Thirsk is a small compact Market Town mentioned in the Doomsday book as Tresche. The cobbled Market Place dates from medieval times and is still the centre of commerce in Thirsk. Most of the shops are still around the market place extending north up Kirkgate to "The World of James Herriot", Thirsk Museum and the spectacular 15th century church St Marys. Eastwards the shops extend towards Cod Beck along Millgate and Finkle Street and to the West along Castlegate and Westgate towards Sowerby and the racecourse.

Whilst Thirsk and Sowerby cannot boast the big name "chainstores" of larger towns and shopping malls it is more than adequately provided for with the smaller establishments one would hope to find in a small old fashioned market town. Most of the major banks are represented with their hole in the wall cash machines, chemists, three book shops and several supermarkets. Several butchers selling local fresh meat and game compete for your trade along with the delicatessen and bakers. Small alleyways hide other businesses -teashops, clothing, furniture, hairdressers. With an art gallery, library, cinema and leisure centre Thirsk has most of the facilities one would hope to find in a town of its size.

Thirsk Market days are Mondays and Saturdays when the south side of the Market Place has a variety of stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables, candles, computer games to health food, clothing and hardware. On the second Monday of the month there is also a "Farmers Market" featuring locally produced goods. On most bank holiday Mondays the whole market place is almost filled by stalls and can be very busy.

As befits a market town and a former mail-coach posting stage the market place is still ringed by public houses most of which provide food. Other eateries include traditional Fish and Chips, Indian, Chinese, French and pizza takeaways as well as cafes, a bistro and restaurants.

Car parking is currently free in Thirsk with a mixture of short term disk parking (2 hours) and longer stay parking,  disks are available from shops. It also easy to get to by bus and train. Thirsk station which is about a mile from the town centre has direct services to York and Darlington giving access to east coast mainline with fast services to London (2h 45m) Edinburgh (3h 15m) as well as other long distance destinations.

Thirsk Wikipedia entry

Thirsk Library Finkle Street 01845 522268
Internet access available.
Mon 10.00-17.30 Tue 14.00-17.30 Wed Closed
Thu 10.00-17.30 Fri 10.00-19.00 Sat 09.30-13.30.
Mobile Library Routes Times Dates

Thirsk Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre 01845 522447
Swimming, solarium, sauna & exercise/fitness centre 7 days a week.

Thirsk Museum 14/16 Kirkgate 01845 527707
Open Easter-October (Opens March 17th 2008)
Mon Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat 10.00 - 16.00 Closed Thurs & Sun

Home Front Thirsk memories of Thirsk in the 2nd World War

The Ritz Cinema 01845 524751
up to date programme details from Thirsk's volunteer run cinema.

Thirsk Town Council
49a Market Place Thirsk YO7 1HA (Phone/Fax) 01845 526445

Thirsk and Sowerby Past and Present is a trail of 15 interpretation boards around the market town of Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

thirskonline.co.uk probably the first Thirsk website

thirskweb.com another Thirsk website