A beautiful part of York with a nice little halloween market selling handmade crafts and gifts. The streets are very narrow and it was quite busy due to half term. Lots of cafes selling cakes and little gift shops. There are public toilets down silver street,just be aware they are 40p to use

An incredible little street, where you feel you have stepped back in time. There is a huge variety of shops along the way, including Harry Potter. It gets very busy, so I would recommend getting in early, or avoiding weekends and holidays.

This is a lovely historic street in the centre of York. In our experience, it can become very crowded and feels quite uncomfortable in those conditions. It is better to visit either early morning or later in the evening when it is not so crowded. Or in this case on a cold day in January.

Straight away you can see where JK Rowling got her inspiration for Diagon Alley from. Try avoid going during the main part of the day - try catch it early morning or evening to be able to see it properly. Lots of great little shops. Fans of Harry Potter will adore it.

The Shambles is an impossibly pretty street with rows of ancient small shops with their second and third stories almost meeting overhead. We've been here in years past. On this occasion, we were here on a Friday afternoon in August, which I would not recommend. Yes, the street is still attractive, but this is one of the claimed inspirations for "Diagon Alley" in the Harry Potter books and films. That is for good reason as it closely resembles the feel in the book. We like Harry Potter, but many of the shops have been taken up with Harry Potter merchandise. There were long lines to get into some of them, with the result that the street was extremely crowded. Until reading the reviews of others, I did not even realize that there were any of the original small shops left. We did come back later in the evening, and while the shops were closed it remains a charming and unique location, well worth a visit. For what it's worth, a second street claiming to be "Diagon Alley" is just south and below Edinburgh Castle, maybe 200 metres from the coffee shop (currently closed for renovation) where JK Rowling started writing the books. This is a notable location, but depending on your interest in fending off other would-be members of Gryffindor House, you may want to time your visit around the likely busy periods.

The historical market district of York has winding alleys and market stalls, with cut price items available for tourists, in a way that may provide a bargain. There are houses built in 17th century or even earlier, scattered throughout the centre. Lots of interesting shops and reasonable prices.

This remarkably preserved glimpse into our countrys long history is an absolute must see. We went once during the early afternoon and then came back later in the evening where we found it more enjoyable. During the day it is impossibly overcrowded, mainly with HP fans, so much so that it spoils it somewhat. Later on when the street quietens down a bit, it was far more enjoyable. We even managed to get inside the HP shops with minor queueing to see what all the fuss was about. Also spent some time in the market before finding an amazing little cafe to escape from the hordes in

We were recommended to visit the Shambles due to its history in York and unique architecture. It’s quite a different sight and worth taking in. Due to its influence in the Harry Potter books as Diagon Alley it’s now a popular attraction with fans of Harry Potter. Would recommend visiting early on a Sunday morning before the shops open if you want to enjoy the street without the massive queues for the various shops.

York is a lovely city and we really enjoyed our visit today. Using the park and ride saves the problem of navigating the city and finding a parking space. The Shambles is an amazing street, but I felt it has become a little too Harry Potter themed.

Wonderful place, fabulous shops, it was nice to walk there. Both the historical atmosphere and the modern shopping experience. And the small canteens on the market square offer a really great lunch option with a large selection and at a very good price.