Yorkshire Station code HUL
Hull Paragon
Hull by train: a maritime city on the Humber with The Deep, free museums and a historic Old Town. Direct LNER trains from King's Cross are limited.
- Around 2 hours 45 minutes from London
- 1 LNER route
- 7 things to do
The Deep aquarium stands where the River Hull meets the Humber, under a mile from the station.Photo: Hullian111, CC BY-SA 4.0
About Hull
Hull – officially Kingston upon Hull – sits where the River Hull meets the Humber Estuary, and its identity has been shaped by more than eight centuries of seafaring. Fishing, whaling and trade built the city, and that story is still easy to read in its docks, waterfront and merchants' houses.
The compact Old Town gathers several of the city's museums close together, including the house where the anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce was born, while the striking aquarium at The Deep looks out over the estuary. The Maritime Museum is free to enter, and several other museums are clustered within a few minutes of each other, which makes Hull a rewarding weekend.
Arriving by rail is straightforward: the station is part of an interchange with the city's bus station, right next to the St Stephen's shopping centre.
Journey
HUL- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 2 hours 45 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 1
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Hull stop 9 of 9 | Brough | End of route |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
LNER's May–December 2026 timetable has just one direct Hull train each way Monday to Saturday, plus one northbound on Sundays (fastest seen: King's Cross 18.09, arriving 20.51). Hull Trains also runs direct between King's Cross and Hull; otherwise change at Doncaster.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 1847 (as Paragon Station); enlarged 1904; bus–rail interchange 2007
- Architect
- G. T. Andrews (1840s station and hotel); William Bell (1903–05 enlargement)
- Heritage status
- Grade II* listed (with the Station Hotel)
- Platforms
- 7
- Managed by
- TransPennine Express
- Passengers a year
- 2.9 million (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- A bronze statue of the poet Philip Larkin by Martin Jennings, shown hurrying for a train, has stood on the concourse since December 2010.
- Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and five of their children stayed at the Station Hotel in October 1853; a throne room was created on the first floor for the visit.
- Next to the station stands a Grade II listed emigrant waiting room of 1871, built for the many northern Europeans passing through Hull on their way to America.
Photos of Hull
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The Deep aquarium stands where the River Hull meets the Humber, under a mile from the station. Photo: Hullian111, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
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William Bell's five-span train shed of 1904, photographed in March 2026. Photo: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 4.0 -
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G. T. Andrews' Italianate station building of the 1840s, part of the Grade II* listed station and hotel. Photo: Hassocks5489, CC0
Arriving at Hull Paragon
Trains pull in under the great train shed, level with the concourse, so there are no steps between platform and street. The ticket office and a welcome point for assistance are on the concourse, and the bus and coach station is part of the same interchange, with the St Stephen's shopping centre next door. The taxi rank is on the Ferensway side. The Ferens Art Gallery and the Maritime Museum are under a third of a mile away, and the Old Town, Hull Minster and The Deep are all within about three-quarters of a mile.
Hull Paragon Interchange is in the city centre and combines the railway station with the city's bus and coach station under the same Edwardian trainshed; the combined interchange opened in 2007. Hull Minster and the Old Town are roughly half a mile away as the crow flies.
Getting around
The centre is walkable: the Ferens Art Gallery and the Maritime Museum are both under a third of a mile from the station, and the Old Town museums and The Deep are within about three-quarters of a mile. City and regional buses leave from the bus station inside the interchange.
Other train services and connections
- TransPennine Express (to Leeds and Manchester)
- Northern (including Bridlington, Scarborough, Doncaster, Sheffield and York)
- Hull Trains (open-access services to London King's Cross)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessLevel access from the entrance to all platforms (National Rail category A)
- StaffStaffed for all trains: Mon–Sat 05:00–23:30, Sun 07:30–21:30
- Ticket officeOn the concourse; Mon–Sat 06:00–18:00, Sun 08:15–18:00
- Ticket machinesAvailable
- Help pointsThroughout the station, with induction loops
- ToiletsIn the pavilion on the concourse
- Accessible toiletsNext to Costa Coffee on the concourse (RADAR key)
- Baby changingAvailable
- Waiting roomHeated waiting room on the concourse
- Wi-fiAvailable
- Food and drinkSeveral cafés and food outlets on the concourse
- ShopsSeveral shops on the concourse, with St Stephen's shopping centre next door
- Cash machineOn the concourse
- Left luggageNone
- Car park280 spaces (23 accessible), operated by TransPennine Express
- Cycle storage251 spaces by platforms 2 and 7, sheltered, with CCTV
- TaxisPartly covered rank on the Ferensway side
- BusesHull's bus and coach station is part of the interchange
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
Hull's first station, opened by the Hull and Selby Railway in 1840, stood beside Humber Dock near the Old Town. The York and North Midland Railway, which had leased the line, then built a far grander terminus on the western edge of the Georgian town: Paragon Station, designed by G. T. Andrews in an Italian Renaissance style, opened in 1847, and its Station Hotel was completed in 1849. Some contemporaries called the scheme 'Hudson's Folly', after the Y&NMR's chairman George Hudson.
As lines from Scarborough, the Holderness coast, Doncaster and Leeds converged on Paragon, the North Eastern Railway rebuilt it on a much larger scale, and William Bell's five-span train shed opened on 12 December 1904. A 1960s office block that had replaced the entrance canopy was demolished during the 2000s redevelopment, and in 2007 the station reopened as Paragon Interchange, with the city's bus station brought under the same roof beside the new St Stephen's shopping centre. The Queen formally opened the interchange in March 2009.
A day in Hull
Maritime history, the Old Town and a giant aquarium, all within walking distance of Paragon.
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Morning
Seafaring Hull
Start at the Hull Maritime Museum in the old Dock Offices, a short walk from the station and free to enter.
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Late morning
Into the Old Town
Walk on to Hull Minster, the city's great parish church, at the heart of the Old Town.
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Lunch
Trinity Market
Graze your way round the street-food stalls in the 1904 market hall right next to the Minster.
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Afternoon
Wilberforce and Streetlife
Visit the birthplace of William Wilberforce and the Streetlife transport museum next door in the Museums Quarter.
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Afternoon
The Deep
Finish at The Deep, the aquarium on the point where the River Hull meets the Humber.
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Evening
An Old Town pint
Find your way down the alley off Silver Street to Ye Olde White Harte before heading back to Paragon.
Things to do near Hull Paragon
The Deep
A landmark aquarium on the point where the River Hull joins the Humber, opened in 2002 and run as an education and conservation charity. Expect big ocean tanks and daily talks; it is open every day except 24 and 25 December.
Hull Minster
The city's great parish church, known as Holy Trinity until it was renamed Hull Minster in 2017. It anchors the Old Town and has a café inside; access can be limited during services and events.
Ferens Art Gallery
Opened in 1927 and extended in 1991, the Ferens holds a collection spanning around 700 years, from late medieval painting to contemporary work, including a Frans Hals portrait.
Hull Maritime Museum
Housed in the 1871 Dock Offices, the museum tells Hull's seafaring story and has been refurbished as part of the Hull Maritime project. Entry is free, though booking ahead is advised at busy times.
Streetlife Museum of Transport
A hands-on transport museum in the Museums Quarter with a recreated 1940s high street, a vintage tram and early cars and bicycles covering around 200 years of travel.
Wilberforce House Museum
The birthplace of William Wilberforce is now a museum about the transatlantic slave trade, its abolition and its legacy. Some upstairs galleries contain distressing material that may not suit younger children.
Hull Truck Theatre
A long-established producing theatre with a strong Northern voice, staging its own shows and touring work. It is one of the closest things to do from the station.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
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Market
Trinity Market
Hull's covered market hall, built in 1904 and refurbished in 2017, is now packed with street-food stalls and delis serving everything from Greek to Indian food, alongside independent shops.
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Pub
Ye Olde White Harte
A Grade II* listed inn tucked down an alley off Silver Street, with two bars, guest cask ales and a long list of malt whiskies. Walk-ins only.
Day trips from Hull
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Beverley
A handsome market town whose minster is one of the largest parish churches in the UK and a Gothic masterpiece.
Northern trains take about 14 minutes, twice an hour.
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Bridlington
A seaside town on the Yorkshire coast, with a harbour where the Gypsey Race meets the North Sea.
Northern trains take 41–48 minutes, twice an hour.
Annual events
-
Every October, for eight nights
Hull Fair
One of the largest travelling funfairs in Europe, with more than 250 rides and attractions on Walton Street in west Hull; its charter dates back to 1279.
Dates change from year to year — check the official website before you plan a trip around an event.
Where to stay in Hull
Staying in the city centre keeps you within walking distance of the station, the Old Town museums and The Deep.
Tips for your visit
- With only one direct LNER train each way on most days, check the timetable carefully – many journeys from London involve a change at Doncaster.
- Entry to Hull Maritime Museum is free, but it recommends booking in advance at busy periods to avoid queues.
- Streetlife and Wilberforce House sit next to each other in the Museums Quarter, so they are easy to combine in one visit.
Questions about Hull Paragon station
Is Hull station step-free?
Yes. The platforms are level with the concourse and the street, and National Rail rates Hull step-free category A.
Where do buses and coaches leave from?
From Hull's bus and coach station, which is part of Paragon Interchange under the same roof as the trains.
How many direct LNER trains are there to Hull?
LNER's May–December 2026 timetable has just one direct Hull train each way Monday to Saturday, plus one northbound on Sundays. Hull Trains also runs direct from King's Cross; otherwise change at Doncaster.
Is there parking at Hull station?
Yes, a 280-space car park run by TransPennine Express. The daily rate was £7 when checked in September 2026.
Is there left luggage at Hull Paragon?
No, National Rail lists no luggage storage at the station.
How far is The Deep from the station?
About 0.7 miles as the crow flies, through the Old Town; the Maritime Museum and Ferens Art Gallery are closer, under a third of a mile away.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hull_Paragon_Interchange
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_upon_Hull
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- thedeep.co.uk/
- hullminster.org/
- hullmuseums.co.uk/ferens-art-gallery
- hullmuseums.co.uk/hull-maritime-museum
- hullmuseums.co.uk/streetlife-museum
- hullmuseums.co.uk/wilberforce-house-museum
- hulltruck.co.uk/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Deep_(aquarium)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hull_Minster
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferens_Art_Gallery
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetlife_Museum_of_Transport
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilberforce_House
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/hul/
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1218434
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- trinitymarkethull.co.uk/
- trinitymarkethull.co.uk/events/
- yeoldewhiteharte.com/
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1197696
- visithull.com/hull-fair/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverley_Minster
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridlington
- nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/
Travelling to Hull?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.