An unspoilt cathedral city on the edge of the South Downs, Winchester is England's ancient capital and former seat of King Alfred the Great. Today, Winchester combines the best of city life with the freshness of the surrounding countryside. One hour from London, this is England as it ought to be and a destination for those who want to see where today's England originated.
Winchester is most well known for its magnificent eleventh century cathedral and for the Great Hall which, for over 600 years, has housed the mysterious Round Table.
The city is also the home of great places to eat, is the birthplace of the modern game of cricket, the resting place of author Jane Austen and inspiration to the many craft-makers and artists who live here, Winchester is a destination for all year round.
Places to See...
Winchester Cathedral:
No-one who comes to Winchester should miss out on viewing this magnificent structure. There has been a Cathedral in Winchester since about 648 AD. The foundations of the current Cathedral were laid out in 1079 by Walkelin, the first Norman Bishop. The original Norman cathedral measured 535 ft in length, the longest then in existence. This is 13m longer than the present structure, the Norman towers at the West front were removed about 1350. Within its walls took place the burial of William Rufus (1100), the coronation of Richard I (1194), the marriage of Henry IV (1401), and the marriage of Queen Mary (1554).
Many of the ancient Kings of England are buried here, alongside Saints, Bishops, and many notable `commoners´, such as Jayne Austen and Izaac Walton. The 12th century `Winchester Bible´, font and wall paintings have survived, along with many other later works of art. Before leaving the Cathedral any visitor should spare the time to tour the Cathedral Close. All are welcome to visit the Cathedral which is normally open from 8.30am to 6.00pm every day (5.30pm on Sundays).
The Great Hall:
Situated at the top of the High Street just to the left of The Westgate, The Great Hall and Sally Port are the only surviving parts of Winchester Castle. The Great Hall was one of the largest and finest in England. Its many features include stained-glass windows, a judges gallery and wrought steel gates that were installed in 1983 to commemorate the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.
Open: All year, daily 10am–5pm except Christmas and Boxing Day
City Museum:
The kids will love this place with it's interactive displays. Galleries tell the story of Winchester from its origins as a prehistoric trading centre and Roman regional capital, pre-eminence as a principal city in the Anglo-
Norman kingdom, development and decline in the Middle Ages, through to modern times. Reconstructed 19th and 20th century shops. Hands-on activities and quizzes for the whole family to enjoy and admission is FREE!
Open: Daily Apr-Oct, Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm, Sun, 12noon-5pm.
Nov-Mar, Tue–Sat, 10am-4pm, Sun, 12noon-4pm.
River Park Leisure Centre:
River Park Leisure Centre is a modern, well appointed leisure complex, offering an excellent range of facilities and activities for people of all ages. Opening Times: Mon-Fri: 06.30 to 23.00 Sat: 06.30 to 18.00 Sun: 07.00 to 23.00
Surrounding areas:
Jane Austens House:
Jane Austen's house is a pleasant seventeenth century house in the pretty village of Chawton in Hampshire, not far from her birthplace of Steventon, where she wrote her famous novels including Pride & Prejudice. The museum houses an attractive collection of items connected with Jane and her family, including the table where she used to write her novels.
There is a wide selection of souvenirs in the museum shop, as well as a good collection of new and secondhand books, videos and cassettes connected with this writer.
Opening times: March to December open daily from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day. January and February open weekends and local school half-term days from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway:
A spectacular 200-cre woodland garden, famous for the Rothschild collection of azaleas and camellias, which bring an array of colour in Spring. See Daffodil Meadow & the Rock Garden in early Spring, while the exotic Sundial Garden and green borders are glorious in Summer. Maples and azaleas in Autumn put on a brilliant show of colour. Enjoy a special 20 minute journey on Exbury's 12 1/4 gauge Steam Railway through part of the Gardens, great fun for all the family.
INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium:
INTECH is a science centre with 90 hands-on exhibits for all the family to enjoy. Opening March 2008, the UK's largest Planetarium. A vast screen and digital projection will project you through the universe. Stunning colour and sound. An under cover destination with easy access from M3, free parking, cafe, picnic area and shop.
Shopping:
Winchester boasts a tempting array of independent shops, boutiques and art galleries in scenic settings. The city's compact, pedestrian-friendly streets make a refreshing change to the large-scale malls found in other cities and its lively, bustling atmosphere, colourful markets offer local arts, crafts and produce.
The main shopping streets are:
Brooks Area, The Square, The High Street, Kingsgate Street, Parchment Street and St Thomas Street.
Eating Out:
Drawing on its rural resources,Winchester enjoys a growing reputation for local produce and great fare, endorsed by the size and popularity of its thriving monthly farmers' markets.
The Winchester District is home to a number of award-winning pubs and restaurants, so once you've sampled the best of the city, be sure to travel out into the surrounding villages for a complete gourmet experience.
Getting here:
By Bus:
Winchester is on the main bus routes to and from the South, with connections to most destinations in the UK. There are regular services from Heathrow, London, Oxford and Southampton. Most services operate from the Broadway, in the heart of the City.
By Road:
There are excellent road links to Winchester from all parts of the UK.
London - M3
South West - A303
South Coast - M27 & M3
South East - M20, M25, M3, or A272
North & Midlands - A34
By Rail:
Winchester lies on the main line from Southampton to London Waterloo and the Midlands. Average journey time Winchester - London is 55 minutes.
There are excellent connections to and from most parts of the Country. There is a direct line through Southampton Parkway, which serves Southampton International Airport.
By Air:
The nearest Airport is Southampton (Eastleigh). There are daily flights from Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and the Channel Islands, with regular scheduled services to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, and Newcastle. There is easy access to the M3 and Rail Network. London Heathrow (50 miles) and London Gatwick (72 miles) have good road and rail links, with journey times of between 1 and 2 hours to Winchester.
Photo courtesy of Winchester Tourism
