Hull, a city long the butt of jokes and once labelled the UK's worst place to live in a 2003 book, has been named one of the best places in the world to travel to in 2026 by National Geographic. It is the only UK destination to make the list.
The recognition follows significant revitalisation over the past decade, including the transformation of warehouses around Humber Street's Fruit Market into independent bars, restaurants, and galleries. The city also boasts Stage@TheDock, a performance amphitheatre overlooking the River Hull, and The Deep, one of the UK's most respected aquariums.
A £40 million project to promote Hull's maritime heritage is set to wrap up next year, introducing a network of interpretation sites, a visitors centre at North End Shipyard, and two museum ships – the 1960s Arctic Corsair trawler and the Spurn lightship. A new Maritime Heritage Trail winds through the Georgian Old Town, featuring green spaces and public art inspired by the sea.
Samantha Teasdale of the Express visited this summer and was pleasantly surprised. 'Despite its notorious reputation as the worst place to live, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the charm of Hull,' she wrote, noting the lively streets, pride flags, and bustling marina with its cafes and restaurants.
Teasdale concluded that Hull is often misunderstood and striving to reinvent itself. 'I'm eager to return,' she added. National Geographic writer Lorna Parkes highlighted the city's history as a whaling and fishing hub and its recent revitalisation, calling it a worthy destination.
