We control vehicle access within York's pedestrian zone footstreet area, to create a safer and more attractive city centre and to reduce inner city pollution.
Access for emergency vehicles is not restricted in the footstreet area.
Blue Badge holders can drive into the city centre by presenting a valid Blue Badge to staff who can open barriers at Goodramgate and Blake Street between 10.30am and 5.00pm daily. Outside those times the barriers are open and Blue Badge holders can drive into the city centre.
Other vehicles are not allowed within the pedestrian zone during footstreet hours or 24 hours a day in some areas, and cycling is not permitted, unless stated otherwise.
Footstreet hours
We control the times when vehicles can access York city centre, in order to create additional space for pedestrians, and to provide opportunities for businesses to expand into the highway and public spaces.
Currently, the pedestrian zone footstreet hours are between 10.30am and 5.00pm, 7 days a week.
We understand that controls over vehicle access to certain streets within the pedestrian area of York affects some businesses, disabled people and residents living in the city centre.
Get more information on current city centre disabled access and Blue Badge parking in York.
Map of footstreets in York
Footstreets and different access restrictions are marked as different coloured areas on the map; click an individual feature to see more details.
Zoom in (+) or zoom out; (-) or move/drag the map to reveal information; you can also:
- search by street name or postcode
- click >> or << to reveal or hide the map legend
York's pedestrian zone
The footstreet area includes the following streets.
- Blake Street, barriers in place every day between 10.30am and 5.00pm
- Castlegate, but with an exemption for Blue Badge holders
- Church Street
- Colliergate
- Coney Street
- Davygate
- Feasegate
- Goodramgate, between the junctions with Deangate and Low Petergate, barriers in place every day between 10.30am and 5.00pm
- King's Square
- Lendal
- Little Stonegate
- Low Petergate
- Market Street
- High Ousegate
- Parliament Street
- St Helen's Square
- Swinegate
The following footstreets have some additional restrictions:
Deangate and Minster Yard
- Deangate and Minster Yard are closed to motor vehicles at all times, but cycling is permitted
- cyclists must proceed slowly and in a considerate manner as the space is shared with pedestrians
Fossgate
- cyclists must proceed one way, in a north-westerly direction, slowly and in a considerate manner as the space is shared with pedestrians
- access only for loading in designated areas, businesses and residents
- taxi drop off and collection points between 27 Fossgate and Merchantgate
High Petergate
- cyclists must proceed one way, in a south-easterly direction, slowly and in a considerate manner as the space is shared with pedestrians
Shambles
- Shambles is closed to general traffic at all times
- protected by bollards; vehicles cannot gain access without authorisation or prior arrangement
- loading is allowed before 10.30am and after 5.00pm
Stonegate
- Stonegate is closed to general traffic at all times
- protected by bollards; vehicles cannot gain access without authorisation or prior arrangement
- loading is allowed between 5.00am and 10.30am
- unlike other footstreets, there is no vehicle access to Stonegate after 5.00pm