Exploring East Yorkshire
Following an extensive re-generation scheme in Hull and other major towns, the East Riding of Yorkshire has emerged as a popular tourist destination to rival York and the Yorkshire Dales. Carrie Drage visits the area to find out what’s in store for groups.
Whether you are after a relaxing seaside outing, an active city break or a trip to the landscapes that inspired the artist David Hockney, the East Riding of Yorkshire has it all. Its major city, Hull, has undergone somewhat of a renaissance in recent years, having transformed from a declining fishing community into a thriving 21st-century port and group-friendly destination. This regeneration is set to continue in the forseeable future with new retail, leisure and residential developments already underway in many areas of the city.
Heaps to do in Hull
The city of Hull is located on the banks of the River Hull – at the point where it joins the River Humber – and is perhaps best known for its iconic Humber Bridge, which is still one of the largest single-span suspension bridges in the world.
Hull has a long history as one of the UK’s most important ports, with it growing into a city in the 18th century when the first docks were built. Sadly, during World War II, it was one of the most heavily bombed UK cities after London. Although much of the area was destroyed, the Old Town escaped the bombings and has a past that should definitely be explored on a visit to the city.
The best way for your group to familiarise themselves with the city’s history and streets is to take a guided tour. A ‘Hull Shop Ahoy!’ package is offered to groups, which combines morning coffee, a 90-minute guided tour of the city and lunch. A choice of six main guided tours are available, both walking and coach tours; however, tours can also be tailor-made to suit the requirements of individual groups. Options include ‘Walking with Wilberforce’, ‘The Original Shop Ahoy!’, ‘The Hull Tapestry and Guildhall Tour’, a ‘Green City’ tour and ‘The Ale Trail’, a self-guided tour which leads you around 30 historic Old Town pubs! ‘A Fish Called Umber’ and ‘A Place for Reflection’, meanwhile, are two more unusual tours. ‘A Fish Called Umber’ is a walking tour that follows a trail of 41 plaques of fish – set in the city’s pavements – that lead you past Hull’s major sightseeing attractions. Alternatively, ‘A Place for Reflection’ is a coach tour that takes you to three of the city’s churches.
Most walking tours depart from Hull Tourist Information Centre, situated at City Hall.
The first stop for many groups will be the Beverley Gate, which was the site of a major incident that, it is claimed, led to the start of the English Civil War. It is the remains of an old entrance to the town where, in 1642, King Charles I was refused entry by the governor of Hull.
A short distance from Beverley Gate, groups will find the first of Hull’s eight free museums, which are collectively referred to as the Museums Quarter. The Ferens Art Gallery features works by Antonio Canaletto, Henry Moore and David Hockney.
Across the street, Hull Maritime Museum is appropriately situated alongside Queen’s Gardens, which was the site of Hull’s very first dock. The dock, which took five years to conceal, was opened as a garden in 1935 and is now host to the free Hull Jazz Festival, a major annual event that takes place in July. The Museum displays whaling artefacts from Hull’s 19th century Arctic whaling industry, alongside ship models and maritime art.
Continuing eastwards from the Maritime Museum, you will find Hull Guildhall. A highlight on a visit to the Guildhall is the Hull Tapestry, which took 16 years to complete and is made up of 19 panels depicting significant times in Hull’s history.
A short stroll from the Guildhall, groups will find Hull’s historic Old Town, which stretches from Princes Quay, in the west, to the River Hull, in the east, and towards Alfred Gelder Street, in the north. The High Street has plenty of character with its cobbled streets, large Victorian warehouses and staiths leading down to the River Hull, once used for hauling carts laden with goods down to the ships, ready for unloading.
There are four notable sights of interest along the High Street. The first of these is Wilberforce House, the birthplace of William Wilberforce, who was one of the MPs responsible for the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. It is now a museum and was re-opened last year – as part of the bicentenary celebrations for the ‘Abolition of the Slave Trade Act’ – following a 1.6 million pound refurbishment. Featuring new films, interactives and photographs, the House tells the story of life on the plantations, the Slavery Abolition Act and how you can help combat slavery today.
The Streetlife Museum of Transport, situated next door, recreates the past 200 years of British transport history – through sights, sounds and smells – and features replica shop fronts, restored buses and trams and an exhibit that imitates a stagecoach ride.
Meanwhile, the Hull and East Riding Museum explores the area’s past – from pre-history up to the modern day – and is best known for its full size model of a woolly mammoth and its Hasholme boat, which was carved from a tree trunk 2,000 years ago.
Also in the High Street, groups can visit the entrance hall at Maister House – now owned by The National Trust – for an insight into the former lifestyles of Hull’s rich merchant families. Its extravagant staircase and decorative ceiling carvings give visitors a glimpse of what life was like in Hull’s affluent heyday.
A short walk from the High Street down to the riverfront will bring you to the Arctic Corsair fishing trawler, another of Hull’s free ‘museums’. Guides are on board to inform visitors about the deep-sea fishermen who sailed on the ship – in the 1960s – in the perilous conditions of the Icelandic fishing waters.
Towards the western end of the Old Town, groups will find Trinity Square. The Square reflects the varied history of Hull with the 13th century Holy Trinity Church, the 16th century Old Grammar School – now home to the Hands on History museum, original Victorian warehouses, a 20th century sculpture detailing significant dates from Hull’s history and adjoining Prince Street with its curve of Georgian townhouses.
Another of the city’s major attractions is the yacht-filled Hull Marina, which hosts the International Sea Shanty Festival – or Hull Maritime Festival – each September, featuring performances of sea songs and maritime-themed crafts. Visitors to the Marina can also board The Spurn Lightship, where guides will explain how the vessel operated as a navigational aid, for almost 50 years, in the River Humber.
Offering views over the city and the River Humber, The Deep is the world’s only submarium and houses a 10-metre deep tank. Home to 40 sharks and more than 3,000 fish, the aquarium contains a number of unusual creatures including two of the only Green Sawfish in Europe. From March, groups will be able to enjoy a free 20-minute 4D shark movie featuring Great Whites, Hammerheads and Whalesharks. Groups of 10 or more receive discounted admission and audio tours can also be purchased.
For those of you wishing to indulge in a spot of retail therapy, Hull does not disappoint. Leading brands can be found at both Prince’s Quay shopping mall, located opposite Hull Marina, and St. Stephen’s shopping and leisure complex, opened in September at the Hull Paragon Interchange. For more unusual items, groups should head to Hepworths Arcade, which is a Victorian shopping arcade in the Old Town.
Those seeking a longer stay will find a vibrant social scene with an eclectic choice of restaurants, cafe bars and real ale pubs. Home to Hull Truck Theatre and Hull New Theatre, the city’s energetic arts scene is not to be missed.
Groups based in the city might also be interested in visiting the nearby Burton Constable Hall, situated nine miles away. The Elizabethan mansion is best known for its 18th century ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’, in its Museum Room, which contains fossils, early scientific instruments, rocks and minerals. Discounts are offered for groups of 15 or more.
A break in Beverley
Situated eight miles north of Hull, the historic market town of Beverley offers its visitors medieval architecture, shopping opportunities and a packed annual events programme. Groups are welcomed to the town and coach access is easy due to its centrally located coach drop-off point and coach parking facilities. There is also a ‘Beverley Day Trip’ package for groups, which was launched recently following the success of the similar ‘Hull Shop Ahoy’ package.
A guided tour of the town forms part of the ‘Beverley Day Trip’ package; however, for groups not wishing to take advantage of this inclusive offer, guided walks can still be arranged independently. There are three options available; a ‘Ghosts and History Tour’ featuring spooky tales from the town’s past, a ‘Town Trails’ tour focusing on the medieval and modern history of the town and a ‘Pub Walk’ taking you round the town’s top taverns.
Beverley has a number of attractions for groups wishing to indulge in a little sightseeing. Its main draw is the Minster, which has a grandeur comparable to a cathedral. It is believed to be one of Europe’s finest examples of gothic architecture and the current building dates back to 1220. For a small fee, groups can view the Minster on a guided tour.
At the opposite end of the town there are two important sites to visit. The first is St. Mary’s Church, renowned for its carving of a pilgrim hare, which was reputed to be the inspiration for the white rabbit illustration in ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
Standing a little further back from the church is the North Bar, which was a medieval gateway to the town. Historians believe that there were four or five of these entrances originally; however this is the sole surviving example in Beverley.
Aside from its spectacular Minster, Beverley is also well-known for its markets, with more than 140 stands taking position on the historic Market Place every weekend. It has been hosting Saturday markets since the 1800s; and a small market on Wednesdays has now also been introduced.
Shopping in Beverley, however, is not confined to markets. Its cobbled streets also offer a great combination of high street brands, boutique stores and antique shops, as well as numerous tea rooms and traditional pubs.
Beverley stages a number of events each year and is quickly gaining a reputation as a ‘festival town’. Two of its most popular events are the ‘Beverley and East Riding Early Music Festival’, in May, which features orchestral concerts in Beverley Minster, and the ‘Beverley Folk Festival’ in June, which will be celebrating its 25th year in 2008 with a combination of music, dance, comedy, poetry and crafts. Group discounts are available on selected events.
In addition to the town’s festivals, groups can also have a flutter at one of the numerous themed race days at Beverley Races. Situated alongside Beverley Westwood – a large area of open pastureland – the racecourse’s flat season runs from April to September. ‘The Journal Ladies Day’, in August, features a tented village staging fashion shows and beauty demonstrations, whilst the equally popular ‘Medieval Night’, in July, is best known for its medieval dance displays and swordfighting re-enactments. Group catering can be arranged and discounts vary depending on the race meet and type of enclosure.
Beside the seaside in Bridlington
Bridlington is a traditional seaside resort offering walks along the promenade and Blue Flag beaches.
As in Hull and Beverley, groups visiting the town can arrange a ‘Bridlington Day Trip’ package, which includes entry to a stately home.
One of the town’s main draws is the historic harbour, which is still a busy fishing port. One-hour pleasure cruises are available from the Harbour – aboard the Yorkshire Belle – which take you towards the dramatic white cliffs at Flamborough Head, an area that forms part of the Yorkshire Heritage Coast. Discounts are offered on a sliding scale.
Another attraction visible from the Harbour is Bridlington Spa, a leading entertainment venue, which is currently closed for an 18 million pound re-development project. Opening in the summer, the venue will stage comedy, dancing, music and drama. Group rates will be available on selected performances.
Although a relatively compact town, Bridlington has two rather distinct shopping areas. Promenades Shopping Centre is excellent for picking up high street brands, whereas a visit to the historic Old Town is best for bargain hunters keen on antiques and art.
Groups staying in the town might also like to visit some of the other nearby attractions. At John Bull World of Rock, situated two miles from Bridlington’s town centre, a factory tour includes demonstrations of rock and chocolate production, as well as the chance to personalise your own stick of rock.
Sewerby Hall and Gardens, meanwhile, is set in 50 acres of grounds overlooking Bridlington Bay. The Hall was first opened to the public in 1936 by the famous aviator, Amy Johnson, who became the first woman to fly solo from the UK to Australia, in 1930. It now contains a modest display of Amy Johnson memorabilia. Groups can also visit the walled gardens or take a perimeter walk, which guides you past enclosures containing llamas and wallabies. Half price admission is offered to groups of 10 or more. It is also worth noting that between March and October, the Hall can be accessed via the Bridlington Land Train, which runs along the promenade. A small fee is charged for this service.
Only a short distance from Sewerby, the RSPB Bempton Cliffs Nature Reserve is a haven for wildlife lovers. The 40-foot rock face is a sanctuary for more than 250,000 seabirds including gannets, guillemots and kittiwakes. The best time to visit is during the breeding season between April and August.
A day in the country
One of the most appealing features about the East Riding of Yorkshire is that you need travel for no longer than an hour before reaching the serenity of the Yorkshire Wolds. For many, it provides a welcome break from the frantic pace of Hull or Bridlington.
Offering quaint towns and villages to explore, each with its own distinct character, there is plenty to see and do. Whether it is visiting a weekly market, enjoying lunch in a country pub or taking a leisurely walk along sections of the 79-mile National Trail – the Yorkshire Wolds Way – you are sure to find something to interest your group. Coach parking is one of the areas that is currently being developed in the Wolds; however, access is generally quite good and many pubs and stately homes offer free coach parking.
The first of these stately homes is situated five miles from Bridlington, near the market town of Driffield. Burton Agnes Hall is an Elizabethan house filled with tapestries, contemporary furniture and paintings. Groups can also discover the walled garden containing more than 4,000 species of plant. Discounts are offered for groups of 30 or more and 75-minute guided tours are inclusive in the price.
Further west, in the village of Sledmere, is Sledmere House. Built in 1751, the House features a Drawing Room and Music Room, decorated by the famous plasterer, Joseph Rose. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.
Also in the Wolds, in the market town of Pocklington, green-fingered groups will find Burnby Hall Gardens. Its two enormous lakes are home to the National Collection of Hardy Water Lilies – more than 100 varieties – which are best viewed in July and August. Groups of 20 or more are eligible for discounts.
Groups who wish to extend their stay can take advantage of discounted hotel accommodation, details of which are available from any of the area’s Tourist Information Centres.
Our thanks to Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, Hull Marina Holiday Inn, the Tickton Grange Hotel and Hull Trains for their hospitality to Carrie Drage during her visit to the area.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Kingston Upon Hull TIC
1 Paragon Street
Hull HU1 3NA
Telephone: 01482 223559
Fax: 01482 613959
Email: tourist.information@hullcc.gov.uk
Web: www.realyorkshire.co.uk