Hull has been named one of the top 25 global destinations to visit in 2026

Yes, we can’t quite believe it either.

According to National Geographic’s Best of the World list, Hull is up there with the likes of Rio de Janeiro, Beijing and the Black Sea Coast in the top destinations to visit in 2026.

Trust us, we’re just as surprised as you are.

The list features destinations hand-picked by National Geographic’s editors and photographers and aims to inspire the reader’s next adventure across the world.

So, what did they have to say about Hull then?

The list praises Hull for its rich maritime history and ‘significant revitalisation’. The guide says: “A $53 million project to promote Hull’s many-layered maritime heritage wraps up in 2026, transforming this underrated northern England port city. A network of new interpretive sites brings some 800 years of seafaring history to life.

“Among them are the Hull Maritime Museum, the North End Shipyard two-story visitors center, 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 of Hull (Kingston upon Hull). The phased openings will be complete by summer 2026, making it the perfect time to discover the city’s laid-back charm.”

High praise for Hull indeed, and we’d have to agree that it most definitely does have a ‘laid-back’ charm.

The guide continues: “At the edge of the North Sea, Hull was one of the world’s busiest whaling ports in the 19th century and a fishing and shipping hub until the 20th, before falling on hard times.

“Over the past decade, the city has undergone significant revitalization. Warehouses around Humber Street’s old waterside Fruit Market are now lively independent bars, restaurants, and art galleries.

“There’s also a spectacular performance amphitheater, called Stage@TheDock, overlooking River Hull where it meets the Humber Estuary; and a former shipyard has for over 20 years been the base for The Deep, one of the United Kingdom’s most highly respected aquariums and marine conservation centers.”

So cancel your flights to Vancouver or Japan, because Hull is where it’s at.

You can read the full Nation Geographic list here.

Read more: You can now take a mini cruise from Hull to Amsterdam for just £65

Featured image – The Hoot Leeds