Chim chiminee …

Rooftops and chimneys, many of the latter sealed off, of Shambles, Little Shambles, King's Square and perhaps Colliergate seen from the third floor (gents clothing) of Marks and Spencer. The outdoor market is directly below, out of this view, and the Minster is to the left. No sign of Mary Poppins.

Shortest street, longest name

That's Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate, so short that there is a number 11/2, occupied by letting agents. This is another view from the Stonebow upper storey car park, looking down over Colliergate, with the entrance to Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate between the newsagent's and the St Crux parish hall. The latter is now used as a venue for bric-a-bric sales and light lunches in aid of various charities. The street behind the hall is Shambles.

Christmas Shambles

York's most famous street decorated for the season with the central tower of the Minster in the background.

To buy a fat pig?

Part of the open air market between Shambles, Little Shambles and Parliament Street.

The Crux of the matter …

At the Pavement end of Britain's most picturesque street, Shambles, people enjoy morning coffee or lunch and browse the bric-a-brac stalls which are sometimes set up on the terrace to raise funds for local, national and international charities.

Just behind the St Crux parish hall is York's shortest street, Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate, which apparently means, "You don't call that a street, do you?" There are other explanations of the name, but this is the one found in the Yorkshire Museum before its refurbishment.

The parish hall was constructed from the remains of the original church which was demolished in 1887 following concerns about its safety.

Daisy Taylor's, York

This inviting first floor window is on King's Court, just off Shambles. The ground floor frontage of the 15th century shop is also attractive, but it was past closing time when I went by. 

Old and older

Opposite Marks and Spencer and Shambles, York's most famous street, is York's most haunted pub. Cute site showing off all features of the establishment, including an ensuite bathroom housed in a mystery space only discovered in the year 2000.

York Shambles

Silverado, the jeweller's boutique of two days ago, is in Shambles. This picture is too dark to show the  old butchers' hooks under the overhangs. Little Shambles leads on to the market. If timber buildings grab you, Troyes in Champagne, France is the place to go.

Shimmering Shambles shop …

and probably a shivering shopper! Shambles, York's most famous street, gives its name to anything messy and disorganised. Formerly full of butchers' stalls, it suffered from the awful smell of stinking offal and sanitary waste. 

Today, however, you can window-shop without the risk of insalubrious ejections from the upper floors, and enjoy the boutiques, restaurants and sandwich bars in complete safety. More background information is to be found here, including the origin of the name, a couple of photos and the location of other UK Shambles.