for all the family, as the Museums Quarter is transformed into a medieval encampment. Come face-to-face with knights in armour, a unit of archers, medieval residents, craftspeople and musicians.

*Pride In Hull in Hull City Centre: This year Pride in Hull we stretch across the city centre with music performers, street food and family area in Queen Victoria Square and Zebedees Yard.

*Zebfest in Zebedee’s Yard: Catch a free exclusive festival for 11 – 16 year olds, with an assortment of awesome activities such as pizza making, live bands, tiktok filming, silent disco, smoothie bar and more.

*Dino Day in Queen Victoria Square: Dino Day will take place on Friday 9th August at Queen Victoria Square. The event will be packed full of activities and exhibits. Visitors will have the chance to get up close and personal with a giant T-Rex, velociraptor, spinosaurus, baby dinosaurs and comedy cavemen in their cave kart. Activities also include free face painting, a colouring competition with dinosaur prizes, exhibits from Dinostar, and a putting game from Lost City Adventure Golf!

*Freedom Festival in Hull City Centre: Freedom Festival is Hull’s award-winning international arts festival. From epic spectaculars unfolding in the city centre to intimate moments where audiences and artists meet, we present thought-provoking, playful, and powerful performances in public spaces that address the world we live in.

There is something for everyone, have a wonderful time!