When I visited York the Shambles was packed out with shoppers and tourists taking photos, it made it hard to appreciate the place.

The Shambles is a well preserved medieval street. The street was mentioned in the Domesday Book, so it has existed for over 900 years. The houses project out into the lane in their upper stories, and nearly meet the houses on the other side.

The Shambles house shops for tourists including jewelry shops and antiques shops.

The Shambles in York is a narrow street of medieval houses. originally butchers quarters hence the name. (Saxon “Fleshammels”, which means, “the street of the butchers” ) It is said you can shake hands across the street from upper windows.
Lots of gift shops. Some nice some taccy. jewellery, gorgeous teddies, antiques etc. but the place selling swords and crests etc is pretty good. Also go in the shrine of Margaret Clitherow for an interesting bit of history. She was arrested in 1586 on the charge of harbouring Catholic priests. She was condemned to death by pressing (crushing beneath a heavy weight).
I have spent enjoyable times here since childhood but one memory will always stay with me. The morning after the fire in York Minster I stood, at a barrier, at the end looking. There were quite a few people. Weary firemen clearing up and tourists and locals. The acrid smell of smoke hung in the air..not a bird sang..no-one spoke just total silence.