York · City Centre · United Kingdom

Shambles

medieval-streethistoricshoppinggoogle verified

easy

9/10

best: morning

medieval, charming, lively

A local would say...

They built the overhanging floors to keep the butchered meat in the shade — and accidentally made Europe's most photographed street.

The narrow cobbled lane lined with 15th-century Tudor timber-framed buildings that overhang so dramatically they nearly meet above your head — the most visited street in Europe according to some surveys. It takes its name from the Saxon word for slaughterhouse: in 1862 there were 26 butcher shops on this single street. The overhanging upper floors were built for practicality (shade for the meat) and created an accidental architectural marvel.