Designer Living
Design Living & Antiques Trail
When it comes to books York simply oozes (or should that be Ouses) style.
On Bootham Janette Ray Rare and Out of Print Books specialises in architecture, design and garden books. Head back towards the City and turn left at Bootham Bar to explore the delights of Gillygate with David Long Interior Design, Snowhome and Bohemia Galleries for the ultimate must haves for the designer home.
Climb up onto the City Walls at Bootham Bar and walk clockwise round to Monk Bar, the most stylish stretch of York's walls, passing the Minster, Deanery and Treasurer's House. Down to Goodramgate and into Twenty Two Interiors, where you'll discover a treasure trove of impeccably tasteful contemporary accessories and furniture.
Continue up Goodramgate into King's Square for a coffee break at Café Harlequin, then onto Colliergate where you will find a York institution - Barnitts-the home and hardware store that once inside, goes on forever.
Next cross King's Square, with a quick look into the St Pauls Bookshop, and then turn left into Church Street and right onto Swinegate for the fabulous Porcupine and Cusp. Leave the fashionable quarter by Grape Lane to reach Braithwaite's Gallery on Low Petergate and the Minster Gates Bookshop.
Continue onto High Petergate for a visit to Café Concerto for lunch, where they certainly hit the right note with great décor, the walls are papered with sheet music, delicious food and relaxed ambience.
Refuelled and revived, stroll back down Petergate and right into Stonegate's Antiques Centre and Cavendish Antiques. Mulberry Hall is famous for its exquisite china and crystal, not forgetting to check the ultra modern kitchen store at the back. Retrace your steps a few metres and turn into Coffee Yard to discover Barley Hall, a beautiful 15th century townhouse.
Back out onto Stonegate and you will arrive at the Cath Kidston store with its English eccentric homeware and accessories in vintage - inspired prints.
You can pick up the antiques trail by turning right onto Blake Street up to Duncombe Place for the Red House Antiques Centre where a range of dealers occupy one of York's finest Georgian houses.
Cross Lendal Bridge and back up onto the walls round to Micklegate Bar. Before you venture through the bar walls check out top of the range goods for your kitchen at the Chef Superstore on Blossom Street. Back down into the city on Georgian Micklegate and on your left you will find delicious local produce in the Yorkshire Food Company, and then you'll quickly come to the Blake Head Book Shop and Vegetarian Café and also the French House, a cornucopia of fantastic French antique pieces.
Here too you'll find the Ken Spelman Bookshop which is crammed with excellent quality second hand books. In need of a little inspiration - continue back into town and across the river to nearby Fairfax House on Castlegate. One of York's most stylish Georgian landmarks, it houses Noel Terry's fine collection of furniture, porcelain and glass. From here venture to Clifford's Tower for another impressive view of York.
For an arty finale to an inspirational afternoon pop into Coppergate Gallery and Castle Galleries for original paintings and artworks, or Bespoke Country for rustic homeware. If you feel like making your own artwork why not call into Artspace opposite Clifford's Tower where they have workshops, classes and live jamming sessions! Don't miss the brand new School House Gallery stocking art, ceramics and jewellery next to the Quilt Museum.More antiquarian bookshops can be found on Fossgate which is conveniently the location of some of York's best restaurants, choose from J Bakers, Blue Bicycle.
Maybe take in a production at York Theatre Royal or the Grand Opera House or join one of the nightly ghost walks.....
*Please note shops that appear in italic are only to be found in York.
