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Rambling down the Shambles
- April 4, 2009
- Rated 3 of 5 by
NiceGinna from Evanston, Illinois
The Shambles is just the name of the narrow main street of the Old Town of York, filled with lots of shops with souvenirs and things to eat. The buildings lean towards each other in a quaint sort of way.
From journal Three Busy Weeks or So in the United Kingdom
The Shambles
- September 7, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
BriDee from Dundee, United Kingdom
I cannot add to what has already been said. The Shambles is a fantastic street. It has been very well preserved by the authorities and no visitor to York should miss it.
Editor Pick
The Shambles
- October 3, 2007
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Red Mezz from Inverness, Scotland
Before I ever moved to Great Britain I had a lot of ideas kicking around in my head about what the place looked like, and what it offered. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for old English literature, and found myself picturing scenes out of Bronte and Dickens more than once. And living in Edinburgh, I must admit those images were not always far off. But in many of my trips into England - particularly in the industrial areas like Manchester and Sheffield I had my quaint Dickens-like imagery slightly shattered. However, for those of you also looking for the England of Dickens, it is not far from the streets of York, and the best place to find the beautiful old England you've read so much about is on The Shambles.
You may well stumble onto it without even realizing it, as it seems to be very centrally located in what it already is a rather compact city. More than once I thought I had gotten turned around only to realize I was back in The Shambles.
Though I came mostly for the photographs and general sightseeing, I was delighted to realize what an interesting and varied shopping experience York offers. Like Edinburgh - it has a beautifully kept antiquity about it, but unlike Edinburgh whose shopping scene in recent years has become a farce belonging mostly to large boutique companies, York offers shop after great little shop with local trinkets and interesting wares to buy.
And no where is this more true than in The Shambles.
There's no worry that you won't recognize it when you get there, it's impossible to miss for the fact that the nearby market is filled with the shouts of sales men, becoming patrons into their stalls of fruits and vegetables, candies and treats, and even fine leather jackets.
The street itself - when you see it - may well make you feel as if you are suddenly losing your balance. All the buildings look as if they are collapsing into each other, or sinking right through themselves into the ground. It’s an amazing sight, and I found myself eyeing the big beams that held the buildings up warily. Still though - it is obvious they have lasted a very long time, and will continue to do so, even if it is at very odd angles.
The selection of things to buy in this strip is great, and varies from some fantastic little tea and coffee houses, to a particularly good wood carver's shop filled with stunning little hand made trinkets.
I highly recommend that you allow some time to wander leisurely through The Shambles and take advantage of just the kinds of goodies you should be able to bring home from Old England.
From journal In the Footsteps of the Romans and the Vikings...
Editor Pick
The Shambles
- October 24, 2000
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Adelaide from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Shambles is one of the best preserved medieval streets in Europe. Once housing butchers' shops, hence its name, today it's a touristic street with restaurants, clothing and souvenir shops. The oldest houses date back to the 14th century.
From journal A day in York