Credit: Gorma Kuma, Shutterstock
Another day, another picture-perfect place to immediately add to your summer day-trip bucket list. And today’s addition comes in the form of Winchester; a jaw-droppingly good-looking city that’s filled to the brim with charm and history in equal measure. Just the way we like it, right?
Winchester is considered to be the ‘ancient capital of England’, and holds a hefty amount of historical significance. Winchester was one of the most important cities in England up until the Norman conquest in the 11th century, and even served as the country’s capital city during the Anglo-Saxon period. So yes, it’s a pretty big deal as far as cities go.
Credit: P.Cartwright, Shutterstock Things to do in Winchester
Nestled amongst a plethora of quaint villages and the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park; Winchester is a city that truly offers a little bit of everything. You could quite happily spend a day wandering the winding medieval streets and just seeing what you stumble across. But if you prefer to have a plan of action, there’s plenty of things to do.
Slap-bang in the middle of the city is Winchester Cathedral, boasting breathtaking architecture and fascinating works of art. Winchester is also home to the historic site of Winchester Castle. Built in 1067 by William the Conqueror, the majority of the castle did not stand the test of time, but the Great Hall has survived to tell the tale – and it’s here where you can get up-close-and-personal with King Arthur’s iconic Round Table.
Credit: Gorma Kuma, Shutterstock
The city is bursting at the seams with independent shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants to while away the hours in. And it’s also home to the oldest public school in the country, Winchester College. One of Winchesters most impressive offerings, however, is its bi-monthly farmers’ market – that just so happens to be the largest in the country. Taking place on the second and last Sunday of the month, Winchester Farmers’ Market sees 95 stalls take to the high street to flog their finest local fare.
Getting to Winchester from London
Winchester is just a hop, skip, and a jump quick and easy train ride from London. Direct services run fairly regularly from London Waterloo to Winchester, taking less than an hour in total. If you plan on heading there by car, it’s a slightly lengthier journey. Winchester is approximately a two hour drive from London, so we’d recommend hopping on the train if you can.