York Shambles

This street is certainly not a shamble!

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An exceedingly popular tourist destination in York in The Shambles. With the way people talk about the location you may be under the misconception that The Shambles is a tourist attraction or maybe even a pub, but it is just a street. Yes, you did read that right. THE SHAMBLES IS JUST A STREET. You may be wondering what makes this street so popular? Read on to find out.

The Shambles is popular with tourists as it is a charmingly Elizabethan street. With a narrow, cobbled walkway lined with gothic looking overhanging two-storey buildings, there is a moody and mysterious atmosphere created by the structure. The overhanging buildings create a narrower passage above you to lessen the light on the street. Combine this with the old-style, dark storefronts and you feel that the street has been placed out of its time. 

Originally a street for butchers (‘Shambles’ is a term for where butchers’ would sell their meat), The Shambles is now home to a colourful array of classic shops, like fudge shops and bakeries, and the more whimsical, like an official Harry Potter merchandise store.

The functional purposes of the street are what influenced the design. The buildings are said to overhang so that any hung meat would be protected from the weather, particularly the sun. This may have been one reason, but Tudor architecture commonly jettied upper floors to create more living space in increasingly crowded cities. 

Ideally located only a few minutes’ walk away from the city heart, the Shambles is easy to visit. There is one risk to visiting the Shambles though – you may get lost! York has retained a lot of its original cobbled streets and storefronts, so it is easy to get confused by the labyrinthine-like layout. 

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Read more about York in the Battle of the Cities series!

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Sources: york-pm.co.uk