1. The Shambles is one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in Europe.City of York gets decorated with Christmas lights.
    Photograph: Shutterstock
  2. The Shambles, York
    Photograph: Rory Buccheri for Time Out
  3. The Shambles is one of the best-preserved medieval streets in the UK
    Photograph: Shutterstock

The Shambles

This slice of York’s Anglo-Saxon past is a must-see in York’s city centre
  • Things to do
Rory Buccheri
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Time Out says

What is it?

York’s most famous historic street, the Shambles, are a picture-perfect place, with dozens of perfectly preserved, charming medieval buildings. Now a trendy spot, the Shambles have a gruesome past, dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, when the streets and intersecting alleys were used as an open-air slaughterhouse and hosted many butcher's shops.

Is it worth visiting? 

With their timber and wood-framed buildings and winding, cobbled alleys, the Shambles offer a unique experience to taste a slice of British history alive and thriving in the present. To this day, they keep their bewitching charm thanks to a string of quirky shops and cafés. 

Tickets, accessibility and booking

Being a public street, it's free to enter. However, you can expect the Shambles to get quite crowded over the weekend and during festive periods. A weekday or morning trip won’t make the cobbled streets any easier on the feet, but it will allow you a quieter, less crowded experience.

Where's good to eat nearby?

You’re in the heart of the city centre, so the world’s your oyster. Head to Duck Shack for a delicious Hong Kong BBQ, or to the Shambles Kitchen for the best deli sandwiches in town. The Shambles Market, the UK's largest open-air market, is the best place to head for a variety of food all under one ‘roof’. It has options for every taste, from Greek street food to Thai, Sicilian and Moroccan.

📍 Discover more of the best things to do in York

Details

Address
11 Shambles
York
YO1 7LZ
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