Things to do in Winchester

Winchester, as you can imagine has lot's of history, so you'll be able to spend a day or so just wandering around this historic city.

For example; The Barracks house museum of Royal Hussars, with real tanks; it also has museums of Royal Green Jackets, Light Infantry, and Gurkhas. Winchester Cathedral was built for William the Conquerer in 1079, which included medieval wall paintings.

The Cathedral also contains a shrine of St. Swithun, and tombs of William Rufus and Jane Austen, the bones of pre-Norman Kings, and of course Canute.

The Pilgrims Hall has one of England's oldest hammerbeam roofs, which was built around the 1290's. In 1382, one of England's oldest public schools was built here, and was called Winchester College of course. The pupils who attend here are known as Wykehamists, apparenty named after the founder, William of Wykeham.

The City really feels a medieval town, both ancient and modern, with King Alfred's statue dominating the centre stage on the eastern end of the High Street as you enter the city centre.

For 200 years before the Norman Conquest Winchester was the true capital of England, a Saxon city built on the site of the Roman town of Venta Belgarum, where Alfred the Great held court and Canute lies buried.

It took 300 years to complete the Cathedral, which the Normans established on the site of King Alfred's Saxon church. The cathedral, set in spacious lawns that enhance its 556 ft long Nave.

Winchester has had a cathedral since the 7th century and the present building is one of the largest in Europe. History, heritage and high street shopping come together in near
perfect harmony in this town.

If you would like a stroll around Winchester, this is a good place to start: Before you start your city walk, let me remind you that there are a quite a few restaurants and pubs enroute to make your city walk more enjoyable.

Start at Westgate and go left up Castle Avenue to Great Hall. Walk down steps, left to Trafalgar Street and turn left, then shortly right into High Street.

At the City Cross go right under the archway to Museum and then bear left to the Cathedral. Walk through Inner Close (signed College and Water Meadows)past Pilgrim's Hall to Kingsgate.

Go through the arch to College Street past Jane Austin's House and Winchester College and bear left to Riverside Walk with views of Wolvesey palace.

Footpath from end of College Walk leads through meadows to St Cross Hospital. Opposite City Mill, emerge into Broadway and turn left past King Alfred statue to Abbey Passage left by Town hall.

Turn right up Colebrook Street and by Wessex Hotel take path though Cathedral Green to The Square, turn left up St Thomas passage opposite to Southgate Street and Serle's House.

Turn right to St Clement Street and left for return to Trafalgar Street to complete the walk.

This is a great walking tour, so I hope you enjoy it!

Beaulieu is another town worth visiting. Lord Montagu's Motor Museum has more visitors than Beaulieu Abbey. Close by is the New Forest, my favourite area on the way to Bournemouth. The forest covers more than 90,000 acres, two thirds of which are open to the public, beeches, oaks and birches providing a richness of color which is rare in Britain.

In the vast woodlands deer, ponies and donkeys run wild and, for the adventurous walkers, there's a chance of coming across one of the 22 lost Saxon villages which, according to legend, lie buried beneath the thick undergrowth.

On the way back to London, you must take in Portsmouth to the south, Pompey to the Royal Navy and followers of the football team, is still a city where you're scarcely ever out of sight of the sea. Situated on an island, Portsmouth seems to be invaded in every nook and cranny by the sea.

While in Portsmouth there's the great sight of Nelson's Victory in dry dock near the entrance to the Royal Dockyard. Also on view here is the Mary Rose, Henry VIII's warship which was raised from the sea bed in 1982.

Close to Portsmouth is Southsea, a pleasing resort with a sandy beach, entertainment centre, beautiful gardens and promenade from which you can view the countless comings and goings of ships through Southampton Water. It is this narrow stretch of water which separates Hampshire proper from the Isle of Wight.

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