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.
