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York City’s Quirky Quarters & Secret Spaces You Shouldn’t Miss!
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items York is purportedly the most haunted city in the UK. Step through Monkgate, city walls, into over 2,000 years of history.
Founded by the Romans in AD 71, York bears the legacy of Viking warriors, Norman conquerors, and medieval England around every...
Map
Sections
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“My Home From Home”
“My Home From Home”
My favourite Haunts 👻
SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER TO 1 NOVEMBER 2026 -What a perfect time to visit York and join in the FREE EVENT Ghosts in the Gardens 👻 Trail. Follow the map around this beautiful, historic City, keeping an eye out for spirits and apparitions in plain sight...
Ghosts In The Gardens
🎁 Secret Space: Did you know there’s a second shop with no queues?
The Ghost Merchants have a secret Dispensary, across the road from York’s shortest street, with the longest name! You didn’t expect me to make it too easy to find, did you?
These...
The York Ghost Merchants
✨ Quirky Quarters: We were greeted with Jasmine tea and the Sora team briefly went through the 1.5 hour process. We were introduced to the traditional Japanese tools used to create our unique ring. I chose to work with solid 925 silver and my friend...
York: Bespoke Ring-Making Workshop
🐈⬛ Quirky Quarters: Strict time slots, so give yourself time to read the info cards in the front windows, they are individual photos and info about each Feline resident. Enjoy a delicious Red Velvet, Flapjacks, Carrot, Salted Caramel Brownies, Cho...
The Cat's Whiskers
🎁 Secret Space: If you have a sweet tooth you have to try the Apple Cinnamon, it’s truly scrumptious. Thinly sliced apple in a crepe style pancake is my go to, any time of day. Savoury or Sweet, they’re all delicious.
Double Dutch Pancake House
👻 Quirky Quarters: This ghost and ghouls walk is a terrifying, ……
York's Haunted Heart : Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows
🍄 Quirky Quarters: For dreamers, poets and the curious: the woods are calling you.
Neglected, overgrown and believed lost for over a hundred years, we are on the journey of restoring the lost gardens to their original glory.
Just outside the anc...
Dreamery Gardens and Museum
🎁 Secret Space: The York Cat Trail is a favourite activity for young and old. You can pick up the clues from here and I’ve included more details at the bottom of these notes.
In the shop you’ll discover the fascinating world of the Maneki Neko...
The Lucky Cat Shop
🐑.. Quirky Quarters: Lucy Pittaway is the UK’s most loved artist and I’ve been a huge fan of her art since meeting her in 2001! Visit her gallery and view her pastel original of ‘Night Lights on York Minster’, here’s a glimpse of it, as I have Lu...
Lucy Pittaway Gallery York
🎁 Secret Space: Ever fancied creating a perfume that’s completely unique to you? This is such an exciting experience! I took my daughter, we had lots of fun.
You’ll start by discovering a few perfume secrets — including why some scents last longe...
Fragrance Design Experience
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🤫 Secret Space: Any fan of the crime drama Patience needs a stroll along Precentor’s Court to walk in the footsteps of lead actress Ella Maisy Purvis (character name: Patience). You’ll find her ‘on screen home’ at No. 7, and pass by the stunning ...
Precentor's Court
🧨 Quirky Quarters: Guy Fawkes was actually born here! The rooms are stunning, with comfy beds and a hearty full English breakfast. The Inn offer free guided walks to their guests. It’s almost within touching distance of York Minster. At night, ...
Guy Fawkes Inn
🍸 Quirky Quarters: Explore ‘The House of Trembling Madness’ (THoTM), located on Stonegate. This is a must-visit for anyone enamored with York’s historic buildings. Step inside what appears to be a bottle shop and climb the stairs into a wooden-be...
House Of The Trembling Madness // Stonegate (The Original)
🎁 Secret Space: Quaint not so bijou book shop with many interesting titles. Bookish people need to visit this lovely shop. It’s nooks and crannies are filled with unusual titles and gifts. You may even come across a first edition, or a novel that...
The Little Apple Bookshop
📿 Secret Space: There’s a fascinating, comical story involving ‘domestic disagreements’ between husbands and wives. When a wife showed gumption, shall we say, her husband would lead her to Whip-Ma-Wop-Ma-Gate. Then give her a few seconds start to...
Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate: York's shortest street (just 80 feet long) features arguably its longest and most lyrical name. First recorded in 1505 as Whitnourwhatnourgate, the name means "neither one thing nor the other".
Fun, magical “drinkable potions” experience in a themed wizard room.
The Potions Cauldron
Step inside a literal dark fairy tale hidden just seconds from The Shambles. This extraordinary, micro-hotel features just five incredibly immersive, wizard-themed rooms—complete with moving portraits, secret doors, and flickering candlelight. Instea...
Hocus Pocus Tiny Hotel
Let’s compare York’s heavily preserved, ‘chocolate-box’ historical landmarks with its bold, avant-garde architectural features! Just look at how modern designers actively disrupt or dialogue with the past. While York is famous for its strict preser...
York City Centre
✨The quirky factor: see the first ever flushing toilet! It was built for King Henry III 🤣
We visited the Castle in York, the Tower is pretty much the only part that survived intact! From the top on the beautifully constructed viewing platform you ...
Clifford’s Tower, York