The Shambles in York claims to be Europe’s oldest shopping street. It’s best known for its cobbled walkway lined on both sides with period properties that almost touch across the street as the levels go up. Hundreds of years ago, these were ordinary homes lived in by people practising some of the traditional professions, mainly butchery, but today the street is packed with traders of all kinds from gift shops to tea rooms.
The street was mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086 and it gets its name from the butchers that dominated the street. It means slaughterhouse or meat market and in ancient times hygiene left something to be desired and the cobbled street down the centre would have had all kinds of animal remnants thrown into it. On some of the properties in the Shambles you can still see the meat hooks outside. Meat is still sold in the Shambles, although it mainly comes in pasties! Other shops in today’s street include fudge makers, gift shops, jewellery stores, and the Earl Grey Tea Rooms where you can sit under the oak beams and sip your tea surrounded by tapestries.
Also on the Shambles, look out for the home of Margaret Clitherow and the associated shrine which marks this as she has since been declared a saint. The street often gets busy and it’s tiny, so at peak times don’t expect to be able to stand in the middle of a large crowd taking photos. To get a photo without the crowds, pop back at night
LOCATION & MAP
The Shambles, more correctly known as simply Shambles, is right in the centre of York off the road called Pavement with ‘snickleways’ that lead to the Market.
MORE ON THE SHAMBLES
The Shambles – Wikipedia
Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour – Stops at major locations in York
VisitYork.org – Official York Tourism Website
Stay in York – We recommend Booking.com
Yorkshire Travel Guides – We are an Amazon Associate