Hull, on the east coast of England, has been included in National Geographic’s BEST OF THE WORLD, the brand’s annual list of the most awe-inspiring, meaningful and immersive travel experiences for the upcoming year.

Hull, Yorkshire, England. In addition to exploring the maritime heritage of Hull, visitors can sit outside for prime people-watching at the Kingston Hotel pub on North Church Side, a street adjacent to the more than 700-year-old Holy Trinity Church. (Photo by Max Miechowski, National Geographic)

Drawing on the expertise of its editors, travel contributors and international partners, National Geographic’s BEST OF THE WORLD 2026 is recognised as one of the most definitive guides to the top destinations to visit in 2026. This year’s edition encourages readers to rethink how they travel, embracing deeper connections with nature, culture and communities, and the selections span the globe.

Hull is the only place in the United Kingdom selected for this year’s list and is one of only five places in Europe that were included, along with The Dolomites in Italy, Oulu in Finland, Guimarães in Portugal and The Basque Country in Spain.

Sunset at Hull Marina

Hull is described by National Geographic as ‘a port town which goes all in on more than 800 years of maritime history’. A £40 million project to promote Hull’s maritime heritage, which is due to be completed in 2026, is set to transform the city. Among the network of new interpretive sites is Hull Maritime Museum, the North End Shipyard two-storey visitors centre, and two permanently docked museum ships: the 1960s Arctic Corsair cod trawler and the Spurn lightship, which once guided boats through the treacherous waters of the Humber Estuary near the city.

Hull was once one of the world’s busiest whaling ports, and a fishing and shipping hub until the 20th century. According to National Geographic, 'over the past decade, the city has undergone significant revitalization'.

The warehouses around Humber Street’s old waterside Fruit Market are now lively independent bars, restaurants and galleries; there’s a spectacular performance amphitheatre called Stage@TheDock, and a former shipyard is the base for The Deep, one of the UK’s most highly respected aquariums and marine conservation centres.

The Deep in Hull

“At Nat Geo, we know that travel has the power to inspire and transform us,” said Nathan Lump, editor-in-chief of National Geographic. “In this year’s BEST OF THE WORLD, we especially wanted to highlight unexpected destinations that the algorithms are probably not serving you.

“Of course, we know that not every trip can be an off-the-beaten-path adventure, so we were mindful to include some surprisingly compelling places that are also more easily accessible.

“Whatever kind of traveler you are, our goal is to ensure we’re sharing fresh ideas that help you connect with that feeling of discovery and joy that comes from a great travel experience.”

The Humber Bridge near Hull was once the longest bridge of its type in the world

National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, reaches over 532 million people worldwide in 172 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels.

For more of Nat Geo’s BEST OF THE WORLD 2026 list, visit natgeo.com/bestoftheworld.

If you or your group would like to visit the city of Hull on a tailor-made tour of England or the United Kingdom, please do contact our friendly team today.