Things To Do in Winchester
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Winchester Attractions
Winchester and its surrounding countryside lend themselves to walks. Space is too tight here to document the many possibilities, but the tourist centre has compiled a helpful free pamphlet, The Winchester Walk, that details the various possibilities for walking tours of their town.
- Landmark
Castle Great Hall
This is the only part that remains of the castle first erected in Winchester by the Normans. Dating from the 1200s, it is one of the finest examples of a medieval hall in England, with its timber roof supported on columns of Purbeck marble. The first fortress here was erected by… - Historic Site
Chawton Cottage
You can see where Jane Austen spent the last 7 1/2 years of her life, her most productive period. In the unpretentious but pleasant cottage is the table on which she penned new versions of three of her books and wrote three more, including Emma. You can also see the rector's George…Outside of Winchester
- Historic Site
The Hospital of St. Cross
Founded in 1132, the hospital is the oldest charitable institution in England. It was established by Henri du Blois, the grandson of William the Conqueror, as a link for social care and to supply life's necessities to the local poor and famished travelers. It continues the tradition… - Religious Site
Winchester Cathedral
This is one of the great churches of England. The present building, the longest medieval cathedral in Britain, dates from 1079, and its Norman heritage is still in evidence. When a Saxon church stood on this spot, St. Swithun, bishop of Winchester and tutor to young King Alfred,… - Library/University
Winchester College
Winchester College was founded by William of Wykeham, bishop of Winchester and chancellor to Richard II, and was first occupied in 1394. Its buildings have been in continuous use for more than 600 years, making it the oldest continuously open school in England. The structures vary…
Winchester Shopping
Fill up those empty suitcases at Cadogan, 30-31 The Square (tel. 01962/877399; www.cadoganandcompany.co.uk), with an upscale and stylish selection of British clothing for men and women alike. For a unique piece of jewelry created by one of today's most acclaimed designers, stroll into Carol Darby Jewellery, 23 Little Minster St. (tel. 01962/867671). The oldest book dealer in town is P&G Wells, 11 College St. (tel. 01962/852016; www.bookwells.co.uk), with new releases and secondhand fiction and nonfiction.
Winchester Nightlife
The place to go is the Porthouse, Upper Brook Street (tel. 01962/869397; www.porthousenightclub.com), a pub-cum-nightclub, sprawling across three floors. Different nights have different themes, from funk to pop. After 9pm, a cover charge is imposed, ranging from £1 to £5, depending on the night.
A Lager at England's Oldest Bar -- Royal Oak Pub (tel. 01962/842701) is located in a passageway next to the God Begot House on High Street. A busy pub with plenty of atmosphere, it reputedly has the oldest bar in England. The cellar of this establishment was originally built in 944 to dispense drink to Winchester's pilgrims; the present building was constructed in 1630 atop the much older foundation.
