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 21st July – 1st October.
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 2023 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
*Back to Life Festival at Hull Minster and Trinity Square (: Travel back in time as actors portray the people of our monuments, telling their amazing and quirky stories throughout the day. With stories for all ages, there will be something to learn for all the family!
*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.
*Telling Tales Of Tudor Hull at South Blockhouse: Nearly 500 years ago Hull was so important that King Henry VIII visited the place twice and commanded that new defences be built on the east bank of the River Hull. Meet at the site of South Blockhouse to get creative and help tell the amazing story of Tudor Learn about the stories behind the South Blockhouse, handle real artefacts from the site, ind out more about Hull’s maritime past, make your own model sailing boat and test its seaworthiness in the drainpipe channel challenge and even have a taste of Tudor food!
*Dino Day in Queen Victoria Square: Dino Day will take place on Friday 4th 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!
