Art, Design, and Indie Shops in York, England, York, England

Take a walk around the lovely city centre of York, England, with this guide for art and design lovers.

York is one of the most charming cities in Europe. It has many historic points of interest, all sorts of myths and legends, old cobbled streets, and an impressive Gothic Cathedral.

I’ve been to York twice. The first time, I got to learn a lot about its history through some guided tours with locals. I also loved its scenic views, especially along the river.

On my second visit to York, I wanted to explore something else that York is known for, and that’s indie shops.

Independent businesses are very popular in York. While you’ll definitely see many of the familiar high street chains that you can find everywhere in the UK, the indie shops are everywhere you look in York.

I must say there’s something life affirming about seeing so many independent businesses, family-run shops, and small galleries; it’s certainly unusual these days.

I made an easy to follow self-guided tour, with a focus on indie shops and galleries for art and design lovers.

The tour starts at York railway station. Exit the station and walk towards Micklegate Bar. It’s not a pub, It’s one of York’s most important historic landmarks, a medieval gateway which was the southern entrance to the city. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).