How Peter Pan inspired 'world's most magical address'

Owen Pinder believes he has the world's most magical address in a city recently ranked in the Top 25 places to visit

Days after Hull was named one of the world's best places to visit in 2026 by National Geographic, the city is laying claim to having the most whimsical address – Second Star on the Right and Straight on 'til Morning. The building is in the just as flamboyantly named Land of Green Ginger in the heart of the city's old town.

Just home from work, Owen Pinder looks unfazed as I approach him on his doorstep.

"This place has so much character," says the 27-year-old. "My mates are always saying things to me like, 'are you living next to Gandalf?' and 'Is it near to Over the Hill and Far Away?'

"During the last election, I had to confirm my address and the person in the polling station said, 'wow - that's now my favourite place name'."

Scientists are not known for embracing the whimsical but Mr Pinder, who works for pharmaceutical firm Reckitt, appears to be the exception.

And it does not get more magical than J. M. Barrie's classic Peter and Wendy - the 1911 novel, better known as Peter Pan, after which this building was named; Second Star on the Right and Straight on 'til Morning being the directions to Neverland.

"I doubt there will be a place, anywhere in the world, with a more magical name than this," adds Mr Pinder.

Second Star on the Right and Straight on 'til Morning is behind the black gate in Land of Green Ginger

Light from the street lamps and the warm glow of The George pub reflect off the cobbles.

Though this place passes Mr Pinder's litmus test for character, does such an address come with issues?

"Well, it's impossible to complete the address section on online forms," he chortles. "I usually just put my house number and Second Star on the Right, Land of Green Ginger, Hull, and hope that whatever I've ordered gets here.

"And if anyone is calling on me, I just say 'next to The George'."

Containing eight apartments, this building - oozing Victorian grandeur - shares the cobbled street with a 17th Century pub and a handful of solicitors' offices.

The George is said to have the smallest window in England.

According to a gold plaque on the wall, the slit window - barely visible - is rumoured to have been used in the days when the building was a coaching inn. A porter would sit at the window to watch for coaches in order to give immediate attention on arrival, so the story goes.

Joe Hubbard, from Hull, shows visitor Keiron Crosby, from Nottingham (pictured right) one of the sights in Land of Green Ginger

Mr Pinder, originally from Driffield, East Yorkshire, has rented his apartment for three years, and he says the window is another charming quirk for citizens and visitors to enjoy.

Andrew Garfield, 63, on his break from a call-centre, says he has often wondered about the practicalities of living at such an address.

"How would you even fit that on an envelope?" he says. "Imagine giving that address to someone who isn't from Hull."

Andrew Garfield suspects having such a whimsical-sounding address could be problematic

Land of Green Ginger is tucked away at the bottom of Whitefriargate in the city's old town, and Mr Garfield's co-worker says he only became aware of the building recently.

He says: "A few months ago I was stood around, on my break, and saw a load of people stood around the sign and taking photos. I'd never even heard of it. It's a brilliant name."

Hull's town crier Michael Wood says Land of Green Ginger - and everything in it - is something to shout about.

"York has its Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate. Hull has Second Star on the Right in Land of Green Ginger.

"I must admit I prefer our Land of Green Ginger. Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate is a bit in your face whereas Land of Green Ginger sounds more poetic.

"For a northern, working class city, known for its grittiness, Hull has some magically-named spots."

Lisa Hall, owner of Lili & Mila's Empawrium, a pet shop next to the building, says hardly a day goes past without a school party or visitors stopping to marvel at the street signs and plaques.

"It's become a tourist attraction," she says. "Within Land of Green Ginger, you've three little nuggets - England's smallest window, Second Star on the Right and Straight on 'til Morning and The Secret House."

Lisa Hall says visitors are drawn to "quirky" Land of Green Ginger in Hull's old town

The latter had escaped me.

Ms Hall points to a set of large double doors. On the front is a small sign with the words The Secret House.

The Secret House in Land of Green Ginger

"Behind them..." she says. "Is a house. You can actually get a car through the doors.

"I probably have the best view of the street from here. It's like a quirky mini York right here in the heart of Hull - steeped in history."

Except all may not be as it seems...

"I'd love to be able to tell you an intriguing story about Second Star on the Right and Straight on 'Til Morning," says Paul Schofield, a Hull tour guide since 1988.

"But it was named 20-plus years ago when it was the headquarters of a design and marketing company. Despite the gimmick, people love to have their photo taken next to the sign."

Can he shed light on how Land of Green Ginger came by its name?

"It's a bit awkward is that," he says. "Nobody really knows. There are just various theories."

I probe a little deeper.

Author Winifred Holtby named one of her novels after the famous Hull street

"We know the name has been around since the 1600s," says Mr Schofield, who is accredited by English Heritage. "Some say it refers to an old English name for a ditch that smells.

"Others say was there a merchant in the area called Moses Greenhinger. Another theory is that the street was home to a Dutch company that nobody in Hull could pronounce the name of so it was anglicised to Land of Green Ginger."

Mr Schofield says the most straightforward theory is that the area was used to grow ginger.

Regardless, the city draws visitors - with numbers rising, he says.

"Getting UK City of Culture in 2017 was massive for Hull. People are visiting from all over the world."

Earlier this month, National Geographic magazine named Hull as one of the world's Top 25 places to visit in 2026, citing the reopening of Hull Maritime Museum following a major restoration.

"I'm not surprised," says Mr Schofield. "But everyone is surprised when they see what Hull has. I wish I got a pound for every time someone said, 'I didn't know Hull would be like this'."

Work on Hull Maritime Museum started in 2021 as part of a £27.5m revamp of Hull's maritime heritage

Returning briefly to Neverland, Mr Schofield thinks a trick was missed in the Noughties.

"That developer should have insisted on using Hull's full name - Kingston upon Hull. That would have made it an even longer address."

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