[1][2][3][4][5] Larkin was born in Coventry and lived in Hull while he was head librarian at the Brynmor Jones Library[6] from 1955 until his death in 1985.

A Hull city bus was named "Philip Larkin" by Sir Andrew Motion in honour of the poet.

Forty of Larkin's poems were displayed on East Yorkshire Motor Services vehicles until the end of the festival in December 2010.

[11][12] The centrepiece of the festival was a public art display and trail, "Larkin with Toads", launched in the city centre on Saturday 17 July.

By late July 2010 the Hull Daily Mail reported that over 30,000 guides had been distributed and a marketing company was employed to manage the high level of public interest.

[26] On the 25th anniversary of his Larkin's death, Thursday 2 December 2010, the festival concluded with the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue at Hull Paragon Interchange by the Lord Mayor.

[30] On 2 December 2011, a year since the original unveiling ceremony, five additional slate roundels containing inscriptions of Larkin's poems were installed in the floor space around the statue.

[32] The Daily Telegraph opined that the reclusive Larkin would be unimpressed by the event[33] and Stephen McClarence in The Times observed that "the city is celebrating this year's 25th anniversary of his death in fine style.