York City Centre

York city centre sits inside the medieval walls where streets from different eras meet the River Ouse. Narrow lanes such as Stonegate, Goodramgate and Coney Street run into larger paved spaces like Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, while the Shambles retains closely spaced timber-framed buildings with jettied upper floors and iron meat hooks above shopfronts. York Minster occupies the heart of the centre, its stonework and gothic windows visible from the ring of the walls. The Jorvik area and the Coppergate archaeological site lie close to the Minster, and Shambles Market occupies the space between The Shambles and the pedestrianised shopping streets.

The city centre is largely walkable and many routes follow medieval alignments, including the elevated circuit of the city walls that offer views over rooftops and the river. The Ouse cuts through the centre with stone bridges linking riverbanks and quaysides; King's Staith and Ouse Bridge form part of the central riverside. Public transport hubs and short-term parking sit on the edges of the walls, so most visits concentrate on the compact area within and immediately beside the historic core.