TouchScreenTravels

Our Touch, your Travels…

This is a preview of the full content of our York’s Best app.

Please consider downloading this app to support small independent publishing and because:

All content is designed for mobile devices and works best there.
Detailed in-app maps will help you find sites using your device’s GPS.
The app works offline (one time upgrade required on Android versions).
All advertising (only present on Android versions) can be removed.

The app will also allow you to:

Add custom locations to the app map (your hotel…).
Create your own list of favourites as you browse.
Search the entire contents using a fast and simple text-search tool.
Make one-click phone calls (on phones).

Grape Lane

A very grown-up snickelway ...

Grapes in York??

Stroll down the medieval alleyway Coffee Yard leading off Stonegate, and you pass under a very low entrance, tunnels under buildings and emerge into Grape Lane, now a smart snickelway with a variety of boutique shops and cafés, leading on to Swinegate with its newer venues.

But Grape Lane was not always so grand. It is recorded that in the 14th century this was York's red light district, and the houses were of ill-repute.

Thus the name. Grape comes from grap, meaning grope. And the local visitors to the ladies resident there actually knew it as Grope * * * * Lane. (Check Wikipedia if you're curious.)

Nothing at all to do with fine wine or vineyards, then.

TIME Allow a few minutes

Practical Info Practical Info icon

LOCATION Minster Area

Grape Lane, Y1 7HU

1200–1600: Medieval York

The Minster Area

York In-A-Day

A day in the capital of "God's own county"

Image by