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.

Me and friends nicknamed it black books although the staff are nothing like Bernard black it is a…read moresimilar size and feels like entering the shop from the tv series. Great little book shop great prices and are happy to order you a book in if needed. Also do signed copy's of books as well!

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.

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 .....

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.

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.

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.