Visit Winchester

24/01/2025

Looking for a last-minute romantic getaway? Wi******er has all the ingredients needed for a the perfect Valentine's Day 💌

From date nights under the stars to cosy pub stays, discover why your next date-cation should be in England's ancient capital!

Read our blog to find out more 💝

******er

With its historic setting, cosy independent pubs, boutique hotels and exquisite restaurants, Wi******er is the perfect place to enjoy a romantic…

22/01/2025

20/01/2025

Take the time to prioritise your mental wellness with these mindful activities taking place this week.

💙 Journalling for Wellbeing, 20 January
Join Jane Austen’s House for a live, online event that brings a wonderful community of writers, readers and thinkers together.

💙 Hospital of St Cross, 20-25 January
Renowned for the tranquillity of its setting and the beauty of its architecture, the Hospital is home to a peaceful Norman Chapel and gardens to explore.

💙 Whales, from 22 January
Experience this spectacular Whales installation in the calm surroundings of Wi******er Cathedral.

💙 Life Drawing Class, 22 January
Wi******er Life Drawing Club will guide you through an untutored life drawing class at The Arc. All abilities are welcome.

💙 Keats Trail, any date.
Walk in the poet’s footsteps from the city to St Cross, passing through the landscape which inspired his famous ode ‘To Autumn’.

If you are struggling, you can find advice and support at https://www.solentmind.org.uk/.

Image: The Hospital of St Cross & Almshouse of Noble Poverty.

18/01/2025

Did you know that on 27 January 1813, Jane Austen first read Pride and Prejudice aloud in the Drawing Room at ? 📚

Celebrating the 212th year since its publication, Jane Austen's House is hosting a week-long festival celebrating her beloved novel, including themed tours, pop up talks and late views.

Visitors can also enjoy a free Pride and Prejudice trail through the House, or drop into a free writing session or sewing group.

Pride and Prejudice Festival
📅 23 January to 28 January
📍 Jane Austen's House
🎟️ https://janeaustens.house/

16/01/2025

Dive to the depths of the ocean this January at Wi******er Cathedral 🐋

Three sculptures of s***m whales, created by artist Tessa Campbell Fraser, will hang from the cathedral's Nave from 22 January to 26 February.

With a whole programme of events taking place under the whales, from silent discos to science talks, you won't want to miss this monumental exhibition!

Find out more and book tickets 🎟️ https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/event/whales/

14/01/2025

Did you know that you pass the site of a former royal manor each time you walk down Wi******er High Street? 👑

Queen Emma was given the manor of God Begot House in 1012 by her husband, King Aethelred II. The manor was legally outside of the city of Wi******er, so had its own laws and taxes.

While perhaps most well known as the wife of two kings (Aethelred II and Canute) and as mother of two kings (Edward the Confessor and Harthcanute), Queen Emma was a powerful political figure in her own right.

The current building is dated from 1050, but you can spot the remains of the manor inside The Royal Oak (next door) and the outline of the chapel behind.

Find out more about Wi******er's royal past in Royal Blood, available on visitwinchester.co.uk or the Wi******er Visitor Information Centre 📌

******er ******er

13/01/2025

It’s Plough Monday! 🌾

This is an old British tradition which marks the start of the agricultural season. In the past, farmhands would pull ploughs through the streets, singing and dancing to gather support and donations from the community. While our team won’t be dancing through the streets today, they’re hard at work preparing this years' soft fruit 🍓

13/01/2025

Calling all book-lovers!

Wi******er is home to a wonderful selection of independent and pre-loved bookshops, so why not do a Wi******er bookshop-crawl and find your next favourite read? 📚

Stop 1: Oxfam Books & Music, Wi******er
They hold a wide selection of books, from recent paperbacks to many old and interesting volumes. Perfect for both the passing browser and for serious collectors.

Stop 2: The Wi******er Bookshop
Tucked behind a passageway off St Georges Street, The Wi******er Book Shop has three floors of antiquarian, second-hand, vintage and nearly new books.

Stop 3: GET Free Books Wi******er
The Global Educational Trust's mission is to make reading free and available to all through free bookshops! The Wi******er shop is found at 50 Colebrook Street.

Stop 4: The Deanery Bookstall
Nestled in the Inner Close of Wi******er Cathedral, The Deanery Bookstall stocks a wide range of second-hand books of every genre.

Stop 5: Kingsgate Books & Prints
A unique gallery selling prints, antique maps and engravings. You'll find a selection of second-hand books under the archway of Kingsgate.

Stop 6: P & G Wells Ltd
This is Wi******ers longest-running business and thought to be Britain's oldest bookshop! Browse a selection of books from bestsellers to local authors.

Happy book-shopping! ✨

******er

11/01/2025

Announcing our next Exhibition! 🎉

Beneath The Canopy
Art Exhibition by Nick McMillen

Nicks’ artistic journey unfolds through a tapestry of outdoor experiences and a profound connection to nature. With an education focused on Art and Design, coupled with an extensive foundation in land management, conservation, and rural crafts education, Nick has honed a diverse skill set over many years that mirrors the landscapes he’s traversed. His drawings are a response to these experiences, spending years observing woodland and rural flora.

Nick has been using charcoal since his Art College days. It played a pivotal role during extensive life drawing sessions, where he explored its nuances for about two years. One of the aspects he appreciates about charcoal is its simplicity which immediately guides the type of drawing he creates. Charcoal’s organic nature, originating from the earth and returning to it, adds to its appeal. He is also drawn to the mechanical aspect of charcoal. You apply these fine particles to the surface, scrape them off the charcoal stick, and once they’re on paper, it’s like the beginning of a journey. You can manipulate, spread, blend, and layer it.

Nick has regularly exhibited in the SBA and SGFA open exhibitions. In the SBA Plantae 2024 he was given the ‘Exhibiting Excellence’ award for his drawing ‘Stelliferous Era- Allium sp.’.

In May 2024 He was given the Cockpit Arts, Basket Makers award funded by the Worshipful Company of Basket Makers.

In August 2024 his drawing ‘Liberty – Castanea sativa’ was acquired by the Shirley Sherwood collection.

Date: 25th February to 30th March 2025

10/01/2025

Happy , Wi******er 🍽️

Are you trying Veganuary in 2025? Explore the delicious world of vegan and vegetarian dining across Wi******er 🌿

For more, read the full blog: https://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/blog/vegetarian-and-vegan-winchester.

09/01/2025

🖋

📺 Enjoy a trip back to 1995 - an astonishing year of Austen film and TV adaptations - with our brand-new exhibition, AUSTENMANIA! opening 22 January.

📽️ This joyous exhibition celebrates four landmark film and TV adaptations 30 years on from their release. From Andrew Davies’ seminal BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, to Emma Thompson and Ang Lee’s big-screen adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, BBC Screen Two’s Persuasion and the frothy masterpiece that is Clueless! – a reimagining of Jane Austen’s Emma!

🗒️ Featuring original scripts and handwritten production notes from the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice alongside objects from our own collection you’ll be transported into the world of Austen as it had never been seen before!

⏰ Opening on Wednesday 22 January and running throughout 2025, this exhibition is free with House entry.

This exhibition has been supported by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and the BBC.

🔗 Find out more about this exhibition here: https://janeaustens.house/display/austenmania/
and check out our Jane Austen 250 celebrations here: https://janeaustens.house/visit/jane-austen-250/
Please always check our opening times before visiting to avoid disappointment.

09/01/2025

Jane Austen's England has been named the top place to visit in 2025 by The New York Times 📣

Find out how Wi******er is celebrating 250 years of Jane Austen!

Read more at https://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/jane-austen-250 🖋️

09/01/2025

Charity lunches at Rick Stein, Wi******er supporting The Wi******er Beacon🐟

At the restaurant, from 8 to 26 January, Rick Stein Wi******er will be giving the option to customers to dine from their charity lunch menu: A 3-course set menu for £23.50 plus a £2.50 donation to help support The Wi******er Beacon.

Last year, their charity lunches were a huge success and raised over £15,000 for selected charities. This year, they’re trying to beat that!

Book now 🔗 https://rickstein.com/restaurants/rick-stein-charity-lunches/

08/01/2025

Have you ever noticed the that the upper window of St John's House, near King Alfred's statue, is always open? 🤔

You might also notice the decorator’s brush is always in the paint-pot you can see just inside.

This window, like the paint-pot and all the other windows in the row, is just a painting!

Discover more secret art in Wi******er with the Eye-Openers Trail. Purchase a booklet from the Wi******er Visitor Information Centre or download it here: https://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/business-directory/eye-openers-trail.

08/01/2025

On 17th Jan, curl up in our atmospheric Library and enjoy an intimate screening of Pride and Prejudice (1940), starring Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier. Hailed by the New York Times in 1940 as “the most deliciously pert comedy of old manners, the most crisp and crackling satire in costume that we in this corner can remember ever having seen on the screen.” Tickets £15: https://chawtonhouse.org/whats-on/library-screening-pride-prejudice-1940/

07/01/2025

Still haven't made a New Year's resolution? 🎉

Check out the 2025 Wi******er Wishlist for ideas, inspiration and must-see things to do this year in Wi******er!

I wish… I could explore the outdoors. Wi******er is lucky enough to be nestled into some of the most beautiful countryside the South has to offer. If you…