Winchester is a cathedral city on the River Itchen, with the cathedral, the City Mill on Bridge Street and water meadows for an easy riverside walk.
Winchester is a compact cathedral city on the River Itchen. Winchester Cathedral is open to visitors with an admission charge that the cathedral says supports its upkeep, and annual passes allow repeat visits for a year. The pass includes cathedral tours and lunchtime concerts. Winchester City Mill on Bridge Street, a National Trust site, has a riverside cafe and a second-hand bookshop. Its Mill Race is closed while the water wheel is replaced, so check the National Trust page before you go.
Winchester station is at Station Hill and is managed by South Western Railway. It has step free access to all platforms, lifts and a Changing Places toilet. Winchester City Council runs Park and Ride sites on the east, south and west sides of the city. St Catherine's on the east side has 564 standard spaces, toilets and a help point, and the South Winchester site at Hockley Link has 854 standard spaces and is reached from M3 junction 11. The council lists charging hours at the east sites from 6am to 10pm.
The Great Hall is one of the finest surviving medieval halls in England and the last part of Winchester Castle standing. Its hammer-beam roof and the Round Table, linked to the King Arthur legend, are the main draws, with the Westgate Museum next door.
Photo: Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0The museum of the Royal Hampshire Regiment, based at Serle's House in Winchester, tells the story of the regiment from 1702 to 1992. There is a memorial garden, and entry is free.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0The city museum on The Square tells the story of Winchester, the former capital of England, through its collections and changing displays. It is one of three Winchester attractions on the Explorer ticket.
Photo: Tom Habibi, CC BY-SA 3.0The Cathedral sits in the centre of historic Winchester and is open to visitors throughout the week. Exhibitions, family trails, seasonal activities and lunchtime concerts run through the year.
Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0The ruins of the Bishops of Winchester's medieval palace, beside Winchester Cathedral. Much of the 12th-century palace of Bishop Henry of Blois survives, and in 1554 its East Hall was dressed for the wedding banquet of Queen Mary and Philip of Spain.
A 64-hectare floodplain reserve in the middle of Winchester, managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust in partnership with others. It is a wetland with a varied range of wildlife, including kingfishers.
Photo: Hugh Chevallier, CC BY-SA 2.0A chalk downland nature reserve on the edge of Winchester, managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Walks climb the hill for views over the city and across the chalk grassland.
Photo: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0A science centre with two floors of interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and one of the largest planetariums in the UK. It is aimed at families and school groups.
Santa and his elves set up in the medieval Great Hall, home of the Round Table, for a short family visit with a gift for every child. The ticket also covers elf-led crafts, letter writing and entry to the Great Hall and Westgate Museum.
Wooden chalets in the style of a German Christmas market fill the historic Close around Winchester Cathedral for just over a month, selling handmade gifts, local food and festive drinks. The cathedral itself runs Christmas services, music and tours alongside the market.
Theatre Royal Winchester's own traditional pantomime this year is Sleeping Beauty, written and directed by Robin Belfield with music by Simon Slater. Expect a hero, a villain, a dame, original songs and plenty of audience participation.
Winchester City Council runs a family-friendly Halloween walking tour of the city, starting from the Guildhall on Broadway. Fancy dress is encouraged, and families should wrap up warm.
Winchester BID's annual switch-on fills The Broadway with an evening of choirs, dance and school performances before local heroes press the button to light up the city. It is hosted by Jonny Meah from Heart Radio.
Winchester Round Table runs the city's bonfire and fireworks at North Walls Recreation Ground. The evening starts with a torchlit procession up the High Street, and the Mayor of Winchester lights the bonfire before the display. Proceeds after costs go to local good causes.
The Great Hall is one of the finest surviving medieval halls in England and the last part of Winchester Castle standing. Its hammer-beam roof and the Round Table, linked to the King Arthur legend, are the main draws, with the Westgate Museum next door.
Photo: Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0The museum of the Royal Hampshire Regiment, based at Serle's House in Winchester, tells the story of the regiment from 1702 to 1992. There is a memorial garden, and entry is free.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0The city museum on The Square tells the story of Winchester, the former capital of England, through its collections and changing displays. It is one of three Winchester attractions on the Explorer ticket.
Photo: Tom Habibi, CC BY-SA 3.0The Cathedral sits in the centre of historic Winchester and is open to visitors throughout the week. Exhibitions, family trails, seasonal activities and lunchtime concerts run through the year.
Photo: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0A science centre with two floors of interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and one of the largest planetariums in the UK. It is aimed at families and school groups.
Photo: Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0The museum of the Royal Hampshire Regiment, based at Serle's House in Winchester, tells the story of the regiment from 1702 to 1992. There is a memorial garden, and entry is free.
Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0The ruins of the Bishops of Winchester's medieval palace, beside Winchester Cathedral. Much of the 12th-century palace of Bishop Henry of Blois survives, and in 1554 its East Hall was dressed for the wedding banquet of Queen Mary and Philip of Spain.
A 64-hectare floodplain reserve in the middle of Winchester, managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust in partnership with others. It is a wetland with a varied range of wildlife, including kingfishers.
Photo: Hugh Chevallier, CC BY-SA 2.0A chalk downland nature reserve on the edge of Winchester, managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Walks climb the hill for views over the city and across the chalk grassland.
