City guide to Hull, England

It’s still gritty, but the northern English port city of Hull (or, officially, Kingston-upon-Hull) is having a cultural renaissance.

Hull, England is known for

Its port, art in 2017, poet Philip Larkin

Hull’s Eat streets

Head to Humber Street, with newly laid cobblestones, in the Fruit Market cultural quarter for good meals in cool, repurposed industrial spaces.

Try gourmet tapas at Ambiente and an experimental menu at bistro-style Butler Whites.

Nearby, you’ll also find Indian fine diner Tapasya@Marina, (tapasya.org.uk).

Local institutions Cerutti’s, a family-run seafood restaurant that’s been doing its thing on the site of Hull’s old pier since 1974, and pub and steakhouse Humber Dock Bar & Grill (known as The Green Bricks until recently) offer a thread of tried-and-tasted continuity to this rapidly changing area.

Hull city England — Prince Street, Hull, United Kingdom

Out & about

The British public was bemused when it was announced, four years ago, that Hull would be the UK City of Culture in 2017: in 2003 it was voted number one Crap Town in Britain.

But serious money and creative nous has gone into regenerating this ancient, gritty port city whose number one attraction before now has been its huge aquarium, The Deep.

Those looking to engage in some world-class culture can let the Hull 17 program be their guide.

Much activity is focused on the old fruit market’s redevelopment, and the Ferens Art Gallery (based in the Old Town, which has its own charm) will host the Turner Prize this year.

Insider’s secret

If you’re getting cool-new-art-space overload, head to residential West Hull for a gig at the city’s alternative music institution, The Adelphi Club. Once a three-bedroom terrace house, this tiny and insalubrious-looking venue has seen Radiohead, The Stone Roses, Pulp and many more grace its stage, and is where local band The Housemartins started life.

Retail reconnaissance

Look out for the Humber Street Market on the third Sunday of every month at Fruit: arts, crafts, records and vintage clothes plus craft beer, street food and live music.

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The ultimate experience

visit multifaceted new venues like humber street gallery, a three-storey contemporary arts space that exhibits visual art, film, photography and more and also houses a cafe and rooftop bar.

Caffeine hits

Thieving Harry’s is based in the Fruit Market quarter, overlooking Hull’s marina, and makes coffee using beans from a local specialty roasters.

It does a great line in brunch and grilled cheese too. Coffee nook Caffeinated in Trinity Market and hidden-away Liquid Jade in the Old Town will hit the spot too.

Where to stay & play

Affordable
Book the Olde Town Victorian Hideaway, 1869 through Airbnb for a cosy base that’s next to ‘England’s smallest window’.

Moderate
A Victorian-era hotel in the Old Town, Kingston Theatre Hotel offers classic rooms and full English breakfasts.

Luxe
Occupying two floors of a townhouse that dates back to the 17th century, the boutique Arthouse Apartment merges vintage and modern stylings.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.