Winchester Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Winchester showing heritage architecture and a fountain
Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium
Winchester featuring a city and heritage architecture
Winchester City Mill which includes a river or creek and heritage architecture
Great Hall which includes heritage architecture

Winchester is a city steeped in history; located in Hampshire, it combines the best of city life with the freshness of the surrounding countryside.

It has that small, market-town feel, with a very walkable historic centre and plenty of green spaces, river walks, interesting artisan shops and great places to eat.

With bed & breakfasts and popular boutique hotels, Winchester has a variety of accommodation for you to enjoy, each offering their own unique holiday experience.

Winchester Cathedral has stood for nearly a millennia. There are few that won’t be wowed by this imposing gothic structure or its incredible, intricate interior. The manuscript library is an interesting place to stop by where old illustrated texts are on view. There is also a plaque to Jane Austen for you to look out for as you pass through the cathedral.

If you are a fan of Jane Austen, retrace her footsteps in a circular walking trail from Chawton to Farringdon. Visit the nearby market town of Alton where Jane visited often with her sister.

If museums are your thing you will not be disappointed with Winchester, what with it having five military museums all situated on a historic site close to the city centre of Winchester. Each Museum is a must for the history buffs amongst you the Battle of Waterloo is explained in full at the Royal Green Jackets Museum, offering clear insight into the experience of the average soldier of that era.

Take the family to nearby Marwell Zoo a wonderful place to visit. There is a great selection of animals on view here, with everything from tigers down to penguins. With keepers happy to talk with guests about their charge it makes for an enjoyable educational experience.

The remains of Wolvesey Castle provide a pleasant adventure when exploring Winchester. Although in ruins there is enough stonework and descriptive text as you walk around to provide you with insight into what the castle was like many years ago.

Take a day trip to the South Hampshire coastline and pay a visit to the seaside towns of Southampton, Gosport and Portsmouth. Here you will find a both artistic and historical attractions along its coastline. Many country parks border the shoreline and offer scenic views, such as Manor Farm Country Park on the Hamble River and Royal Victoria Country Park at Netley Abbey.

The coastal nature reserve at Titchfield Haven provide tranquillity for birdwatchers and walkers while Hampshire's role in the D-Day invasions can be seen in the remnants of the mulberry harbours at Lepe and Hayling Island.

The Winchester Hotel & Spa
The Winchester Hotel & Spa
4 out of 5
Worthy Lane, Winchester, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is £101 per night from 13 Jul to 14 Jul
£101
13 Jul - 14 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Winchester. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,000 reviews)
"Was a wonderful experience. Comfortable rooms and friendly staff!"

Reviewed on 1 Jul 2025

The Winchester Hotel & Spa
voco Winchester Hotel & Spa by IHG
voco Winchester Hotel & Spa by IHG
4 out of 5
Telegraph Way Morn Hill, Winchester, England
Fully refundable
The price is £82 per night from 13 Jul to 14 Jul
£82
13 Jul - 14 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Winchester. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (850 reviews)
"The facilities for able bodied people were good though my wheelchair user dinner guest found getting through the main door to the toilets quite difficult."

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

voco Winchester Hotel & Spa by IHG
Norton Park Hotel, Spa & Manor House
Norton Park Hotel, Spa & Manor House
4 out of 5
Sutton Scotney, Winchester, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is £87 per night from 13 Jul to 14 Jul
£87
13 Jul - 14 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Winchester. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
7.8/10 Good! (997 reviews)
"Situated in large grounds this well equipped and private hotel and spa is ideal for the quiet getaway and well placed to explore the beautiful countryside in this area."

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

Norton Park Hotel, Spa & Manor House
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Student Only Riverside Way
Student Only Riverside Way
2 out of 5
Moorside Rd, Winchester, England
Stay at this apartment in Winchester. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Winchester Cathedral and Winnall Moors Nature Reserve ...
Student Only Riverside Way
room2 Southampton Hometel
room2 Southampton Hometel
4 out of 5
1 Queen's Terrace, Southampton, England
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified aparthotel in Southampton. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,019 reviews)
"Great place we really liked it"

Reviewed on 27 Jun 2025

room2 Southampton Hometel
Pinnacle Suites
Pinnacle Suites
3 out of 5
104A High Street, Cowes, England
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Cowes. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping and conference space. Popular attractions Ryde Pier Head Terminal and RedJet Ferry ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (15 reviews)
"Absolutely fabulous Hotel was so clean, comfortable and with lovely special touches in the room plus aircon. I stayed here for four nights for Isle of Wight festival and it was so convenient but such a lovely place to stay I hope to come back again and couldn’t recommend enough 5 stars x"

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2025

Pinnacle Suites
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Winchester

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
119
5 - Excellent 51%
4 - Good
101
4 - Good 43%
3 - Okay
14
3 - Okay 6%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Beautiful old town with lots to see and good restaurants and shops, well worth a visit.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Cathedral guided tour was well worth the cost. City Museum was a good introduction to Winchester on a very wet day.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Winchester Cathedral is brilliant - the guide we had was excellent. She took us down into the crypt just before it was closed off because of the flooding - breathtakingly beautiful.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

We loved the middle of Winchester - beautiful buildings especially the cathedral, the city mill and the great hall.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Winchester is a nice city. I would have had a much better experience if there hadn’t been quite so much rain.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

There is hardly any parking falicities

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