York’s best gift and speciality shops

By Kingfisher Visitor Guides

It's always nice to pick up a local tasty treat or special gift and luckily York is blessed with its fair share of delightful shops perfect for foodie fans or for that special present. Here are some of the best food, drink and gift outlets for any discerning shopper.


Shambles market

Shambles Market, found between York’s famous Shambles and Parliament Street, sells a daily selection of fresh fruit, veg, meat and fish (not to mention clothes, music, pet accessories and more). You can also shop at the monthly farmers’ market which also held here. Also in the market place you’ll find both Henshelwoods Deli and Source the Deli – two places selling a wonderful array of cheese, ham and more. Close by is Bluebird Bakery on Little Shambles, a must for its breads and tray bakes.

The Hairy Fig off Fossgate offers truffle oil, pastrami, mussels and wonderful gifts for the foodie in your life. On the other side of town, Mannion & Co is a deli and cafe with a distinctive continental feel which opened in a former greengrocer’s shop in Blake Street.

Music lovers

Earworm Records, found via an alleyway off Goodramgate, stocks vinyl and CDs, T-shirts and more for the music connoisseur. Head to Fossgate to choose from Give The Dog A Bone’s colourful and offbeat range of cards.

Shambles Market, found between Shambles and Parliament Street, sells a daily selection of fresh fruit, veg, meat and fish –not to mention clothes, music, pet accessories and more

Artisan goods

On Gillygate Love Cheese sells cheese from Yorkshire and across the UK, with a few continental varieties, as well as artisan bread. You can create a curry as good as the one in your favourite restaurant with a pack of flavourings from Rafi’s Spicebox on Goodramgate. The first traditional butcher’s shop to open in York in many years, Appleton’s sells delicious pork pies, cured hams and patés from its home on Lendal.

York Gin specialty gin shop in York

Sample any gin at York Gin and purchase large bottles, gift sets, kitchenware and accessories

Demijohn on Museum Street – the “liquid deli” – serves up an amazing range of olives oils, balsamic vinegars and fruit vinegars. Similarly, il Gusto on Low Petergate sells oils and vinegars, liqueurs, whiskies, rums and brandies. York Gin is based in one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the 16th century Tudor-era Sir Thomas Herbert House on Pavement opposite M&S and the Shambles. It stocks The York Gin Company’s many award-winning gins, other top Yorkshire gins, plus lots of gifts and souvenirs.

Sweet tooth?

The best news of all? You’re never far from chocolate perfection in this city. York Cocoa Works on Castlegate is home to a wonderful array of treats while Monk Bar Chocolatiers on Shambles offers a taste of hand-made heaven.

Gifts and specialists

There are lots of specialist shops in York but none more delightful than Duttons for Buttons. All your haberdashery needs will be met inside this lopsided building on Coppergate, which dates from 1422, and stocks every size and shape of button imaginable.

Selection of Lego Minifigs in a shop

Lego fans are well-catered for in York

Monk Bar Model Shop is the place to go for model railways, plastic kits and diecast vehicles – or try P&S Hobbies and Models on Walmgate. And it is well worth a trip out to Wigginton Road to visit the ‘world’s smallest Lego shop’, Minifigs And Bricks.

Homeware designs

Snowhome on Gillygate is great for contemporary homeware designs, while Daisy Taylor’s on King’s Square is another card and gift shop worth a look. Upside Down is a recent addition to Bootham, offering unique home décor ideas. Low Petergate’s Cat Gallery is filled up to its whiskers with all things feline, while Cleggs on Goodramgate stocks an eclectic range of homewares and gifts.

Snowhome on Gillygate is great for contemporary homeware designs, while Daisy Taylor’s on King’s Square is another card and gift shop worth a look.

Christmas all year round!

Käthe Wohlfahrt on Stonegate is a German retailer specialising in all things Christmas. And if you love festive shopping, don’t forget St Nicholas Fair takes over Parliament Street with crafts, gifts, clothes, food and drink in the weeks before the big day.

Shopper admiring snow globe at a Christmas market

Don’t miss the annual Christmas Market if you’re visiting during the festive period

With such an amazing blend of fantastic local produce, traditional markets and gift shops, York is a shopper’s paradise!


A taste of Shambles Market

Read more about York

Image credits: ©Andy Falconer/Bence Boros/Neonbrand/Unsplash; Jiri Hera/Monkey Business/stock.adobe.com; York Gin; Video: Visit York/Youtube

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