Welcome to Fossgate, one of York’s oldest streets and an area with strong links to the city’s Viking past. The street takes its name from the nearby River Foss, which played an important role in trade and transport during the Viking period when York was known as Jórvík. Merchants and traders would once have travelled through this area carrying goods between the river and the busy markets at the centre of the city.

Over time, Fossgate became home to workshops, inns, merchants, and craftspeople, helping shape it into an important commercial street within medieval York. Many of the buildings lining the street today still reflect its long history, with historic architecture sitting alongside independent cafés, restaurants, and shops.

Although Fossgate is now known for its lively atmosphere and food scene, it remains one of the best places to experience the layers of York’s Viking and medieval history still woven into the modern city.