In terms of historic cities there are few with extra of a again story than Winchester within the South of England. Actually it was as soon as the capital metropolis of the Kingdom of Wessex. Right here’s every little thing that you must know concerning the seat of energy for none aside from King Alfred the Nice and all of the issues to do in Winchester with children.
Why is Winchester value visiting?
Winchester oozes historical past from each constructing, avenue and medieval archway and might declare hyperlinks to the legendary King Arthur in addition to Alfred the Nice and quite a few different royals down the centuries. It’s a prime vacation spot for historical past buffs, however why is Winchester value visiting when you will have kids in tow?
One of many prime the explanation why Winchester is an efficient metropolis to discover as a household is its metropolis centre is compact – you may tick off loads of sights on foot inside a day.
Wandering alongside Winchester’s paved streets with half timber buildings is like stepping again in time. And with low-cost entry into lots of the metropolis family-friendly museums it’s straightforward to have a reasonably thrifty time out.
Winchester additionally near a variety of different Hampshire sights so is an efficient base for exploring the world.
Discover Winchester’s historical past
Right here’s what to do in Winchester in case you’re eager to find the thriller and folklore behind this historic metropolis.
1. The Nice Corridor and Spherical Desk
The Nice Corridor is all that continues to be of a fort first constructed by William the Conquerer in 1067. It was constructed within the thirteenth Century as a substitute to the unique corridor and has hosted greater than it’s justifiable share of historic figures in good occasions and unhealthy.
The Nice Corridor is most well-known as we speak for housing the Spherical Desk, which in keeping with legend is the desk utilized by King Arthur and his knights.
Spoiler alert: carbon relationship and tree ring proof date the desk to the thirteenth or 14th Century.
Discover out extra about visiting The Nice Corridor.
2. Winchester Metropolis Museum
This hands-on museum it tells the story of Winchester from Roman occasions to its place as a medieval capital and onwards by the centuries to when it was the house of Jane Austin.
There are many actions for households in addition to recreations of Edwardian and Victorian outlets, and artefacts for younger explorers to type by.
You too can discover our extra about King Alfred and Jane Austin. The author got here to Winchester to hunt medical assist and sadly died right here in 1817. Two of her purses and a personalised ivory spool case are on show within the museum.
Discover out extra about visiting Winchester Metropolis Museum.
3. Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral just isn’t solely the town’s most recognised landmark, it is usually the house to a shocking array of artwork and structure relationship again to Norman occasions.
From the ornate medieval tiles on the ground to greater than a thousand carved stone bosses within the vaulted ceilings there’s a lot to soak up.
E-book a tour to be sure to see all of the Cathedral has to supply. Households also can ask for a kids’s tour map to assist them uncover fascinating information and the tales held within the partitions of the Cathedral.
Cathedral entry prices £10 for adults however accompanied kids underneath 16 can go to without cost.
Discover out extra about visiting Winchester Cathedral.
4. Westgate Museum
If the partitions of Westgate Museum may speak what a story they’d inform. This historic constructing was as soon as a part of a gateway to the town. It homes a painted Tudor ceiling commissioned on the event of the marriage of Queen Mary Tudor and Philip of Spain in close by Winchester Cathedral.
It’s hardly the place you’d look forward to finding graffiti but it surely’s right here too. For 200 years the constructing was used as a jail for individuals who’d run. up unhealthy money owed. The prisoners whiled away their time reducing their names, dates and photos into the partitions.
Right this moment there’s hands-on actions for all of the household together with attempting on a reproduction coat of armour and Tudor costumes, brass rubbings and a spotter path. You’ll additionally discover college vacation and half time period actions all year long.
Discover out extra about visiting Westgate Museum.
Free issues to do in Winchester
Questioning what to do in Winchester with out breaking the financial institution? Right here’s some funds saving actions:
5. King Alfred Metropolis Stroll
Observe within the footsteps of King Alfred the Nice who dominated England from 871 to 899. He’s such an necessary determine in our historical past as a result of he’s credited with making strategic army strikes that led to the creation of England.
He was additionally a scholar who shaped necessary legal guidelines of the land and helped to unfold literacy.
No marvel he has ‘The Nice’ added to the top of his identify.
The Metropolis Stroll is a free downloadable information that takes you on a tour of among the necessary King Alfred landmarks, from his statue on Broadway to his final recognized resting place at Hyde Abbey Gardens.
The tour is in three loops, so excellent for households to resolve on how far they need to go.
Discover out extra concerning the King Alfred Metropolis Stroll.
6. Wolvesey Fortress
This wreck within the coronary heart of Winchester was as soon as the house of the town’s medieval Bishops. It’s now taken care of by English Heritage and is free to go to.
Discover out extra about Wolvesey Fortress.
7. Winchester Metropolis Mill
Right here’s one other free factor to do in Winchester: go to the mill. It’s the oldest working watermill within the nation with greater than a thousand years of historical past. Up till the early twentieth Century it was nonetheless in common use.
It’s now taken care of by the Nationwide Belief. There are hands-on actions for youths to have a go at in addition to milling demonstrations. Winchester Metropolis Mill is open Wednesday to Sunday.
Discover out extra about visiting Winchester Metropolis Mill.
Issues to do in Winchester when it rains
Winchester’s museums are a superb place to move when the climate is garbage however right here’s some extra concepts for the place to go when it’s moist:
8. The Arc
Catch a family-friendly theatre present and half time period actions at The Arc arts centre.
Discover out what’s on at The Arc.
9. Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium
In case your children adopted Tim Peake’s Prinicipia Mission onboard the Worldwide Area Station then a go to to Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium will go away them buzzing.
It’s residence to the UK’s largest stand alone planetarium cinema and has a great deal of fingers on actions to get them pondering like scientists.
In addition to being great spot at hand out on a wet day, it additionally hosts numerous half time period and college vacation actions.
Right here’s a evaluate of our go to to Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium.
Discover out extra about what’s on at Winchester Science Centre.
10. Tiny Treasure City
Right here’s a fantastic factor to do in Winchester with toddlers – a task play centre the place they will let their imaginations run free.
There’s a miniature store, constructing web site, bauty salon, residence, veterinary apply, and house station for little ones to discover.
Discover out about all of the actions to do at Tiny Treasure City in Otterbourne.
11. Delicate play in Winchester
Right here’s the place to search out delicate play centres in Winchester when the climate fails you and the children nonetheless must burn off power:
Occasions in Winchester
Listed below are among the should see occasions in Winchester’s occasion calendar:
12. Winchester Hat Honest
This must be considered one of my favorite causes to go to Winchester.
Every July the town centre is taken over by a band of avenue performers. There’s every little thing from acrobats to facet exhibits and bite-sized theatre productions all to be discovered within the slender alleyways and market squares of this picturesque metropolis.
The Hat Honest started within the Nineteen Seventies and has its roots in busking. Its identify comes from the performers putting their hats on the bottom and asking their viewers to point out its appreciation by putting cash in it.
Discover out extra about what’s on on the subsequent Winchester Hat Honest.
13. Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
Winchester’s Christmas Market is recognised as top-of-the-line in Europe – actually it’s repeatedly positioned within the prime 10.
What makes it so particular is its distinctive location within the Cathedral’s Internal Shut, its handpicked prime quality exhibitors and bustling ambiance.
It’s impressed by conventional German Christmas markets with fairly picket chalets, festive lighting, the sound of Christmas carols and the aroma of mulled wine and cinnamon drifting within the air.
Discover out when this occasion is on this 12 months in my spherical up of the greatest UK Christmas markets.
Issues to do close to Winchester
There’s lots to don’t removed from Winchester too. Right here’s my really useful household sights and day journeys from Winchester:
14. Marwell Zoo
If you’re in search of issues to do close to Winchester that contain animals, then make a journey to Marwell Zoo. It takes care of a whole bunch of unique and endangered animals.
Whenever you arrive, I’d advocate hopping on the land practice near the zoo entrance for journey across the park to get your bearings earlier than setting off on foot.
After we final visited Marwell the tropical home had simply opened. It’s residence to butterflies, birds and reptiles. We additionally love seeing the penguins, giraffes and tigers.
If you wish to stand up shut with the capybaras, flamingos, pygmy hippos and white rhinos take the rail practice (additional cost).
In addition to the animals there are 5 journey playgrounds dotted round this 140 acre wildlife park.
You too can keep at Marwell’s resort*, which places you only a minute’s stroll from the zoo entrance.
Discover out extra about visiting Marwell Zoo.
15. Paultons Park
If you’re questioning if there’s a theme park close to Winchester, then look no additional than Paultons Park. It has greater than 70 thrill rides for teenagers, toddlers and infants.
There’s 5 themed worlds to discover in addition to a set of unique birds and animals.
Youthful members of the family won’t forgive you in case you don’t enterprise into Peppa Pig World. This zone has rides for all ages that includes characters and tales that toddlers will know nicely from the TV sequence.
Examine our go to to Paultons Park simply earlier than we moved to Devon.
Discover out extra about days out at Paultons Park.
16. Itchen Valley Nation Park
When you’re after some contemporary air then Itchen Valley Nation Park is likely one of the prime issues to do close to Winchester. It has 440 acres of water meadows and woodlands to discover, in addition to an journey playground and loads of house for picnics.
The park rangers placed on common craft and exercise days geared toward households, in addition to a totem path for inquisitive children.
Itchen Valley Nation Park can be residence to the Go Ape! Tree Prime Journey, which has a 193 zip wire – such nice enjoyable!
Examine our Go Ape! Journey at Itchen Valley Nation Park.
17. Hinton Ampner
In terms of issues to do close to Winchester with kids on a sunny day this one doesn’t disappoint. This twentieth Century backyard and property surrounding a 18th Century manor home overlooks the rolling South Downs.
Right this moment it’s within the care of the Nationwide Belief so is free to go to for members. Carry a picnic and benefit from the gardens.
Discover out extra about exploring Hinton Ampner.
18. Bishops Waltham Palace
The Palace was the residence of the Bishops of Winchester from the twelfth to the seventeenth Century however went into wreck after the Civil Conflict.
It’s now an English Heritage web site and is extraordinarily picturesque. Pack a picnic and have a stroll by the grounds and what stays of the Palace partitions. It’s free to go to.
Discover out extra about Bishops Waltham Palace.
19. A day journey to Southampton
I do know what you’re pondering: isn’t that the place you go to affix a cruise?
Sure, greater than one million individuals embark on cruise ships from Southampton yearly, however it is usually a vacation spot in itself.
Discover the town’s relationship with the ocean at SeaCity Museum, step again in time on the Tudor Home Museum and discover out why Southampton is linked to the Spitfire at Solent Sky.
Examine these locations and much more issues to do in Southampton with children in my devoted information.
20. A day journey to Portsmouth
Earlier than shifting to Devon I lived in a Portsmouth postcode for greater than thirty years, so have a reasonably good concept of the perfect sights for households and days out in Portsmouth.
Discover the house of the Royal Navy, climb the Spinnaker Tower for panoramic views of the Solent or replan on the seaside.
Discover out my full checklist of issues to do in Portsmouth with children.
Household-friendly locations to eat in Winchester
Right here’s some family-friendly eating places we are able to advocate in and round Winchester:
Tips on how to get to Winchester
Winchester has its personal practice station which is on the road from Waterloo in London. It’s additionally straightforward to get to by rail from Portsmouth and Southampton.
If you’re travelling by automotive I can advocate utilizing one of many park and journey companies signal posted off the M3. That is a lot simpler than driving by the small metropolis centre to search out parking.
Have you ever visited Winchester with children? What sights would you add to this checklist?
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