Until the 19th-century, what is now Parliament Street was covered with buildings, facing onto Pavement, Jubbergate, and St Sampson's Square.

The markets in Pavement and St Sampson's Square had become increasingly crowded, and after considering the possibilities of enlarging them, or establishing a new market on various potential sites, the city corporation decided to construct a broad street linking the two, which would become a new marketplace.

[1][3] In 1989, a competition was held to redesign the street, and this led to it being largely pedestrianised, with a single carriageway on one side.

[5][6] The northern end of the street is at St Sampson's Square, and it runs south to the junction of Pavement, Piccadilly, High Ousegate and Coppergate.

[2] The York City and County Bank was one of the grandest original buildings on the street, but was demolished in 1971.