Hull – In the Top Ten World Cities to visit in 2016!!!

Posted on by Opher

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Well what do you know!!  The City of Hull in Yorkshire has been voted in Rough Guides as one of the top ten cities to visit in 2010.

It was cited for its ‘atmospheric old-timey pubs, eight excellent museums and picturesque Old Town with cobbled streets’.

The list of the top ten cities:

  1. Reykjavik – Iceland
  2. Mexico City – Mexico
  3. Seoul – South Korea
  4. Ljubljana – Slovenia
  5. Wroclaw – Poland
  6. Nashville – USA
  7. Amsterdam – Netherlands
  8. Hull – England
  9. Vancouver – Canada
  10. Agra – India

Kingston Upon Hull has a rich history. It was a beautiful and prosperous medieval city with majestic city walls. It was one of the three biggest ports in Britain bringing prosperity and cosmopolitan flavour to the area. It was then a major centre of industry and fishing.

Unfortunately all that went along with the city walls. It was the third most bombed city in the Second World War. A lot of its infrastructure was destroyed.

In the post-war years it was neglected and languished as governments of all hues neglected the Northern cities and everything was centred on the South.

All that is about to change. In 2017 Hull will be the ‘City of Culture’. With that will come much needed regeneration and a boost to the arts.

With the huge investment from Siemens Hull is set to become the world’s centre for renewable energy. Once more it’s ports will thrive and all manner of subsidiary industries will spring up providing jobs and prosperity.

Fortunately the bombing did not destroy all the city. The centre has been left in all its glory. The galleries and museums – The Wilberforce (anti-slavery) museum as testament to its liberal history, the art, transport, and whaling to name a few.- are all part of its cultural heritage.

It is great to see Kingston Upon Hull going up in the world and finally being recognised. The people of Hull have been resolute and determined. It is about time that this once thriving city gets the boost and recognition it has long deserved.

A TOP TEN CITY IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!!   What next?

44 thoughts on “Hull – In the Top Ten World Cities to visit in 2016!!!”

  2. Well said, sir! I’m a big fan of Hull, having lived there 5 years in the 1970s. I taught at David Lister High School. Loved the people there, friendlier than the East Midlands. Glad to see the place is being recognised. As to famous writers – other than your good self – well, Larkin, Andrew Marvell … ?

  4. Hi Opher, I’ve never visited Hull, so can’t make any claims to know anything about it. But, what I do know (as WW2 is my specialist subject) is that Hull wasn’t anything like the 3rd most bombed city during WW2. I recognised the fault of that comment as soon as I read it. As a matter of fact, had it been the 3rd most bombed city, it would have been wiped clean off the map to ground zero. Clearly this did not happen.
    Yes, it lost a lot of housing, simply because the town was so small and the houses were right next to the industrial plants, but the death tally through bombing was a mere 1,200 in total over 5 years.
    In the grand scale of UK’s bombing death tally’s that’s almost nothing at all.
    The worst period being 41-42, but later when Germany got stuck in Russia, their bombing was considerably reduced. Hull received a similar number of hours bomb threat tally to that of the major cities, around 1,000 hours, but only because of it’s geographic east coast location – where anywhere on the east coast could have been a target, but in fact received no more bombing than the likes of Portsmouth and Plymouth, therefore, way down the list.

    1. It seemed that the bombers crossed the east coast to get at the industry in the midlands. What was left or if they could not find a target (or they were deliberately after my mother-in-law) they dropped on Hull on the way back. My mother in law claimed it was the 3rd most bombed. She was personally bombed out of three houses. It was very highly bombed. It is a wonder that anything was left.

      1. Well that explains that then – the mother-in-law revising the history of ww2! If it wasn’t so spurious it could be the Les Dawson Show!

  5. I’m afraid that that’s a figment of your imagination with regards the Luftwaffe bombers holding bombs to target Hull on the way back or just not finding targets in the first place etc. Under no circumstances did these crews fly around with bombs onboard for any longer than necessary.
    For obvious reasons 1) that would be insanity, and instant death were the planes hit 2) they needed all the fuel they had to get back, as the more weight carried used more fuel 3) it was a very rare case for them not to find their target – the only city that did dupe them on occasion was Glasgow, where the Campsie hills, which mimicked the shape of the river Clyde, were lit up with false lights. There’s bomb craters all over these hills where they dropped on imaginary targets. And loads of anti-aircraft stations where they shot them down from, keeping everything well away from the city and residential areas.

      1. Thanks Anna. It’s a very slow day by day process. Made ever so much worse by the thought that I can’t just jump on a train and go travel somewhere. That’s kind of hard to accept.

  6. Andrew, I wish there was something I could do to help you, I can’t imagine how hard it is for you. Take each day as it comes, every day hopefully you will improve. My thoughts are with you. Andrew you are still young and too intelligent to let this get the better of you, just know that you have friends out here who care about you and wish you better each day. I am here whenever you want to talk, best wishes Anna.

    1. Hi Anna, terribly sad day for me today, with the passing of David Bowie. I can remember dodging off school one afternoon in June 1972, even though it was quite near end of term, I was still only 12, and getting the train into the city to buy the as then new Ziggy Stardust LP. I still have that very same copy in lovely condition and it got a playing today and as per instruction on the back cover, “play at maximum volume”, indeed it was and to hell with the neighbours! Life’s too short to worry about the bloody neighbours, innit!

      2. Andrew, I am so sorry for you regarding David Bowie, it was quite a shock was it not, I heard it on the radio first and thought he can’t be dead so put the tv on and it was. Have to admit I was not a fan of his or that type of music (what I like I daresay Andrew you would laugh at, in the nicest way) but I can appreciate that he was unique. My Sons liked him, Jonathan was upset at the death of Lemmy (have I spelt it right). Good for you playing his music during the day and LOUD, sod the neighbours, I have spent far too many years worrying about things like that, you are so right. Play all you have of him today as well, bring back memories for you.

        How are you feeling today, don’t go out if it is cold or windy, stay in the warm. I kept thinking last night about you saying how you can’t jump on a train and go places, you will be, take it slowly you have been seriously ill Andrew, should have been in Hospital but to be honest like you that would be hell for me and I would not stay. We are only in January and even colder February to come, so you must be careful. Anytime you want to talk please I would love to hear from you, email me if you want to.

        In the meantime play Bowie, make sure I hear it all the way here in Clacton-On-Sea. Wait for Opher to say about two of Bowie group coming from Hull! Stay safe.

  7. Anna, I did have a very noisy joiner in as he’s shelving up all 3 & 1/2 walls of a room from top to bottom for me. So his drilling and my hi-fi would probably have tried the patience of most people. I don’t think anyone wanted to complain and even if they did I wouldn’t have heard them!
    I used to listen to Lemmy’s Motorhead a lot when they arrived on the scene and have quite a number of their records signed by the band.
    Bowie was one of these artists that I collected since I was 12, so I have every record that was ever in the shops, plus about 120 singles from all over the world and about 50 bootleg albums of concerts and unreleased recordings that in total had cost me a small fortune. I think it would take me a week to play everything.
    I can think of worse ways to spend a week! Cheers.

    1. Andrew, don’t worry about the noise, you deserve a little spoiling. I will tell Jonathan, my eldest that you have signed records of Lemmy’s Motorhead, he will be jealous. He watched the funeral of Lemmy and said it was so touching all were in tears.

      You are like me in that I have practically all the LPs that Rod McKuen wrote and recorded, plus I have all his books and now personal items belonging to him. My youngest Son David complains re how much it has all cost him for the books from Rod’s Library and personal items – I do get spoilt. You were a true fan of David Bowie, play your music it will do you good. Make sure you take plenty of Vitamin C, I have an orange a day plus juice. You must take care of yourself Andrew and take it slowly as I said earlier you have been seriously ill you must not rush it. Enjoy the music, now I am going to tell Jonathan about your Lemmy Records. Look after yourself Andrew, all the best Anna.

    2. Andrew, just thought I would contact you to see if your are ok. Shelves all up are they and are you pleased with them? Look after yourself. You know where I am if you want a chat. All the best Anna.

      1. Anna – it was more a case of necessity rather than want. I’ve been so used to having proper storage design in the 2 places I lived before coming here. It’s a bit strange that they don’t seem to build all that into a room in the first place in the UK.
        Except for somewhere that’s a very modern new build.
        So I had to do something as I had all these boxes piled up with nowhere to put anything.
        If I move, so will the new shelving system as it cost me far too much money to just leave behind.
        I’m now having my living room done – so lost my laptop for a day or 2, buried under all the goings on.
        Cheers.

      1. Thanks Opher, yes, I’m slowly but surely getting rid of all signs of the infection, so breathing is a lot better. But will still have the “concrete” inflexibilty with my lungs, which is the basis of the COPD. That will never improve. Cheers.

  9. Andrew, so pleased to hear from you and to read from your message to Opher that your breathing is a lot better, that must be of some relief for you. I don’t know how you cope with your lungs, it is so tough on you all I can say is try and stay as well as possible and avoid anyone unwell, I know that is not easy. Delighted the shelving is up or nearly completed, I bet you can’t wait to get organized. Most certainly take the shelving when you may move, don’t leave all that money behind.

    I don’t know if you saw a programme on Sky last night about the changes to San Francisco, all the young techs have moved in neighbourhoods destroyed and people forced to move out so expensive apartments go up (just like London, horrified to hear Vancouver the same). Flashy coffee shops $50 a coffee! The art area being destroyed, the old San Francisco no longer, just as I am going can you believe it, my luck or lack of it. You take care Andrew, don’t overdo sorting out your shelving. Keep in touch so I know how you are, use my email address I don’t mind. All the best Anna.

  11. Andrew, just checking in to see if you are feeling much better, I do so hope you are. I bet you have all those shelves organised by now. I am on the verge of ordering a new Bookcase, I have a wooden chest and cardboard chest full of books I need to sort out and another box of books on its way from the States, I am crazy I think. You take care and I am here if you want a chat anytime (bet you won’t but you never know, joking I think!) Take care Andrew, all the best, Anna. Hope you get this on Opher’s site. By the way I wonder if he is safe in Argentina, hope he did not fly a Union Jack there.

    1. Hi Anna, thanks for the enquiry. I’m doing OK and if weren’t for the lousy weather I’d be able to get out and about more for some walking. That’s my main criteria needed to help me the most.
      But on the other hand that’s what the TV’s for. I’ve never been a daytime TV viewer ever, but recently have been tuning in. I get a pretty good laugh at the Jeremy Kyle show, wow, he’s got some lovely people on stage. Where do they come from?
      Are you at the stage yet of wanting to make your bookings for your trip to SF? you can also get me on ampercy@hotmail.co.uk
      Cheers

      1. Andrew, lovely to hear from you. You sound much better and hopefully within the next couple of weeks you will be able to get out for a walk, when you do make sure you do not overdo it at first. Thank you for sending me your email address, I really appreciate that – Andrew I am not very good at the internet and I can’t work your email address I will get the boys to show me, did I not give you mine it is annacottage@gmail.com. Yes I am still going to SF and must before the end of this month definitely middle next month book a hotel. I have been looking and seen one on Fisherman’s Wharf I have to be kind of in convenient area as I don’t drive, have back probs, I can get around but the pain gets me down quite a bit. Would it be alright to run a few hotels past you to see what you think, if I am being rude please do let me know. When do you think I should book a flight, my youngest Son is paying so I have that saved. I am so excited about going Andrew, do you know a tour company called Viator they seem rather good and the trips they do would be very helpful for me. Thinking of going to LA for few days, what do you think of that worth it or not? Viator do a Balloon trip, wow would I love to go on that, trouble is I have “Meniere’s”, have not had an attack for years, BUT!! Please do let me know if I am asking you too much advice.

        As for that programme you mentioned, I have only seen it when my youngest Son who is so intelligent, is working here and I cannot believe he looks at it, David tells me it’s a good laugh as the people are complete wasters, all I can see is toothless scum (sorry I should not have said that but honestly that is what they look like), all seem to be on benefits, that’s what our Taxes pay for Andrew. I can’t look at things like that, day time TV? I will be in touch when I can work your email address (make sure you have plenty of coffee or whiskey to hand, I talk a lot – well you can see that). You take care Andrew and don’t do too much. Keep well, keep warm, Anna.

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