Winchester Things to Do Tips by leics Top 5 Page for this destination

Gaze at the Round Table........

......but don't think it is the one belonging to the (probably mythical) King Arthur and his knights. It's not.

The Round Table is huge (5.5m across), and has hung on the wall of the Great Hall for a very long time indeed. As dendrochronology (dating artefacts by using the tree rings in the wood from which they are made) has proved, it was actually made during the 14th century. King Arthur, if he existed at all (and this is doubtful, as he is probably an amalgamation of several different early English heroes), reigned much earlier.

However, myth aside, it's a pretty impressive piece of Medieval craftsmanship and worth seeing for itself.

Address: Great Hall, Winchester

Directions: Map on here:

http://www.hants.gov.uk/greathall/great-hall-map.html

Website: http://www.hants.gov.uk/greathall/great-hall2.html

The Great Hall

Rather a stunning building, this; probably one of the best-preserved Medieval halls in England.

The Great Hall was built between 1222 and 1235, as a replacement for the original hall of Winchester's Norman castle. It is one of the finest examples of the Early English Gothic style of architecture, with soaring columns and pointed arches creating a light and airy space within.
The walls would have originally been plastered, and then decorated in bright colours.

The roof was rebuilt during the 14th century, in its present style, and the building has remained largely unchanged ever since (albeit renovated in the 1870's).

Winchester castle was destroyed on the orders of Oliver Cromwell, but the Hall was allowed to remain as a place for the County Assizes (law courts). It was used as a court until 1974.

It's a lovely place to visit, even if there's a tour group of French teenagers present (as there was when I took the photo); the Hall is vast enought to dwarf even them!

Directions: Go up the main street till you reach the Westgate, then turn left. The great Hall is not easily missable (and is signed anyway).

Map on here:
http://www.hants.gov.uk/greathall/great-hall-map.html

Website: http://www.hants.gov.uk/greathall/great-hall1.html

Walk along the river............

......because it really is rather pretty. It's called the 'Weirs Walk', because there is a weir. Obviously!

The Romans re-cut the channel of the river Itchen, to reduce flooding in their town. It's a particularly clear and fast-flowing river, with fish and ducks (and fishermen too, which one doesn't really expect to see in a town centre), prettily overhanging trees and lush banks (on the private-garden side).

It's a nice, gentle circular sort of walk, from or to the main town centre, taking in the Cathedral Close, Wolvesey Castle and Winchester College buildings as well as some rather nice town-council planting. Worth a stroll, whatever time of year you visit (it's tarmac, so no need to worry about muddy shoes).

Directions: Either walk down the High St, past the statue of King Alfred, and turn right when you get to the bridge....or walk around the Cathedral Close, under the Kingsgate and then left down College Street towards the river.

Website: http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk

The Westgate

This is one of the 6 original city gates. Originally built in the 12th century, most of what is visible was re-built in the 14th. From the 16th to 18th centuries the gate was used as a general lock-up and debtor's prison (you can still see early prisoners' grafitti carved into the walls...look at my extra tip photos).

The gate houses a museum of weights and measures, with sundry bits of armour (some of which you can try on) and a proper set of gibbet irons. These were used to contain the gently decomposing corpse of the wrongdoer, left to hang in some obvious place (hilltops were favourites); pour encourager les autres, clearly!

There's also a rather stunning Tudor ceiling, which dates from 1554 and was created in honour of Queen Mary's marriage to Phillip of Spain (they married in the city). And you can climb right to the top for wonderful views of the city and surrounding countryside.

Some good carvings on the outside of the building too.

Address: High St, Winchester

Directions: Walk up the High St, away from the river/cathedral.

Website: http://www.winchester.gov.uk/General.asp?id=SX9452-A781BB05

Jane Austen's house and grave

Jane Austen, author of 'Pride & Prejudice', 'Emma', 'Persuasion' etc spent much of her life in Hampshire, and her last days in Winchester.

She and her sister Cassandra moved there in 1817 (Jane suffered from Addison's disease and she was seeking medical attention), living at 8 College St. Only July 18 she died, aged 41, and was buried in the cathedral. Her floorslab makes no mention of her writings, oddly, although a wall memorial was later added.

You can't go into the house, as it is privately owned, but the blue plaque marks it out.

Address: 8 College Street/ Winchester cathedral

Website: http://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk