UK touristy question: Hull or York

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:40 am

My boyfriend will soon have his birthday, and I saw an advertisement for something called a "mini-cruise".

It's basically like this: you leave the Netherlands on Friday evening by boat, arrive in Hull the next morning, leave again that evening and go back by boat to arrive on Sunday morning.

You can choose to stay the day in Hull or go by bus to either York or Lincoln for the day. But then you have less time for sight-seeing etc.

Now what I'd like to know from UK people: are any of these three cities worth a visit?

Or is it nicer to just get a cheap flight to London or somewhere else in England? We only have from Friday evening until Sunday evening, including travel.

Any suggestions are welcome!

Post by **snarl** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:07 am

I do believe Sergeant First, currently A.W.O.L. is a York man.

I've been there before, nice place.

Dunno much about Hull or Lincoln, but from word of mouth York would be much better.

Alternatively, Holland to London is about an hour on a plane...

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:33 am

NOT HULL

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:50 am

Metal Vendetta wrote:NOT HULL

i second this totally.

York, on the other hand is quite nice.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:43 am

Definitely not Hull.

I grew up in York. Its a nice place with several historic sights of interest.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:56 am

I hope you go for the cruise!

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 12:34 pm

Thanks guys!

I didn't know that Hull was that bad, on the travel website they said there was a nice aquarium.

I will take a good look at the cruise time table to see how much time we'll have in York to see if this is worth it.

But it would be so much fun to surprise my boyfriend and just spend some time together, so I might just book it anyway.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 12:46 pm

Eline wrote:Thanks guys!

I didn't know that Hull was that bad, on the travel website they said there was a nice aquarium.

Oh, there is. There just isn't much of anything else.

York is noted for having huge historical value and being a thoroughly nice area. Hull, until The Deep opened, was noted for... well... being Hull.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:21 pm

Eline wrote:I didn't know that Hull was that bad, on the travel website they said there was a nice aquarium.

That's just a sales way of saying that Hull's flooded...

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:52 pm

York it will be then! If they still have room on the ferry.

Flights to London were okay, not extremely cheap though. And then I will need two nights in a hotel, so it might be a more expensive option. But we'll see. The boyfriend has never set foot in the UK, so either should be nice.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:04 pm

Not that I'm not voting for York, because I am, as it's the only one of the three I've been to, but with all this Hull talk, we've forgotten Lincoln.

Which pretty much says it all, really.

That and it's not even remotely green.

Getaway · Post by **Getaway** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:51 am

Just like to say as another York resident, who went to university in Hull, when you arrive keep moving it is officially the reigning champion of Englands worst Town/City and has been for years. York, however, is great plenty of culture, good bar and restaurant culture and loads of shops.

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:59 am

Thanks!

The problem now is that the boyfriend is inviting family and/or friends for a little party on his birthday

while normally he never has a party.

I cannot very well order him not to

so I might need to postpone this until a more convenient and sunny time. Bah. Bah.

My other plan was a jazz boat toar through Amsterdam, with live music. That might still be doable since it is the day before.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:25 am

Rebis wrote:That and it's not even remotely green.

Lincoln green is actually red /pedant blog

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:54 am

Metal Vendetta wrote:Lincoln green is actually red /pedant blog

And Soylent Green is... waitasec... no, sorry... wrong thematic...

Scraplet · Post by **Scraplet** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:22 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:Definitely not Hull.

I grew up in York. Its a nice place with several historic sights of interest.

Whereas I grew up in Hull and would also recommend either York or Lincoln! Hull is......not entirely representative of the rest of the uk. There's a few good museums, but York's are better. In fact, there's probably more stuff about the interesting parts of Hull's history in York museum than in any of Hull's!!. Lincoln has a fantasic old-town, which is as good as Yorks IMHO, but it lacks good museums. Lincoln also has the Cathedral which is fantastic.

Hull has a cool aquarium (the Deep), but its not worth coming that far for it. Also has the Wiliam Wilberforce museum, which is based in William Wilberforce's old house. Thats quite good. And the Humber bridge is a cool sight if you've never seen it before (longest single-span suspension bridge in the world until the Jananese built a bigger one!). Even so, I still can't recommend Hull over York and Lincoln. Hull is just, despite its best efforts, a bit of a dump. I moved away as soon as I could and I rarely go back!!

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:01 pm

I knew we had someone from Hull here!

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:22 pm

Thanks Scraplet!

I've heard of York before, but never of Hull or Lincoln. Now I know why.

The advertisement had the following to say about Hull (translated):

"Hull offers, in a relaxed maritime atmosphere, the ideal ingredients for a day out. Many English shopping streets, cosy pubs, a nice/fun harbour, free museums and designer shops and the biggest deep-sea aquarium of England."

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:07 pm

A friend of mine who comes from Hull told me that they used to try and advertise the place with the slogan "It's never dull in Hull", which probably just about says it all.

On b3ta.com whenever someone cracks a very sick joke people will reply by saying "You're going to Hull for that one" - the implication being that it's far worse than being sent to hell...

Scraplet · Post by **Scraplet** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:48 pm

On the plus side (and I go all nostalgic) Hull has got my favourite nightclub in the world...Spiders! Dark, dingy, cheap alcohol, alternative music and Goth girls....ah! Heaven!!

Mind you, I've not been there for nearly 10 years.....may have changed.

Hull is good for bird watching. The mudflats of the river Humber are one of the best placers for wading birds in the UK.

You know whats weird. I hate the city. I moved out when I was 18 and I've rarely been back (other than to visit family) in 13 years. Yet I feel a strange compulsion to defend the place!!

I lived in Grimsby for a while and that was much worse.......

Getaway · Post by **Getaway** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:37 pm

I remember Spiders!! went there a few times at Uni, some weirdo cut his own nipple off with a knife, awesome cocktails though and less of a meat market than LA's. Waterfront was probably the best nightclub in Hull closest to the Gallery which was Yorks best untill a few years ago, now its Fibbers.

Scraplet · Post by **Scraplet** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:08 pm

Getaway wrote:I remember Spiders!! went there a few times at Uni, some weirdo cut his own nipple off with a knife.

Ahh! Small world eh? Sound like the place hasn't changed much!!

Getaway wrote:awesome cocktails.

Aye. Due the 'Green Monster'and 'Pink Pugsly', and the low priced spirits I don't remember any birthdays between 17 and 22