Kingston upon Hull ( ), most frequently referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located on the north bank of the Humber estuary, near the Yorkshire coast 25 miles (40 km) from the North Sea, on both sides of the River Hull at its junction with the Humber.
During the 700 years of its existence, the town and city of Hull has served as market town, military supply port and staging area, trading hub, fishing and whaling centre, and industrial metropolis. Hull was an early theatre of battle in the English Civil Wars, and was the backdrop to events leading to the abolition of the slave trade in Britain. After suffering heavy damage during the Second World War, Hull weathered a period of post-industrial decline; however, the city has recently embarked on a programme of regeneration and renewal.
