Popular places to visit in Winchester, UK

Perhaps you’re thinking of a visit to the historic city of Winchester, or maybe you’ve already booked your trip and are looking for inspiration to fill your day. We promise you won’t have to look far!

Winchester is a beautiful Cathedral city located in the South East of England and is home to fascinating landmarks and some of the best independent shops in the UK. The former capital of England, and now Hampshire’s county town, we could talk about this stunning city all day.

For now, here are just a few historical places to visit during your trip to Winchester.

Winchester Cathedral

We couldn’t start ‘places to visit in Winchester’ without mentioning the city’s most popular landmark. Winchester Cathedral is one of the finest Romanesque cathedrals in Europe and boasts the longest nave of any medieval cathedral in England, spanning 558ft 1 inches. 

You can wander into the cathedral from 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday and 12.30pm – 3pm on Sunday. If you’d like to take part in a guided tour then these happen on the hour from 10am – 3pm with tours of the crypt taking place at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm from Monday to Friday. The tours are approximately one and a half hours in duration.

If you’d like to take home some memorabilia then the adjoining Cathedral shop has many gifts and souvenirs to choose from, or if you wanted to enjoy a bite to eat then the Cathedral Cafe is home to lovely food and bakes where you can dine indoors or in the open air terrace area.  

Winchester City Museum

Just a stone’s throw from the Cathedral, you will find Winchester City Museum. 

The City Museum shares the story of England’s ancient capital – from its beginnings as an Iron Age trading centre to the final journey of Jane Austen. You will explore and enjoy the sights and sounds alongside some fascinating exhibits of the city over the museum’s three galleries. 

There are lots of interactive activities to get involved with; from the museum spotter trail to the Roman and Saxon costumes that are available for dress up!

Opening times vary depending on which month you visit so it’s best to check the website before planning your adventure. The nice thing about the museum is that you pay once (£6 per adult and children over five years, £3) and you can go back and visit all year at no additional cost. 

Winchester College 

Winchester College is the oldest of the original nine English public schools. The distinguished school’s alumni include Rishi Sunak (Prime Minister), George Nash MBE (Olympic Rower) and  Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (India’s Cricket Captain) amongst many others. 

Still in use as a school, visitors are welcomed to the medieval heart of the school for a look around the Chamber Court, Chapel, Cloisters, the 17th Century School building and College Hall.  

Winchester Water Mill 

Restored and managed by the National Trust, Winchester City Mill is one of the oldest working watermills in the UK, with over a thousand years of milling history behind it. 

See the mill in action and be educated on how stone ground wholemeal flour is made using the power of water. You can even watch the mill’s resident otters via the CCTV footage!

Entry is free if you hold a National Trust membership and for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust members. Opening times vary throughout the year so it’s best to check the website before visiting. 

Winchester Military Quarter 

Located in the historic Peninsular Barracks, close to the city centre, you will find Winchester’s Military Quarter. This stunning Victorian site is home to six regimental museums including; The Museum of The King’s Royal Hussars, The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum, The Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, The Rifles Regimental Museum The Gurkha Museum and The Adjutant General’s Corps Museum

Each of these museums gives visitors a unique experience and share their own stories and collections for you to marvel over. 

The Great Hall 

Described as ‘where history and the legend meet’, The Great Hall was once part of Winchester Castle, and is now all that remains of it. Winchester Hall was founded by William the Conqueror in 1067 shortly after his Hastings victory and has been used as a filming location and a regal wedding venue – more commonly though it is a visitor attraction and museum. The legend of King Arthur is the most popular guided tour with many visiting to see ‘King Arthur’s Round Table. 

There’s plenty to see and do; relax in Queen Eleanor’s Garden, relieve ancient legends of the past with a quest or take the chance to have a photo with your head on the executioner’s block!

Westgate Museum 

Winchester Museum is located inside a fortified medieval city gateway, situated at the very top of the High Street. Here you will discover the history of Tudor and Stuart Winchester.

Originally a debtors’ prison, the museum now tells the story of this medieval city through the ages. If you look up at the museum’s ceiling you will see the beautiful painting which was done for Mary Tudor and Philip of Spain for their marriage in 1554. You wouldn’t expect graffiti in a museum, but here you can witness some of the original etchings on the internal stone walls. 

If you are good with heights then the small staircase that leads to the top of the tower has some impressive views over the whole city and is definitely worth a trip up. 

Has all of that exploring made you thirsty? Check out the best places for a coffee in Winchester.