This place is absolutely amazing! The staff are super friendly, everything is eco friendly, and the…read moreatmosphere of the store is so peaceful. Great place to get gifts or buy stuff for yourself.

Shared Earth is a great place to buy gifts, although if I'm honest they don't stock much for your…read moreaverage guy. Everthing in the shop is ethical and environmentally friendly. They stock things like notebooks, photo albumns, cushions, throws, money boxes and re-useable shopping bags. They do a great range of jewellery and some fantastic wine glasses made from recycled glass bottles. Buy your gifts here and shop with a clear conscience. The staff are friendly and the shop has a relaxed, laid back atmosphere; they're used to people just browsing. It's not cheap, but not too dear either and you're paying for ethical goods.

Got lucky & found this amazing shop on my travels last week. I bought several items & shipped them…read moreto the US, they arrived today & I'm so happy! The shop is full of beautiful things , Holly & Jane we're very helpful & friendly. Will definitely stop in next time I'm in the UK!

Be aware this shop does not offer refunds, only exchanges. Whilst they have a very small sign on…read morethe desk of the counter (and one on the wall, which is not visible to read at all), it is very misleading. My partner bought a Christmas gift (globe) which wasn't accurate for £85 without the staff notifying him to the no refunds policy, which you might expect they would at Christmas time. There is very little of substance to spend £85 on in the store, so very disappointed.

"Abandon despair, all ye who enter here", should be inscribed on top of the entrance to The Minster…read moreGate Bookshop. And yes, that's a positive take on the famous "Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate" of Dante's Inferno, for this place represents, in its entirety, the opposite to the Inferno's loss of hope. The Minster Gate Bookshop is a palace of wisdom, an oasis of knowledge, a refuge of hope and peace. When you walk up the stairs and see every single wall covered in the most magnificent old and modern tomes, you can't help but feel total and complete bliss. The selection of books in all floors is impeccable. It could take me or you days just browsing every shelf. I stumbled upon it on a visit to the Minster of York, the main attraction in town, but on a second visit the York Minster will be relegated to a secondary level of importance. My first stop will undoubtedly be The Minster Gate Bookshop!

A slanted, creaking world of antique books and maps can be found inches from the magnificent York…read moreMinster, tucked within a small alleyway. Having all at once the atmosphere of a bookshop, a museum, and an interesting relative's even more interesting house, the building provides a tranquil haven to become absorbed by fiction and history. The antiquarian volumes are breathtaking and cheaper editions can also be found for students stocking up for the new term. The History room is the loveliest, with an old desk and chair and battered old rug on the floorboards. The views out of the window are equally charming as the rooftops of the city reveal themselves like a Mary Poppins landscape.

Just been to 'Aladdins Cave' as I heard they sell just loads of second hand furniture and I'm…read morecurrently moving house. It's an old shabby looking little place which is literally rammed with stuff. It's hanging from the ceiling and everything! They have an assortment of sofas, chairs, pianos, desks, clocks, crockery, wardrobes, and much more. Aladdins Cave is a very approriate name for it! I was looking at a pair of brown leather sofas, a three seater and a two seater, and they were asking £200 for both of them, which I thought was a great price as they were in brilliant condition. I would definitely go back again and may purchase some furniture from there.

What a lovely little cafe we found on the Shambles! We had the perfect hot chocolate with fresh…read morestarters in a quaint, Victorian setting.

I love this shop. The clothes are fabulous and reasonably priced. I have bought several items for…read moremyself and my children. Quality is good and soo Vintage ( I am 72yrs) they are absolutely smashing. Thanks for bringing my style back into my life .....

Just a pretty, pretty store. We didn't buy anything. But it's just very nice to walk through…read morehere, as their style & decor is pleasant, modern/chic, yet with a fun vintage vibe. Wish we had these stores in America.

I walk into this store searching for a present for my wife…read more I am happy to report that I found the present. The staff is very helpful.

A funky little vintage shop on Gillygate in York. Blue Balloon sells retro and vintage clothes for…read moregirls and guys. They stock some original vintage clothes, mostly T shirts and shirts, but some skirts and dresses too. In addition they make retro-look clothes out of vintage fabrics, giving you something just that little bit unusual. Not a widely visited shop as not many people know about it, but well worth going to now you know about it if vintage is your thing. Not wildly expensive either.

Yorkshire Book Clearance Outlet is a great shop for cheap books, which I love as I'm a big reader…read moreand am always keen to buy bargain books. It's a sweet little shop absolutely crammed with cheap books, aka three for a fiver. My only complaint is that they're not in much of an order (such as alphabetical) so you have to have time and patience to weed through them until you find what you want.