Cities
United Kingdom York North Yorkshire Street

Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate

Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate
About

Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate is York’s shortest street and one of its most curiously named, stretching only a few dozen feet where Colliergate meets Pavement and Fossgate. First recorded in 1505 as “Whitnourwhatnourgate,” the name has long intrigued visitors and locals alike, with interpretations ranging from “neither one thing nor the other street” to the more playful “what a street!” Its unusual character is heightened by its proximity to the former St Crux Church, whose parish hall still backs onto it, and by its role as a tiny but lively link between some of York’s busiest thoroughfares. Over the centuries, the street has been widened, repaved, and reshaped, yet it retains its quirky charm and continues to spark curiosity. Today, Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate is celebrated less for its size than for its eccentric name and enduring place in York’s urban story, offering a reminder that even the smallest corners of the city can carry centuries of history and a touch of humour2.

York United Kingdom
Location

Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate is a very short, historic street located in the centre of York, connecting Colliergate to Pavement, Fossgate, and the Stonebow. It lies adjacent to St Saviourgate and backs onto the site of the former medieval St Crux Church, now represented by St Crux Parish Hall. The street is famed not only for its unusual name, which was first recorded in 1505 as "Whitnourwhatnourgate" and humorously means “neither-one-thing-nor-the-other street” or “what a street,” but also as a fine example of York’s narrow medieval streets. Nearby attractions include the Shambles, Stonebow, Fossgate, and the bustling Pavement shopping area, making it a charming and quirky part of York’s historic cityscape.

York Castle Museum York Castle Museum York Jorvik Viking Centre Jorvik Viking Centre York Yorkshire Museum Yorkshire Museum York National Railway Museum National Railway Museum York York Art Gallery York Art Gallery York Richard III Experience at Monk Bar Richard III Experience at Monk Bar York Henry VII Experience at Micklegate Bar Henry VII Experience at Micklegate Bar York Merchant Adventurers’ Hall Merchant Adventurers’ Hall York Fairfax House Fairfax House York York Theatre Royal York Theatre Royal York Grand Opera House York Grand Opera House York York Joseph Rowntree Theatre Joseph Rowntree Theatre York Friargate Theatre Friargate Theatre York According to McGee Gallery According to McGee Gallery York Blue Tree Gallery Blue Tree Gallery York Art of Protest Gallery Art of Protest Gallery York The Pyramid Gallery The Pyramid Gallery York Clifford’s Tower Clifford’s Tower York York City Walls York City Walls York Micklegate Bar Micklegate Bar York Bootham Bar Bootham Bar York Walmgate Bar Walmgate Bar York York Minster York Minster York St Michael le Belfrey Church St Michael le Belfrey Church York Holy Trinity Church Holy Trinity Church York St Martin le Grand Church St Martin le Grand Church York St Denys’s Church St Denys’s Church York Shambles Shambles York Shambles Market Shambles Market York Multangular Tower Multangular Tower York St Mary’s Abbey St Mary’s Abbey York York Observatory York Observatory York Roman Column Roman Column York Constantine the Great Statue Constantine the Great Statue York Treasurer’s House Treasurer’s House York The Mansion House The Mansion House York Museum Gardens Museum Gardens York Rowntree Park Rowntree Park York Homestead Park Homestead Park York Dean’s Park Dean’s Park York

User attributes