Historic Winchester England Day Trip: 5 Top Things to Do

Inside Winchester Cathedral - "Discovering Historic Winchester England" - Two Traveling Texans
by Anisa // 52 Comments

Winchester is not a city many people outside of England have heard about, but it’s a fascinating place.  Back in 871, Alfred the Great established Winchester as the capital of England.  Not surprisingly, there is a lot to see.  

Since you can easily take a train from London, it could be fun to do a Winchester day trip.  If you are interested in history though, you may want to make a weekend out of it.

Let me share more about the things to do in Winchester, England, and logistical information to plan your visit.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information.

Winchester Cathedral -
The Cathedral is one of the must-sees on a day trip to Winchester.

5 Top Things to do in Winchester

Even though Winchester is a small city, I didn’t have time to see everything in one day.  Like me, if you only have one day you will have to prioritize based on what your interests are.  Do not miss Winchester Cathedral or the Great Hall!

#1 Winchester Cathedral

You cannot visit Winchester without seeing the historic Winchester Cathedral that was founded in 1046.  

From the outside, the Cathedral is a beautiful example of English cathedral architecture, but to really appreciate it, you need to go inside.  It has the largest nave in northern Europe (i.e. outside of Italy), and it is an example of English Perpendicular Gothic at its best.

Admission to Winchester Cathedral is £8 but it is a year-long pass and includes optional guided tours.  Winchester Cathedral opening times are 9:30 -5:00 Monday – Saturday and 12:00 – 3:00 on Sunday.

If you prefer, for an additional £6 you can do the tower tour on select days.  You should be prepared to climb the steps though.  Large items are not allowed and there is no place to check them.  At the time of my visit, since the Cathedral was under renovation and the tower roof view part of the tour was inaccessible, I decided to skip the tower tour.

Winchester Cathedral -
Winchester Cathedral is bigger than you might expect.

I had about 10 minutes to look around the Cathedral before my tour started, so I took a few pictures and admired the roof and stained glass.  The tour started with an overview of Winchester Cathedral history and its architecture.  The Cathedral was built using the stone from the Isle of Wight and the Anglo Saxon church that used to be next door.  Much of the current cathedral was then rebuilt in the late 14th century.

Winchester Cathedral Stained Glass

In 1646 during the Civil War, the stained glass in the huge west window was smashed by Oliver Cromwell’s forces. According to our guide, the people of Winchester collected the pieces of glass and kept it in their homes.  Then when the monarchy was restored in 1660, they reassembled the window using the original glass.  Although they had the original materials, it was not possible to put it back together as it was before, so it was reassembled in the form you see it today – like a mosaic.  I love the story behind this gorgeous piece of stained glass.

Jane Austen’s Grave

Many important figures are buried in Winchester Cathedral but Jane Austen’s grave may be the most popular.  It was interesting to learn that she was not known for her writing until after her death.  

She was buried in a simple grave in the Cathedral because of her family’s connection to her church.  After her books gained popularity her nephew wrote a biography about her and used the proceeds to pay for a plaque in the Cathedral that recognizes Jane’s writing.

Jane Austen Memorial inside Winchester Cathedral -
The Jane Austen Memorial inside Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Bible

The Winchester Bible is the largest 12th century English Bible, and one volume is on display in the Cathedral.    A single person wrote out the text in Latin and several artists created the exquisitely illuminated capital letters.  The color and artistic quality of the Bible reminded me of the Book of Kells we saw at Trinity College in Dublin.  Unfortunately, photos of the Winchester Bible are not allowed.

William Walker

We also saw the monument to William Walker, the diver who saved Winchester Cathedral.  

In the early 1900s, officials realized that the foundations of Winchester Cathedral were failing after almost 700 years.  Between 1906 and 1911, working in water up to a depth of six meters (20 feet), Walker used more than 25,000 bags of concrete, 115,000 concrete blocks, and 900,000 bricks to secure the foundation from sinking into the peat and groundwater below.

Winchester Cathedral Crypt

The Crypt is the oldest part of the Cathedral.  During the winter months, most of the Crypt is closed because it floods.  There was some water on the ground when I visited in February.  

At first, the closed-off space looks empty, then you see Antony Gormley’s statue called Sound II.  Antony Gormley is a Buddhist but according to our tour guide, he said the Crypt was the most spiritual place he has ever been.  The sculpture is called Sound because it is a person listening to his soul.  Antony Gormley is quickly becoming one of my favorite artists.  I just love this piece, and I also loved his work that we saw at the San Francisco Museum of Art.

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The Winchester Cathedral Crypt with Anthony Gormley's Sculpture - "Discovering Historic Winchester England" - Two Traveling Texans
The Winchester Cathedral Crypt with Antony Gormley’s Sculpture

I enjoyed the guided tour but at times it was hard to hear with all the construction noise.  The tour lasted an hour and afterward, I felt like I needed a little more time to check out some of the spots in the Cathedral that we just walked by.  It seems like a lot of people left as soon as the tour was over.  I decided to go back to the Crypt and I had it all to myself!

You should also check out the Dean Garnier Garden.  It’s a peaceful walled garden on the south side of the Cathedral.  If it’s a nice day, the grassy area to the west of the Cathedral would be perfect for a picnic.

During the Christmas season, the Cathedral Close is home to Winchester’s Christmas Market, which is one of England’s best Christmas markets.  There is a nativity scene in the British Craft Village, and you can also go ice skating. Get more info here.

Discovery of Queen Emma in Winchester Cathedral

New analysis has found the remains of Queen Emma in a chest in Winchester Cathedral. 

Queen Emma was married to two kings of England – Ethelred the Unready (reigned 1002-1016) and Cnut the Great (reigned 1017-1035).  You can learn more about the research and Queen Emma at the Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation exhibition which opens May 21, 2019.

#2 Winchester Great Hall

The Winchester Great Hall is the only building remaining of Winchester Castle. Unfortunately, when I used Google maps to navigate to the Great Hall it took me to the back of the building!  You need to enter the Great Hall from the Castle Road courtyard at the top of High Street.

Inside the Great Hall -
It’s definitely worthwhile to go inside and explore the Winchester Great Hall.

Admission to the Great Hall is £3 but it includes an optional guided tour.  I learned many interesting facts during the tour, so if you can time your visit with the tour schedule that would be ideal.  If not, be sure to read the information boards as the history behind the Great Hall is really what makes it special.

While William the Conqueror started building Winchester Castle in 1067, the Great Hall was built in 1222 by Henry III.  The floors and walls are still original and the stained glass windows and the roof were replaced in the 19th century.  

Winchester's Great Hall -
The main structure remaining from Winchester Castle is the Great Hall

In addition to being part of Winchester Castle, the Great Hall served as a courtroom for many years. Many significant trials were held in this building including the treason trial of Sir Walter Raleigh.  

In the 1970s, some IRA members were tried in the Great Hall.  After having such high profile cases, authorities decided the building was not secure enough to be a courthouse and it was turned into a tourist attraction.

Marriage Gates

The Great Hall is still connected to the courthouse. Iron gates, made by Tony Robinson, separate the two buildings and commemorate the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981.  You can see their initials with the date of their wedding on the gate.  On the wall around the gate, is the piece called “The Writing on the Wall” which lists all the Parliament members from Hampshire from 1283 until 1868.

The Wedding Gates and The Writing on the Wall - "Discovering Historic Winchester England" - Two Traveling Texans
The Wedding Gates and The Writing on the Wall at the Great Hall in Winchester.

The Round Table

At the other end of the Hall, hanging on the wall, is the famous Round Table.  This Round Table is actually not from King Arthur’s time, but it is the oldest, biggest, and best preserved Round Table.

There is actually no evidence that King Arthur even had a Round Table.  He was just admired as a King and the Round Table became of part of his story as a symbol of his collaboration skills.  

The Great Hall’s Round Table was built in the 13th century by Edward I and then first painted under Henry VIII.  When Henry VIII had it painted he requested the Tudor Rose in the center and wanted King Arthur to look like him.

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The Round Table -
Is this the famous Round Table from King Arthur’s time?

Queen Victoria Statue

One other interesting thing to point out inside the Great Hall is the statue of Queen Victoria that was commissioned for her golden jubilee.  It is one of the few sculptures that portrays Queen Victoria as the Queen Empress that she was.  She holds an orb in one hand and the world in the other.  

Queen Victoria Statue -
The Queen Victoria Statue inside Winchester Cathedral is quite striking.

The artist, Sir Alfred Gilbert, had to use his mother as the model for the artwork.  Queen Victoria refused to sit for the work because she was in mourning following the death of her husband Albert.

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I guess he found a pretty good model, as I think the statue does represent Queen Victoria.

Other Points of Interest at the Great Hall

In addition to the Great Hall, you can visit the Queen Eleanor Garden, which is a recreation of a 13th Century Garden.  Access to the garden is through a door next to the judge’s bench inside the Great Hall.   

Outside the front entrance of the Great Hall where you see some of the Winchester Castle ruins, there are also some passageways to explore.  Lastly, allow some time to visit the Long Gallery which has an exhibit with more about the history of the Great Hall.

Winchester Castle Passageways -
There are some passageways you can explore at Winchester Great Hall.

#3 Jane Austen House

I stumbled upon what is known as the Winchester Jane Austen house accidentally.  Jane spent her last days in Winchester in this house.  I hadn’t planned to visit because the house is now a private residence, so all you can do is photograph it from the street.

Her sister brought her here to see a doctor that they hoped would be able to figure out what was wrong.  Unfortunately, the doctor was not able to help and Jane died inside this house in her sister’s arms on July 18, 1817. 

Winchester Jane Austen House -
The house where Jane Austen died in Winchester.

#4 High Street

Winchester High Street has always been the commercial center of the town.  It has retained its lovely architecture and you can find plenty of nice stores and restaurants.

Winchester High Street -
Winchester High Street definitely has character.

#5 Alfred the Great Statue

Alfred is the only English King to have earned the title ‘the Great.’  He gradually won back some of the lands taken by the Vikings and his diplomacy led eventually to the formation of the English nation.

Alfred was a special combination of soldier, statesman and scholar.  The imposing statue by Hamo Thornycroft stands in the middle of a roundabout on the Broadway (end of High Street) by the Abbey Gardens in Winchester City England.

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Alfred the Great Statue -
The Alfred the Great Statue in Winchester was actually done by Count Gleichen, who was a relative of Queen Victoria.

Other Things to See in Winchester UK

Next time I am in Winchester, in addition to trying to go back to Wolvesey Castle, I have a few other things on my list to do!  If you have more time while you are in Winchester here are some more ideas.

The City Museum

I learned so much about the history of Winchester during my tours of the Great Hall and Winchester Cathedral, but I still feel like there is a lot more to learn.  The City Museum tells the story of Winchester as the principal city of King Alfred and the Anglo-Saxon and Norman kings.

The Westgate Museum

The last of the Winchester’s medieval gates was a debtor’s prison for 150 years and is now a museum.  You can see the prisoner’s graffiti on the walls and get a great view of the city from the roof.  Admission is free but the museum was not open when I was in Winchester.  They only open from the February half term (mid-February) until October.

Winchester College and Winchester College Treasury

I walked by Winchester College on my way to Wolvesey Castle and it caught my eye.  It is the believed to be the oldest continuously running school in England.  You can take a guided tour where you can see the Chamber Court, 14th century Chapel, the original dining hall and Cloister.  Inside the college, you can also visit the College Treasury which is an art and archeology museum inside recently converted Medieval stables.

Winchester City Mill

Located close to the Statue of Alfred the Great is the historic working watermill that has been in Winchester for over 1000 years.  The building has been fully restored and makes traditional stone ground wholemeal flour using the power of the River Itchen.  You can see milling demonstrations on the weekends and Wednesdays during the summer.

Winchester Military Museums

If you are a military buff, you could probably spend the good part of a day visiting the six military museums in Winchester.  All the military museums are located on the historic site of Peninsula Barracks close to the Great Hall.  The museums have unique objects and memorabilia associated with the history of a regiment or corps in the British Army.

You can buy a combined ticket that lets you access all six museums or if you prefer, you can get tickets for the individual museum you would like to visit.  The Horsepower, The Royal Green Jackets and Gurkha museums charge for admission. The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum, the Rifles Collection and the Guardroom Museums are all free to visit.

Afternoon Tea in Winchester

If you would like to relax for a little during your sightseeing in Winchester, perhaps you would fancy an afternoon tea?  Many of the hotels in Winchester offer it.  Some of the most popular afternoon teas in Winchester are at the Winchester Hotel, Marwell Hotel, and the Mercure Wessex Hotel.

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How to Get from London to Winchester

Winchester is located about 70 miles southwest of London.  You can catch the London to Winchester train at Waterloo station and the journey takes about an hour.  Buy your train tickets in advance and avoid trains at peak times to save money.  (Click here to check price and schedules.)

There is also a bus from Victoria Station to Winchester which will be cheaper than the train but takes an hour and a half.  Click here to check pricing and schedules.

All the attractions in this post are walking distance from the Winchester Train station.

Places to Stay in Winchester

I visited Winchester as a day trip, but it would make for a fun weekend getaway too.  There are plenty of Winchester attractions to keep you entertained!

The Winchester Hotel & Spa is one of the most popular hotels in Winchester because it has an award-winning restaurant, piano bar, and central location.  If you avoid the peak times (i.e. summer and Christmas season), it is actually quite affordable. 

Click here to check reviews on Tripadvisor or check pricing and availability here.

Have you been to Winchester, England? What were some of your favorite sites?

Have you visited any other historic cities in England?

Anisa

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winchester cathedral with text overlay

Expert Tips for a Day Trip to Winchester

  • The two attractions that you absolutely must see in Winchester are the Cathedral and the Great Hall.
  • Google maps was not accurate for me in Winchester.
  • During the holiday season, Winchester Cathedral hosts a popular Christmas market, so it makes a great day trip from London in the winter.

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Last Updated on July 27, 2023

About the Author

Anisa is an experienced international traveler with extra pages in her passport and stamps from 41 different countries across 5 continents (and counting). She was born and raised in Texas. After a 13 year stint in NYC, she moved to England to live with her husband.

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