Free things to do in Hull
Hull is one of the best places in Yorkshire for a free day out, because its main museums don't charge for entry. You can spend a whole day in the Museums Quarter on High Street, moving between Wilberforce House Museum, the Streetlife Museum of Transport and the Hull and East Riding Museum. The Ferens Art Gallery and the newly reopened Hull Maritime Museum sit a short walk away on Queen Victoria Square.
Beyond the museums there are free trails through the Old Town, like the Hull Fish Pavement Trail and The Larkin Trail, plus big Victorian parks such as East Park and Pearson Park. Out at Hessle, Humber Bridge Country Park and the start of the Yorkshire Wolds Way give you chalk cliffs, woodland and estuary views. The museums make it a good year-round choice, and the parks and riverside walks are at their best from spring to autumn.
Highlights
Ferens Art Galleryi
Hull Fish Pavement Traili
The Larkin Traili
Hull Minsteri
Wilberforce House Museumi
Streetlife Museum of Transporti
Best for rainy days
See more ›Hull's free museums are the obvious answer on a wet day: the Ferens Art Gallery, Hull Maritime Museum, Wilberforce House Museum, the Streetlife Museum of Transport and the Hull and East Riding Museum are all close together in the city centre. Humber Street Gallery and the Hands on History Museum are good extra stops.
Hull MinsterHull's medieval parish church, known for its fine brickwork, where William Wilberforce was baptised.Free entry · paid extrasWilberforce House MuseumBirthplace of William Wilberforce and the story of abolition.✓ FreeStreetlife Museum of TransportWalk-through Victorian streets, trams, carriages and vintage cars.✓ FreeHull Maritime MuseumA museum or gallery near Hull.Free entry · paid extrasSpurn LightshipA museum or gallery near Hull.Free entry · paid extras
Best for families
See more ›East Park has a free Animal Education Centre with goats, wallabies and birds, plus a children's water play area in summer. Kids also love the trams and old street scenes at the Streetlife Museum of Transport, and hunting for the 41 fish on the Hull Fish Pavement Trail.
Hull Fish Pavement TrailHunt for 41 fish sculptures set into the pavements of Hull.✓ FreeThe Larkin TrailFollow the places that inspired poet Philip Larkin around Hull.✓ FreeHull MinsterHull's medieval parish church, known for its fine brickwork, where William Wilberforce was baptised.Free entry · paid extrasWilberforce House MuseumBirthplace of William Wilberforce and the story of abolition.✓ FreeStreetlife Museum of TransportWalk-through Victorian streets, trams, carriages and vintage cars.✓ FreeBest for walks and views
Humber Bridge Country Park at Hessle is a former chalk quarry with woodland trails and free parking, and the Yorkshire Wolds Way starts nearby along the Humber foreshore. In the city, Pearson Park and East Park are good for a gentle stroll, and Victoria Pier gives you a view out over the estuary.
Best for history
Wilberforce House Museum tells the story of William Wilberforce and the abolition of slavery in the 17th-century house where he was born. The Hull and East Riding Museum covers everything from mammoths to Roman mosaics, and around the Old Town you can spot statues such as King Billy and the Andrew Marvell and Amy Johnson statues.
King Billy (William of Orange / William III)A historic site to explore near Hull.✓ Free
Whispering Sweet NothingsA historic site to explore near Stepney.✓ Free
Queen VictoriaA historic site to explore near Stepney.✓ Free
Prince AlbertA historic site to explore near Stepney.✓ Free
All free places in Hull
See them all on the map ›
East ParkHull's biggest park with a lake, animal area and splash park.✓ Free
Queen's GardensA public park and green space near Hull.✓ Free
Boer War MemorialPublic art to spot on a walk in Hull.✓ Free
The Poet Andrew MarvellPublic art to spot on a walk in Hull.✓ Free
Amy Johnson StatuePublic art to spot on a walk in Hull.✓ Free
Humber Street GalleryA museum or gallery near Hull.Free entry · paid extras
Hull and East Riding MuseumA museum or gallery near Hull.Free entry · paid extras
William WilberforcePublic art to spot on a walk in Hull.✓ Free
William de la PolePublic art to spot on a walk in Hull.✓ Free
Hull Fishing Heritage CentreA museum or gallery near Dairycoates.Free entry · paid extras
Pearson ParkA public park and green space near Stepney.✓ Free
James StuartPublic art to spot on a walk in Summergangs.✓ Free
Amy JohnsonPublic art to spot on a walk in Gipsyville.✓ Free
Whisperwood GreenA public park and green space near Bransholme.✓ Free
Prospect GalleryA museum or gallery near Hull.Free entry · paid extrasPhillip LarkinPublic art to spot on a walk in Hull.✓ FreeHands on History MuseumA museum or gallery near Hull.Free entry · paid extrasSutton and Wawne museumA museum or gallery near Sutton.Free entry · paid extrasUpcoming free events
Getting there and around
Hull Paragon Interchange is right in the city centre, with trains and buses in one place. Hull Trains runs direct to London King's Cross, TransPennine Express goes hourly to Leeds and Manchester, and Northern runs to York, Doncaster, Scarborough and Bridlington. City centre car parks charge (the station car park is £7 a day), but the Priory Park Park and Ride on the A63 has free parking with buses into the centre. Humber Bridge Country Park in Hessle has free parking.
Questions people ask about Hull
What free things are there to do in Hull?
Hull's main museums are free, including the Ferens Art Gallery, Hull Maritime Museum, Wilberforce House Museum, the Streetlife Museum of Transport and the Hull and East Riding Museum. You can also follow the Hull Fish Pavement Trail, visit the animals in East Park or walk at Humber Bridge Country Park.
Are Hull's museums free?
Yes, entry to Hull's council museums is free, including the Ferens Art Gallery and the three Museums Quarter museums on High Street. Hull Maritime Museum reopened in August 2026 with free entry, using timed tickets plus a limited number of walk-up places each day.
Where can kids go for free in Hull?
East Park is the best bet, with a free Animal Education Centre and a children's water play area (check it's open before you go, as it closes for maintenance). The Streetlife Museum of Transport and the Hull Fish Pavement Trail are also popular with children.
Is there free parking in Hull?
City centre car parks charge, but the Priory Park Park and Ride on the A63 has free all-day parking with buses into the centre. Humber Bridge Country Park in Hessle also has free parking.
Also nearby
Everything within 10 miles ›
Anlaby ParkA public park and green space near Anlaby Park.✓ Free
Gower ParkA public playground near Anlaby Park.✓ Free
Tower Hill Memorial ParkA public park and green space near Hessle.✓ Free
Mill Beck Nature ReserveA large park with lots of open space.✓ Free
Paull LighthouseA lighthouse to see on a coastal walk in Paull.✓ Free
Yorkshire Wolds WayA long-distance walking route. Join it for any section in Hessle.✓ Free
Humber Bridge Country ParkA public park and green space near Hessle.✓ Free