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Where the bustling city of Hull meets market towns and captivating coastal areas: Absolutely explores East Yorkshire

By HOLLY PHILLIPS

The East Riding of Yorkshire comprises market towns, coastal areas and the city of Hull, meaning that the ceremonial county really has it all. The peaceful personality of the towns and coastal areas complement the bustling nature of Hull. With the privilege of open spaces, active wildlife and the coast, East Yorkshire acts as a perfect location for a day trip, a weekend getaway or a summer holiday. It really is the ideal place to experience the natural beauty of Yorkshire.

The dog-friendly location of East Yorkshire has many hidden gems. Flamborough Lighthouse is one of them.

Being an active lighthouse, it acts as a stopping place for coastal tra c, o ering breath-taking views over Bridlington Bay. Danes Dyke is also a beautiful location, with lovely walking routes and scenery. Alongside the hidden gems of the coastal towns of East Yorkshire, such as Bridlington, Hornsea and Withernsea, the area also thrives in the market town field. Some of East Yorkshire’s best markets are Dri eld Market, Skirlington Market and Cottingham Market.

The city of Hull is also full of character. Being a previous winner of the UK’s City of Culture in 2017 and the fourth largest city in the Yorkshire and Humber region, it has a lot to o er. From festivals and comedy, to aquariums and vodka schools (cheers), you will never fall short of options for entertaining activities. As well as being home to Hull Minister, Hull Old Town, the Humber Bridge and its very own university, Hull has an impressive marina, providing a warm and peaceful ambiance, balancing out the city’s lively atmosphere.

Arts, culture and nature

When it comes to art galleries, museums and stately homes, East Yorkshire isn’t lacking. Hull, predominantly, possesses the most favoured art galleries and museums. One of Hull’s top artistic spots is Ferens Art Gallery. The gallery hosts many exhibitions and events throughout the year that usually fall in line with the gallery’s current theme, which, at the time of writing, is Ancient Egypt.

Hull also has a range of wonderful and unique museums, the Streetlife Museum of Transport being one of the city’s most popular. This museum takes you back in time and showcases over 200 years of transport, all whilst riding on a tram through a 1940s high street. You’ll learn about all the various types of travel, ranging from bicycles, railways, carriages and cars. The museum requires no booking and admission is free, so it provides a great spontaneous activity whilst visiting Hull.

Neighbouring the Streetlife Museum of Transport is the Wilberforce House Museum, the birthplace of William Wilberforce, the influential campaigner against the slave trade. Thus, the museum is dedicated to the history of the slave trade and its abolition. It displays Wilberforce’s diaries, journals and belongings. The museum also touches upon contemporary slavery and how it's dealt with, as well as showcasing West African culture in its gallery.

As well as having a range of museums and galleries, East Yorkshire has many stately homes and famous gardens to explore. Some of the most impressive being Sewerby Hall, Burton Constable Hall, Burton Agnes Hall, and Wassand Hall. These incredible houses are surrounded by exquisite gardens and stunning scenery, providing a perfect way to spend a couple hours of your day. As well as spending your afternoon exploring a stately home, there are also many nature reserves spread around East Yorkshire to visit. In Beverley, there is Keldmarsh Nature Reserve and Pulfin Bog Nature Reserve; in Hull, Pearson Park Wildlife Garden is a lovely destination, and Skerne Wetlands Nature Reserve, in Dri eld, is splendid too.

Out of this world activities

One thing about East Yorkshire is that it o ers a range of unique activities and attractions to enjoy, one of which being The Deep. The fun-filled aquarium attracts visitors from all around the country and hosts events such as H20 Heroes, Tranquil Tuesdays and Silver Sharks. Being a conservation aquarium, it makes no profit and allows visitors to sponsor animals, such as turtles or sharks. If you’re looking for an interesting, unique venue for your meetings, product launches, school visits or corporate ventures, The Deep has options available to suit all. Another animal-packed activity is Spurn Safari. Whilst embarking on a journey across the landscape in a Unimog, an ex-military 4x4, you’ll be able to witness incredible scenery and examine the wildlife and habitats of the National Nature Reserve. The highlight of the three-hour long journey has to be the visit to Northern England’s tallest lighthouse. An experience not to miss. Providing a similar experience is Highland cow trekking. It runs throughout the year, from March until December, and is one of the best, and most unique animal activities in East Yorkshire. At Dumble Farms, a family run conservation, not only can you go trekking with Highland cows, but you can enjoy this whilst riding around on a tractor and learning all about the cows and calves in their natural habitat.

Something alternative to the animalpacked activities that East Yorkshire provides is a trip to Hotham’s Distillery, an experience that never disappoints. After the recent launch of their Rum School in 2022, they decided to launch a Vodka School, which includes creating your own flavour of vodka, exploring vodka distilling and learning about the history and production of vodka. This experience would be a unique gift, or just a great way to spend a night out with friends.

Festivals, music and comedy

East Yorkshire, and more specifically Hull, is also known for its entertainment scene. Especially popular for its comedy culture, the Bonus Arena in Hull regularly welcomes well-known comedians, such as Jimmy Carr, Sarah Millican, Jack Whitehall and Ian Stirling. Up-and-coming comedians also have a chance to crack the audience at the Comedy Lounge for Saturday Night Live every Saturday. Additionally, the city hosts many musical experiences, from tribute acts to regular open mic nights. When it comes to festivals, East Yorkshire thrives, hosting many throughout the year. Award-winning international arts festival, Freedom Festival, takes place in Hull city centre from 30 August-3 September, flaunting powerful performances and installations. Tribfest is another local favourite, taking place on the 18-20 August at Sledmere House. As well as winning best ‘Contribution to the East Riding’ at the Hull Live 2021 Business Awards, it doesn’t fall short of entertainment. With tribute bands and a silent disco, it has something to keep everyone of all ages busy. Another multi-award-winning festival is that of the Humber Street Sesh. It is one of Hull’s biggest and best festivals, seeing over 1,800 attendees last year. This year is its 10th anniversary and is set to be the best yet, including a skate park, a Beats Bus, a silent disco and lots more.

A lovely Craft Fair is set to take place on the 27 August at Burton Constable Hall, 10 miles from Hull city centre. It is free and family friendly, but admission can be extended to the beautiful hall, stables and ground for a small fee.

Comedian, Hayley Ellis, takes the stage at SOCIAL with her brand new show ‘Hayley’s Comic’ after her sell out tour last year. Previously supporting Sarah Millican, Ellie Taylor and Jason Manford, you will be guaranteed an evening of laughs.

What’s The Tea afternoon tea party hosted by drag queen, Heather Phetish, comes to Hull. It will take place at the rooftop bar at Humber Street Gallery on 26 August from 3pm. Enjoy an afternoon of bottomless prosecco, a spread of delicious food and amazing entertainment.

A history talk with Paul Schofield takes place at Chilli Devils at The New Clarence on the 13 August from 7pm. It’s just £9 for a ticket and it includes a two-course meal at a discounted price.

Head over to Beverley Racecourse for a Family Fun Day on 27 August for an afternoon of racing, fun and food. There is something for everyone.