Wow, what a treat!! Walking towards the city, this store caught my eye with all things cute and…read moretwee: mugs, egg cup holders, signs, cards, cute knick-knacks, along with a corner of the shop fashioned like an old candy store selling an assortment of goodies. At the back of the store there is a table with an assortment of cakes and tea. The BEST part is wandering up the spiral staircase to scour through the antiques. It's a small selection, but but there are some really nice finds!! There are tons of vintage shops in London, but I've never found anything that I really wanted to buy until I arrived in York. Maybe bc the market in London is extremely saturated, I feel like a lot of the stuff is cool but not enough for me to buy. I picked up a beautiful teacup and saucer set, and a little wool coin purse, though I didn't have room to get a teapot /creamer /sugar bowl set for only £12!! Also some beautiful 30s slinky metal purses, just not affordable for me. Le sigh!! Anyway, this store is a 15 min walk from the centre but its worth it to pop in and browse.

We visited this charming store today while walking from our B&B to the Minster. The selection of…read morecards is terrific, and the owner told us that most of them are produced by small card companies. There are also some pretty non-card items - including lots of colorful-looking types of candy - and there are a few tables at the back, where you can buy delicious-looking dessert items & tea/etc.

**June 2022: Weekday Afternoon Visit**…read more What a wonderful shop with tons of Harry Potter Merch! There were many items from collaborations that I had not seen in the states so this was quite a treat to see so many products that I had not seen before. I purchased a canvas tote bag (it's a reprint of Harry Potter's "undesireable #1" feature in the paper) that I used daily on my UK adventures and had gotten compliments on it. There's also tons of stationery, books, jewelry, key chains etc and of course many items to represent all four houses. They play HP music and the decor is definitely on theme. Recommend you checking them out!

A magical shop in a true Muggle Diagon Alley in the middle of the Shambles in York…read more Because the shop is small, there is usually a queue that wraps around to get in. Fear not Harry Potter fans, it moves rather quickly. Inside you can find all Harry Potter gadgets and souvenirs of different sizes and kinds. Having just gone to the Warner Bros Studio Tours in London, I can attest to the variety of items sold in this inspired shop - many of which I didn't even see at the official store! This is a truly wicked must-stop shop!

This is the kind of shop you pop into for a browse, not really with the intention of buying…read moreanything, but come out with arms full of 'stuff'.. So make sure you get a basket on your way in! Poundland has a bit of everything, from babies bottles, batterys and bleach to pet supplies, party poppers and pens. My daughter always stocks up on pens, paper crayons and felt tips aswell as naughty treats as yes, this shop does sell lots of sweeties and goodies! Some of the household stuff, as in the varses/picture frames aren't of the bestest quality - but who cares? it costs a quid! good value in anyones book.

Poundland can be the source of some fantastic bargains, and this is one of the bigger and better…read moreones. It's quite spacious considering, and they stock a particularly good range of food and drink. Service is friendly and there are plenty of checkouts so it's fine even at busy times. However as is inevitably the way with pound shops, they never stock the thing you go in for; you always come out with something slightly different, or completely different. Also, be wary of the quality of some of their electrical goods, like headphones, some of which are utterly terrible. And don't get too caught up in the one pound is a bargain! mentality- you might find yourself paying a pound here for something which will only cost up 60p in Tesco But otherwise, it's great.

This Morrisons store is fairly new to York and is located on Foss Islands road…read more Morrisons offers what you would expect from a large supermarket chain - but it is a little different. Morrisons 'market place' is a unique set out for a supermarket and you can find fresh fruit and veg along side a fish monger and butchers where just like the advert shows you, the staff will be more than happy to talk you through whatever cut of meat you require or even fillet your fish for you. There is also a bakery and rotisserie offering yummy treats such as pork pies and sausage rolls as well as hot roast chickens. Another good point worth mentioning about Morrisons is that they do from time to time do brilliant offers. It's worth looking out for them on the internet or in your local paper.

A new Morrisons supermarket between Foss Islands Road and James street near to the centre of the…read morecity of York. It is large enough to have a full range of goods that you would expect of Morrisons and is conveniently located for York city centre. Being brand new it is also clean and specious, There is also a large car park with petrol station and car wash available. Petrol & Diesel is usually the cheapest in York as Morrison's always seem to be the first retailer to announce price changes. This store is also on the same site as a large Homebase store and Frankie & Benny's restaurant!

Yorks best department store as far as I'm concerned!…read more I don't know if it's just me but wondering around the store, I can't help but get the feel that this place is a little old fashioned and I think that that is part of it's charm. The staff on each department are extreemly attentive and are quick to ask if you need any assistance whilst browsing! something that I would usually find quite irritating, but not in Browns as the approach isn't hard sell, it's just good old fashioned customer service. The make up counters are fantastic, and if you're looking to re stock your make up bag, then have a word with one of the cosmetic assistance as they are fully trained and can advise you of which products are for you

its a small department store, been going for as long as i've lived in york (15yr) so it can't be…read moredoing that baddly. fashion wise not much of interest for me, i would say its more for the mature generation. but i like a wonder through, and its not bad during the sales. and layout of the store is easy to navigate through. and the aisles are not narrow and cramped. oh if your looking for bra extenders etc there underwear section has all usefull little gadets (clothing related) that you might not find in other fashion stores in center of york the beauty counters are good though and the sisley and clarins counters staff are always pleasent and ready to help and advise on products, they also have a lancome, dior chanel, clinique and elizabeth arden can find some of the counter staff a little snooty, but thats fine by me as i just take my hard earned cash else where!

I went to this Sainsburys for the first time yesterday as I was in York city centre and needed some…read moregroceries. This is the only big supermarket in town that I know of (apart from M&S but they don't sell everything I wanted.) There is no big Asda/Tesco/Morrisons in town though. It's a nice big Sainsburys and they sell everything I would need, lots of frozen food, fresh fruit and veg, tins, bakery, household cleaning, etc. It was busy when I went but they have lots of tills and self scanners so there was no queueing.

If you're in York, I recommend this shop if you're into journaling and crafting. Lots of blank…read moresketchbooks and journals, handmade paper and art supplies. I also picked up a calligraphy set as a gift. Such a lovely shop.

From the owner: Specialist paper shop, offering Italian, Nepalese, Indian & Japanese sheet paper, journals, photo…read morealbums, calligraphy supplies, lampshade making kits, paper pulp, origami papers, leather notebooks and many paper related gifts.

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.

This M&S looks very grand from the outside but when you get inside it completely falls flat on its…read moreface. Firstly, despite having a makeover, it still looks like something out of 1972. Especially the food hall, even though it takes up the entire ground floor, it still feels tiny. Also, it is very badly laid out with the café and toilets on the third floor and if you are waiting for the lift, you will constantly have to squeeze against the walls because the lift is right in the middle of the store in the most busy area. The toilets (by the returns bit on 3) always have really long queues and once I had to give up and come back later because of how long the line was. The building however is very pretty from the outside.

I can only really comment on the food section here, as I popped in to buy some sandwiches. (I know,…read moreI know; surely York must have some nice tea-shops? Well, I couldn't find any that either had space or didn't charge the earth). I suspect it was my fault for choosing a Saturday afternoon, but I find it hard to believe that the citizens of York put up with this all the time: the food section is cramped, badly laid out, with displays of impulse purchase items (eg tins of posh biscuits) stacked up in places perfectly designed to impede customer circulation, and slow, slow tills. It took me 20 minutes to buy my sarnies, and it felt horribly claustrophobic. The worst M&S I've been to in a very long time: the stars are only because the choice and quality of products is good.