Fishy business in East Yorkshire

The city of Hull may seem an odd choice for an August staycation but that's one of the good things about it. For a start, it doesn't attract the hordes of nearby York. A forgotten place after the decline of the fishing industry of which it was once the British capital, it was remembered in 2017 when it became the UK City of Culture. Its significance as a port attracted the Nazi bombs and Hull suffered more than anywhere outside London, but some fine Edwardian creations remain. Its white phone boxes (because Hull's telecoms company is independent) are as much a curiosity as the red boxes elsewhere in the UK.

We also see reminders in the railway station of the continuing pandemic but despite an instructive walking tour, don't get an explanation for the name "Land of Green Ginger". Never mind: it's nice to find in an arcade, independent shops like Dinsdale's that would once have graced London but here is stuck in a 1950s time warp.

And finally, some quirky decor in a small back street pub. Only Mona knows why she is here are she's not telling.Read more