Hull is renowned for its history surrounding the fishing industry. The trawlers brought large quantities of cod and haddock into the docks through the North Sea. Signs of this can be seen around the city through architecture or the Town Docks Museum. A fish trail can lead you around the most important sights.
Fishing aside, Hull was the birthplace of William Wilberforce, famous for his seat in parliament which led to the abolition of the slave trade and of Amy Johnson, the first female to fly solo from Britain to Australia.
This city has been given a new modern feel to it over the past year as the UK’s City of Culture.
A year ago, preparations were underway. The centre referred to as the sea of orange from barriers surrounding refurbishments was putting doubt in peoples’ minds that the city could live up to such a status. This changed to the sea of blue when Spencer Tunick’s nude artwork was unveiled.
Hull hosts annual events such as the Sea Shanty and Freedom Festivals or the Humber Street Sesh. In 2017 this expanded as large as the Radio One Big Weekend headlined by artists including Rita Ora.
The city has grown a lot of musical talent over the years, most locally famous, The Beautiful South, however even Davis Bowie’s lead guitarist Mick Ronson is from here.
Theatres, bands and sports all play an active part in the lives of Hull’s residents. They boast two rugby super league teams, a top football team and an ice hockey team.
Hull is also home to many parks and gardens. Queen’s Gardens is the most central whilst East Park is the largest, covering 120 acres. It’s the perfect place to see animals, feed squirrels or ducks, enjoy a picnic and see, if not ride the boating lake’s iconic splash boat, built in 1929.
It’s important to try the local pattie and chips with chip spice, some ale trail pints, a treat in the gin distillery or a shooter in the Bourbon craft bar.
As the Turner Prize exhibition nears the end, Hull really has, as stated in the bid, ‘Come out of the Shadows’.
