And finally… Hull lotta love
National Geographic has named Hull one of the top 25 global destinations to visit in 2026, praising its proud maritime heritage, cultural renaissance, and ‘defiant spirit’ as the city’s regeneration continues to make waves.
Correctly describing Hull as underrated, it features in sixth place and is the only UK city to make the list.
The Best of the World focuses on locations that offer unique an meaningful travel experiences, with the city’s 800-year maritime history and the ongoing transformation of key cultural sites cited as the main reasons for Hull to be selected.
This includes the Hull Maritime Museum, which has been renovated by Purcell and will house the Arctic Corsair, Hull’s last surviving deep-sea trawler; Wykeland’s reimagined Fruit Market area; and the city’s new Maritime Heritage Trail.
Also of note was Hull’s ‘laid-back charm’, particularly around the historic streets and the waterfront areas.
Cllr Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “To be named by National Geographic as one of the best places in the world to visit is a huge honour for Hull and a powerful recognition of how far our city has come.
“Hull has always had a proud story to tell, rooted in our maritime heritage, our resilience, and our creativity.
“This accolade shines a global spotlight on the incredible work happening across the city, from the transformation of our museums and historic ships to the regeneration of our public spaces and Hull Marina.
“It’s a testament to the passion and dedication of our communities, cultural partners, and everyone working to make Hull a place people want to visit, explore, and return to.
“We’re proud of our past, but even more excited about our future and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to Hull in 2026 and beyond.”
The list in full:
- Dolomites, Italy
- Northern Québec, Canada
- Beijing, China
- Dominica
- Rabat, Morocco
- Hull, United Kingdom
- Black Sea Coast, Türkiye
- Khiva, Uzbekistan
- Akagera National Park, Rwanda
- Vancouver, Canada
- Yamagata / Tōhoku Region, Japan
- Route 66, USA
- Uluru–Kata Tjuṯa National Park, Australia
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Dongseo Trail, South Korea
- Basque Country, Spain
- Maui, Hawai‘i, USA
- Pittsburgh, USA
- Costa Chica, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Fiji
- Banff, Canada
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Tasmania, Australia
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
Highway to Hull
By Anonymous