I am busy. I do not find long working days particularly good for either body or soul. During periods of insane activity, one must always find a little time to spend in the restorative presence of friends, and it was great to meet up with Felix the other day. We spent a lovely, crafty few hours in York, highlights of which included a cake shaped like a cauliflower, and these amazing tea-cup buttons that Felix found in Duttons (of course).
I thought it might be a good idea to produce a map, linking together my favourite York crafty locations. You can click each map-marker to see my notes on each location, or click on ‘larger map’ to zoom in and see the full thing in much more detail.
Each marker takes you to one of eleven craft hotspots. In no particular order, they are:
1. Duttons (for Buttons)
2. Betty’s (tea. baked goods. confectionery.)
3. Viking Loom (embroidery, quilting, beading)
4. Sheepish (best place for yarn)
5. The Japanese Shop
6. York Beer and Wine (and cheese and cider) shop
7. Priestley’s Vintage Clothing
8. Quilter’s Guild Museum
9. York Castle Museum
10. York Brewery
11. Monk Bar Chocolatiers
(Betty’s. Yorkshire delicacies indeed).
This list is entirely personal, and a bit idiosyncratic. For example, I like ‘Sheepish’ for Yarn, and the ‘Viking Loom’ for embroidery supplies, and I prefer both to ‘Craft Basics’ on Gillygate. On my list you will find beer and cheese, wool and cakes, the finest local produce and ingredients, and (perhaps incongruously) some lovely stuff from Japan. There are also two brilliant museums: the York Castle Museum (chock full of fabulous textiles and intriguing domestic objects), and the museum and archive of the UK Quilter’s Guild (now happily housed in their new home in St Anthony’s Hall). Check their websites for opening times and listings of current exhibitions.
One of the best things about York is how compact and pedestrian-friendly it is. All of the craft hot spots on my list are within or near the city centre, and all are in in easy walking distance from each other. Walking around York is aided by two of the city’s unique geographic / architectural features: its rivers and its walls. The city is bisected by the rivers Foss and Ouse, the latter of which is lined by a lovely Georgian path known (then and now) as the “New Walk“. As well as being a genuine pleasure in itself, a quick walk along the “New Walk” takes you to the haven of refreshment that is the York Beer and Wine shop. A York organisation has produced this great guided tour of the New Walk, which I strongly recommend reading. (I used to live in the first location on this tour many moons ago when I was a student. Ahem.)
The Romans built the original walls around the city they named Eboracum. These defensive walls have been rebuilt several times since over the centuries, and today you can walk almost the whole way round the city centre along well-maintained wall paths which, according to York City Council, are tramped on by around a million people a year. Several of my craft hotspots are near to the bars (or gates) which form the stopping-off and getting-on points for wall-walkers. These include Monk Bar Chocolatiers (located, unsurpsingly, by Monk Bar) and The Viking Loom (close to Bootham Bar).
(Felix walks along the city walls toward Bootham Bar).
As I said, this list is entirely personal, but if any of you Yorkshire folk feel I’ve missed a really vital craft hot spot, do tell me, and I can make additions (or amendments) to the map. Hope you enjoy it! Thankyou!
(tree of knowledge on the doorway of York Minster).
I can’t believe I lived in York and never visited the Quilter’s Guild Museum! Admittedly my time spent living there predates the time I became interested in quilting…
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thanks – am moving to York in September so this will be very useful
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Woo, going to York in a couple of weeks and should have a couple of hours free for buying pretty things. I need little buttons for owl eyes and haven’t managed to find any I like in Edinburgh.
I’ve always managed to resist going into Monk Bar Chocolatiers but have a couple of friends birthdays coming up soon. The perfect excuse!
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Hurrah for the amazing photos you took, for the wondrousness of our day and for the marvellous craft guide you have put together! May many more crafters enjoy York as much as we did, owing to this post!
x
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This made me want to visit York again too! I haven’t been there for soo long (about 9 years I think). I used to love walking round the walls in spring when all the daffs are out. My favourite sweet place was the fudge shop in the Shambles where you could watch them make the fudge – is that still there?
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But where are the best pubs? I’m sure you must have tried a few? Thanks, this is a great reminder to visit York again – you have not even mentioned the second hand bookshops Spelman and Janette Ray are brilliant.
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Great post Kate, some bad news though….The Japanese Shop has closed down a few weeks ago. Luckily I’d had a bit of a stock up in their sale before they went but I was quite sad indeed.
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When are you gonna give up your day job and become a travel writer, darling? This was such an enjoyable piece.
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I would love to visit those places. I saw Felixs sweater in Ravelry and does’t it look fab on?
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That’s so helpful – I’m off to York soon and wasn’t aware of a couple of the places you mentioned – thanks for posting this!
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Next time I’m in York…
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This is perfect! Thank you! I am planning a trip to York soon and these are exactly the places that I want to visit.
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This made me want to go back to York. Last time I was there was a half term break with my son years ago (happy memories). Really generous of you to take time out to do guide while you are so busy.
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Oh dear, I’m really going to have to take a trip up to York now, it just looks so enticing and it’s years since I’ve been.
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Sheepish! Went there for the first time on Friday (I’m at university in Durham and a friend and I thought we’d have an adventure) and it is absolutely lovely! Wish there were one slightly closer to home, Durham’s great for fabric but sadly knitters are not as well catered for… And isn’t York beautiful too…
I love your blog (have been reading in manner of lurk for a few weeks now) and it is ever so readable. Cheers! x
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this is very nostalgic for me as my first ever costume job post college was at York Theatre Royal, some 20 or so years ago now. i think i must be due a visit! your links are great…thanks for sharing your day.
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Thanks for the recommendations! I will have to investigate York some time when we’re in Wakey visiting The Fella’s folks.
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Lovely Kate. York has always been one of my favourite cities. I have extremely fond memories of the place from the early ’80’s.
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This is a lovely idea, one day I’d like to get something together similar for Oxford – how wonderful to have blogger led crafty tours
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I am sorry this comment is going to be off topic, but I just wanted to flag up that a pic of your owls knitted by one of your readers has appeared in The Knitter. It’s out in the shops next week but has already started arriving via subs. There’s the link to your blog too…!
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