Winchester Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK)



Summer view of the River ItchenDuring the summer, Winchester and its many tourist attractions are at their most appealing, with riverside pathways and cycle trails becoming especially busy. Also popular in the Winchester area are the steam-train rides along the Mid Hants Railway, which was historically used to transport watercress from New Alresford and has now become known as the 'Watercress Line'.

Marwell Wildlife is just minutes away from Winchester and is another leading attraction. Tourists will find that this medium-sized zoo offers the perfect family day out and is filled with exotic animals and attractions, with favourites including giraffes, zebras, waterbuck antelopes and ostrich, which live in the spacious 10-hectare / 25-acre African Valley. Other favourites at Marwell include crocodiles, lemurs, penguins, red pandas and wallabies.


Picture of the Westgate

Walks / Walking Tours

Address: Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK
Walking is a great way to familiarise yourself with the city and the many attractions that it has to offer. Various different self-guided walks are available, such as the Water Meadows Walk between Wolvesey Castle and the Hospital of St. Cross, and the Riverside Walk, which takes you alongside the River Itchen and towards the High Street. For great views of the city, consider the St. Giles' Hill walk, or if you have the time on your hands, you may even like to walk along the Three Castles Path, which leads as far as Windsor. Even longer is the extremely scenic South Downs Way to Eastbourne.

Guided tours of the city are of course also available and these run twice a day between May and September, Monday to Saturday, departing at 11:30 and 14:30. There are also guided tours available on Sunday mornings, at 11:30. For the rest of the year, these tours take place on Saturdays only. You may even be brave enough to join the Phantasm Ghostwalk each evening, which starts at the cathedral at dusk.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge for guided walks, children under 16 years of age are free

Central view

Cycling

Address: Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK
Tel: +44 01962 847474.
When the sun is shining and the sky is blue, cyclists really do come out in their droves. Bicycles are readily available for rental at the Gladstone Car Park (close to the train station), where they can be hired by the hour, day or week - and for a relatively small yearly registration fee, you can borrow a bicycle anytime you want. The off-road trail at Cheesefoot Head is a popular place to cycle, although is not really suitable for beginners. Each year in June, the Winchester Cycle Fair is a true celebration of everything related to cycling and includes gentle bike rides around the main attractions and the surrounding countryside.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free, charge for bicycle rental

Mid Hants Railway picture of the Watercress Line

Mid Hants Railway / Watercress Line

Address: The Railway Line, New Alresford, Near Winchester, Hampshire, SO24 9JG, England, UK
Tel: +44 01962 733810
The Watercress Line is the more widely used name for the Mid Hants Railway. Based in the nearby town of New Alresford, this heritage railway line stretches 16 km / 10 miles to Alton, where it actually joins up with the National Rail network. Originally opened in 1865, the Mid Hants Railway provided a convenient way to travel between Southampton and London. However, from the 1930s onwards, the once heavy usage of the line began to decline slowly until finally closing in 1973. However, private investors soon stepped in and began to restore the line to its present day glory and allow visitors to once again enjoy the thrills of a fully functioning steam railway. Children will particularly enjoy the occasional 'Days out with Thomas the Tank Engine' events.
Open (train running times): April to October, Saturday and Sunday - 11:00 to 16:30; May to September - some weekdays, 11:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, families (two adults and two children) and seniors, children two years old and under are free

Marwell Wildlife giraffe photo (formerly Marwell Zoological Park)

Marwell Wildlife (formerly Marwell Zoological Park)

Address: Owslebury, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1JH, England, UK
Tel: +44 01962 777407
Informally referred to as simply Marwell Zoo or even just 'Marwell', the Marwell Wildlife Park is just over 8 km / 5 miles to the south-east of Winchester and can be reached by taking the B2177 road. Established in the early seventies and renowned for its relentless conservation work, Marwell Wildlife was enjoy many breeding successes, such as the Scimitar-horned oryx, the Siberian Tiger and the Snow Leopard, helping them move away from possible extinction. The zoological park is part of the estate of Marwell Hall, an important Grade-I listed manor house.
Open hours: daily, April to mid-July - 10:00 to 17:00; mid-July to early September - 10:00 to 18:00; early September to December - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children, students, families and seniors

River Itchen view

River Itchen

Address: Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK
The River Itchen lies on the easterly side of the city centre and passes by numerous attractions, such as the City Mill, Chesil Theatre and the ruins of Wolvesey Castle, where a section known as 'The Weirs' is based. Here you will find riverside gardens, pathways and seats, as well as the occasional swan and plenty of hungry ducks. The waters of the River Itchen are usually quite fast flowing and crystal clear, so do keep your eyes out for resident trout.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Image of the riverside Winchester City Mill

Winchester City Mill

Address: Bridge Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 0EJ, England, UK
Tel: +44 01962 870057
Owned and maintained by the National Trust, Winchester City Mill dates back to 1744, although Domesday documentation records that a watermill has stood in this actual spot for almost 1,000 years. The City Mill remained in full use until the turn of the 20th century, after which it became a laundry and until recently, was used as a youth hostel. Completely restored in 2004, the mill is now very much an attraction in its own right and is once again using the waters of the River Itchen to mill flour. Also of interest is a walkway beneath the mill, regular milling demonstrations, an exhibition, video presentations and a National Trust gift shop selling the mill's own wholemeal flour.
Open hours: mid-February to December - daily - 11:00 to 17:00, closed some Mondays and Tuesdays
Admission: charge, discounts for children, National Trust members are free

Photo of the gardens fronting the cathedral

Parks and Gardens

Address: Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK
A number of wonderful gardens and important green spaces grace the city of Winchester, providing tranquil places to relax. The Abbey Gardens are quite notable and lie to the rear of the cathedral, where each summer they are a blaze of colour. Nearby, the Cathedral Grounds are where many people choose to eat their lunchtime sandwiches and meet up. Other enticing areas of green include the Hyde Abbey Garden, the Dean Garnier Garden (next to the cathedral), Queen Eleanor's Garden (behind the Great Hall), and the Iron Age fort that is St. Catherine's Hill, which is to be found directly east of St. Cross. For local Hampshire flora and fauna, both the Yew Farm Butterfly Reserve and the Winnall Moors Nature Reserve will be sure to please.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free