Hull City Council’s Visit Hull team and Hull Trains have unveiled a new advertising campaign across London Kings Cross underground and overground stations, encouraging Londoners and commuters to choose Hull for their next short break.
The campaign, commissioned by Visit Hull in partnership with Hull Maritime and Hull Trains, went live this week and will run for four weeks. It also coincides with English Tourism Week that runs 13 – 22 March.
Showcasing a striking visual of Hull’s Spurn Lightship and celebrating the ease and comfort of travelling with Hull Trains, the poster series aims to put Hull firmly on the map as a vibrant, cultural short‑break destination. With tens of thousands of people passing through Kings Cross every day, the campaign targets both leisure travellers and daily commuters, inviting them to “discover somewhere different” with a getaway to Hull – Yorkshire’s only maritime city.
The campaign highlights the city’s major transformation as part of the Hull Maritime project, ahead of the landmark 2026 reopening of its maritime attractions. Audiences will be directed to VisitHull.org/Hull2026, where they can explore what’s to come and start planning their visit.
Councillor Rob Pritchard, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, said: “Hull is on the brink of an extraordinary moment in its history. As we prepare to reopen our maritime treasures in 2026, we want to welcome new and returning visitors to rediscover the city.
“This campaign at Kings Cross sends a clear message: Hull is ready to inspire, surprise and delight. We’re proud of our maritime heritage, proud of our progress, and proud to share it with the world.”
Paul Jackson, Hull Trains Head of Customer and Stakeholder Engagement, said: “We’re really proud of our home city of Hull and keen to play our part in encouraging visitors and supporting their travel directly from London and other destinations on our route.
“This initiative taps into the heritage of Hull, but there is so much going on all the time from festivals to community activities. It really is one of the key destinations for 2026.”
The Hull Maritime project funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, one of the UK’s largest heritage programmes, continues to make significant strides with the opening of the Spurn Lightship from 7 March and the highly anticipated reopening of the Maritime Museum in the summer. The Kings Cross campaign marks an important step in positioning Hull as a world‑class visitor destination ahead of the reopening. For more information about Hull Maritime and upcoming visitor experiences, visit: www.visithull.org/hull2026