10/11/2026
This is The Potions Cauldron at 9¾ Shambles, one of several wizard-themed businesses along York’s famous medieval street.
Opened in 2018 by two local entrepreneurs, the business has since expanded to other locations across the UK. It’s a good example of how an unusual idea can turn into a successful business.
But shops like these certainly divide opinion.
Some locals feel the Shambles is becoming too focused on tourists, with its traditional character increasingly overshadowed by fantasy-themed shops.
I can understand that concern. The Shambles has centuries of genuine history, having once been lined with butchers’ shops.
There’s also a misconception worth clearing up. Despite its frequent comparison with Diagon Alley, J.K. Rowling has explicitly said she’d never seen or visited the Shambles when she created the fictional street.
Personally, though, I think these businesses have their place.
The high street has changed enormously. With online shopping and the costs of running physical premises, businesses need to offer something people actually want to visit.
Tourism is a major part of York’s economy, and I’d much rather see independent businesses succeeding than empty shopfronts.
That doesn’t mean every shop should become another wizard-themed attraction. Variety matters, and so does protecting the character that makes the Shambles worth visiting in the first place.
Perhaps the challenge isn’t stopping change, but finding the right balance.
What do you think? Are these shops good for the Shambles, or has the street become too focused on tourism?
📸 by York England.
