Overview 

The beating heart of Hull is one of the north’s most desirable places to live. Hull’s history lies all around the city, whether it's Ye Olde White Harte of 1550 or Hull Minster built in the 13th century. Hull Central is a place of culture and learning where you can soak in the beauty of the Queen’s gardens, enjoy Hull’s many festivals, explore the Streetlife museum, or visit the most spectacular aquarium, The Deep. Many of Hull’s restaurants have stunning views over the Humber, making your dining experience one to remember. Pop down to the Paragon Arcade and spend time in the vintage clothing stores or explore St Stephen’s and The Princess Quay shopping centres. Whether you’re a professional, a student, or a first-time buyer, Central Hull offers the pinnacle of modern living, being culturally rich, historical, and surrounded by fresh air from the harbour.

History of Central Hull

Hull was founded in the 12th century and first mentioned in 1193 as Wyke on Hull. Only when King Edward II acquired Hull did the name change to Kingston, meaning ‘King’s town.’ In Medieval Hull, the main export was wool to countries we now know as Holland and Belgium. The most significant import into Hull was wine, reserved for the upper classes. Many fishermen were around at the time who sailed to the icy waters of Iceland.

By the 18th century, many whalers operated in Hull, hunting for blubber, which they melted to make oil. In 1779, the port became so busy that a dock was built so that ships could make return trips to unload and load cargo. The whaling industry eventually came to an end, but by the 19th century, fishing and shipbuilding boomed. By 1929, the boundaries of Hull extended to include Anlaby and Sutton, and the Humber Bridge opened in 1981.

Property Types in Central Hull

Near Hull's centre, there are plenty of properties to suit young professionals with easy access to the city and its vibrant nightlife. There are also countless properties suitable for families and first-time buyers. On Queen Street, newly built townhouses encompassing traditional and contemporary architecture are next to local boutiques, coffee shops and artisan bakeries. In Hull’s historic Old Town, there are 3 bedroom terraces and 2 bedroom apartments, and further south, studio apartments with marina views.

The quieter cul-de-sacs like Stable Walk are the location for detached homes for first-time family buyers, and Riley Way has modern detached family homes. Situated on Woldcarr Road, just off Anlaby Road, there are 3 bedroom semi-detached properties among shops, pubs, bars, and good schools. Hawthorne Avenue is the location for spacious homes with contemporary style and 2 bedroom detached coach house style properties. These are affordable and perfect for those just starting on the property ladder. On Albert Avenue, you’ll be greeted by 3 storeys high, Victorian terraces with extensive rear gardens and terraced homes on Mayfield Street near the University of Hull and local schools.

Schools and Colleges in Central Hull

Central Hull has two outstanding primary schools as rated by Ofsted, including The Sullivan Centre that teaches ages 7 to 16. The highly rated Ron Dearing UTC opened in 2017, specialising in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths. There is a range of independent schools and local colleges for further education.

Nursery and Pre-Schools

  • Busy Bees Day Nursery at Hull - Outstanding
  • Springboard Nursery Hull - Good
  • Queens Gardens Childcare Centre - Good
  • The Octagon Nursery - Good
  • Panda Nursery at Marvell House - Good

Primary Schools

  • Newington Academy - Outstanding
  • Collingwood Primary School - Outstanding
  • The Sullivan Centre - Outstanding
  • St George’s Primary School - Good
  • Wheeler Primary School - Good

Secondary Schools

  • Ron Dearing UTC - Outstanding
  • Hull Trinity House Academy - Good
  • Rise Academy - Good
  • The Boulevard Academy - Requires Improvement

Independent Schools

  • TLG Hull
  • Hymers College
  • Froebel House School
  • Tranby School
  • Hessle Mount School

 Local Colleges and Universities

  • Hull College
  • East Riding College
  • Wyke Sixth Form College
  • St Mary’s College Hull
  • Wilberforce College
  • University of Hull
  • University of York

Things to do in Central Hull and the Surrounding Area

The Deep

One of the most spectacular aquariums worldwide, The Deep has won numerous awards over the years and is home to sharks, penguins, swordfish and more. The eye-catching design of the building, which overlooks the Humber, was created by the celebrated architect Sir Terry Farrell.

MKM Stadium

The MKM Stadium is a 25,000 capacity, multi-purpose facility at the heart of Hull with plenty of parking in nearby Walton Street. The stadium is friendly and welcoming, with plenty of staff on hand to lessen queue times. 

Streetlife Museum

The Streetlife Museum is a free museum where you can immerse yourself in the sounds, sights and smells of the past. Here you can discover the unique collections of early transport, including horse-drawn carts and the earliest motor cars. The museum covers 200 years of transport history and has recreations of a 1940’s high street and a carriage ride.

Hull Minster

In the heart of Hull’s Old Town lies Hull Minster. Built in around 1285 and a Grade 1 listed building, it was built with the patronage of Edward I. The minster has the sixth largest organ in the country, built in the 1700s, and unique hand-carved oak pew ends from medieval times.

Dinostar

Come down to Humber Street and be blown away by the interactive dinosaur exhibits at this exciting, interactive museum. You’ll see Tyrannosaurus Rex skulls, touch dinosaur bones, and there’s a sandbox where you can build a volcano.

Queen’s Gardens

Take a leisurely walk and soak in the beauty of the Queens Gardens, Hull’s original first dock that transformed into gardens in 1930. The gardens consist of ponds, trees, and fountains, and recently hosted popular events within Hull, including the Freedom Festival.

Rockcity Climbing

On Hawthorne Avenue, Rockcity Climbing is a place for fitness and fun under its all-weather complex. There is an arena for skateboarding and BMXing. For guests, safety here is paramount, with padded mats and helpful, friendly staff on hand.

Funstation Hull 

At the St Stephen’s Shopping Centre, Funstation Hull is a family entertainment venue packed with carnival games, laser tag, bowling, and more. The centre has the latest gaming technology where you can get lost in your favourite games and win prizes.

Putt Club Crazy Golf Hull

This motorsport themed crazy golf is a whirlwind adventure 9-hole indoor golf course. Crazy golf is always fun, but this course has a twist, with interactive and challenging holes.

Withernsea Beach

Hull’s easy access to the A1033 makes getting to Withernsea by car simple. At Withernsea, the beach is sand and shingle and stretches for miles in both directions. This old seaside resort has a recently created promenade, a lighthouse and museum, and the Pier Towers mark the spot of the 19th-century pier.

Shopping and Leisure in Central Hull

Shopping

The Princess Quay shopping centre along the waterfront is host to various speciality shops and well-known retailers like Primark, River Island and Next. Beaverbrooks Jewellery Store, Pavers Shoes, MenKind gift shop and others are located here. The Prospect Shopping Centre has over 40 fashion shops and a food court, and the Paragon Arcade on Paragon Street supports local independent businesses, including vintage clothing in its indoor market. Near the centre, there is a Sainsbury’s Local, Iceland, Tesco Express and smaller convenience stores, while Beverley Road is the location for Asda. St Stephen’s Shopping Centre is varied with its stores, including a TK Maxx and JD Sports, and Hepworth’s Arcade has Beasley’s clothing shop with great retro underground clothing, J.E. Books, and plenty of unique gift shops.

Restaurants

The choice of restaurants in Central Hull is astounding, with many restaurants having beautiful views over the Humber. Restaurants to visit include Al Porto Italian, a modern bar and dining experience offering traditional dishes, Ambiente Tapas with its welcoming staff and great food, and for fresh seafood and giant king prawns, the Humber Fish Co. is the place to eat. For the best steaks in the city, cooked to perfection, try the Lantern Restaurant or The Hispanist for delicious tapas. Hitchcocks vegetarian restaurant has eclectic global cuisine, and Viet Memories is a laid-back place for Vietnamese noodle bowls and sandwiches. Over on Anlaby Road, The Madras Restaurant has a team cooking the tastiest Indian food, and Asi Barbecue Restaurant on Walton Street prepare their barbecue delights in front of their customers.

Pubs and Clubs

The number of pubs, bars and clubs in central Hull is endless, with open mic nights at The Albion Pub, pool nights at The Country Traditional Pub, and Clarendon Pub House with its 60s and 70s music. The Brickmakers Arms has been renovated to include a restaurant and bar, and there is excellent value beer at The Dairycoates Inn. An excellent local pub on Hessle Road is The Rayners. Towards the city centre, there are many popular nightclubs like ATIK, Tower Hull, and The Welly, and The Mission Pub is an historic building with a secluded area and dance floor. Ye Olde White Harte was built in 1550 and still contains ancient fireplaces and a human skull! The Manchester Arms is a friendly back street pub, and The Minerva overlooks the Humber and is a Victorian time capsule. For live sports and outdoor seating, Chilli Devil’s @ The New Clarence is for you, and The Brain Jar is always buzzing with the best cocktails in the city.

Cinema and Theatre

There is a choice of three cinemas in central Hull, including the ODEON Luxe at Kingston Retail Park, a Vue Cinema on Princes Dock Street, and the Reel Cinema at St Stephen’s. All show the latest films. Stage@TheDock is a 350-seater amphitheatre for artists and creators, including Shakespearean performances. The Hull Truck Theatre is a creative touring theatre, and The Hull New Theatre is a grand, breathtaking building dating from the 1930s, staging operas, musicals, ballet, and drama.

Gym and Health

There are plenty of different avenues you can take towards fitness in central Hull with the Planet Gym packed with equipment, Coolhands Fit24 Central that you can access 24/7, and CitygroupX, with its range of classes including some which take place on the roof of the building. There are independent gyms such as Physique Health and Fitness Club, which is family-run and offers one-to-one training, and the Bodyworld Gym is a pay as you go experience. Try something new at Aerial Yoga and Fitness or St Pauls Amateur Boxing Club with its top coaches and facilities. There is a Table Tennis Club on Walkers Street, and on Charlotte Street is the Hull Thunder Volleyball Club. At St Stephen’s Shopping Centre, Gravity Trampoline Park is available for a fun workout.

Golf Clubs 

There are plenty of golf clubs in and around Hull, but the nearest to central Hull are Springhead Park Golf Club and Sutton Park Golf Club. Springhead Park Golf Club was established as a parkland course in 1930 and is known for its undulating fairways, numerous trees, ponds, and ditches, making for a challenging yet enjoyable course. At Sutton Park, the course is carved out of mature woodland and is one of the region’s finest courses – an 18-hole, par 72, covering 2,310 yards.

Other Entertainment

The entertainment doesn’t stop there! The Hull Ice Arena offers skating sessions and Junior Disco Skate sessions for the kids. The Hull Waterside and Marina is unmissable, with a contemporary, buzzing atmosphere of shops as you watch the boats sail back and forth. The Humber Street Gallery hosts yearly exhibitions programmes and events, and Ferens Art Gallery has magnificent sculptures, paintings from old European masters, marine paintings, and contemporary art. The Superbowl caters to all levels of abilities and has 12 modern lanes.

Travel Connections

 Central Hull has a range of transport options on its doorstep, with the Hull Paragon Interchange reaching destinations including Manchester and London. It has never been easier to take a trip to the coast or reach nearby airports with access onto main A roads and the M62. Not only that, but there is also a ferry service at Hull docks and buses that allow you to explore Hull in its entirety.

Train The Hull Paragon Interchange at Hull’s city centre has four train services to Beverley, Sheffield, York, Halifax, Bridlington, Manchester Piccadilly, London Kings Cross and more.

Road Hull central has access to major A roads, including the A1033 to Withernsea, the A165 to Scarborough, and the A1079 to York. The A63 that runs through the south of Hull merges onto the M62 for driving access to major northern cities like Leeds.

Air Over the Humber Bridge, Humberside Airport is the closest airport and can be reached in under 40 minutes. The Doncaster Sheffield Airport takes just over one hour, and the Leeds Bradford Airport just over one hour and 30 minutes via the M62. 

Ferry At King George Dock, P&O Ferries Hull has an overnight ferry service to Holland.

Bus Buses travel all over Hull. Ride from Sutton Ings, Bransholme and Kingswood or catch the 24 to The Avenues in West Hull. The number 1 and 2 are Boothferry buses. The 57 and 66 go to Hessle town, the 154 and 63 to Cottingham village, and the 24 travels to Hornsea.

5 quirky facts!

  1. Hull Fair is the city’s biggest tradition and is opened by the Lord Mayor of Hull every year.
  2. William Wilberforce, the famous abolitionist, grew up on Hull High Street and was baptised in what’s now known as Hull Minster.
  3. The George Hotel, Hull claims to have the smallest window in England!
  4. A plaque in the Queen’s Gardens of Hull commemorates the Queen’s Dock of Hull, which is the fictional place Robinson Crusoe sailed from.
  5. Hull’s Old Town was featured and took centre stage in The Personal History of David Copperfield film.

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