Sep
Sights to See in Winchester
As part of the University of Southampton, we have a thriving arts campus based in Winchester, Winchester School of Art. Winchester is a beautiful, historic city, and a one- time capital of England, so it is full of things to see and do. Here is just a short compilation of some of the highlights of the city…
- Winchester Cathedral! Probably the most well-known and popular tourist attraction in Winchester, the Cathedral stands tall above the Roman streets. Boasting glorious Gothic architecture and claiming to be the longest Gothic cathedral in all of Europe, the Grade I listed building is said to hold the remains of many Old English Kings, as well as local author Jane Austen.
- Walk the River Itchen! The River is central to Winchester, flowing right through it before eventually passing through Southampton. As it passes through you can walk along and appreciate its beauty, from crossing Roman bridges to seeing it flow at the end of some wonderful gardens, this is a lovely and serene walk that should be enjoyed.
- Winchester Castle! Just along from the Cathedral are the remains of Winchester Castle, and the famous Great Hall. The Great Hall was used as a Royal Court, and was where various monarchs at the start of the second millennium were crowned. It also houses King Arthur’s Round Table, which is not from Arthurian times, rather, the 13th Adjoined to the castle remains is a beautiful royal garden too.
- A Walking Tour! Winchester has various little jewels throughout its historic streets, and whilst these may be easy to see by themselves, combining them in a walking tour is a great way of seeing a lot of sights in one time. Among these are the Winchester Buttercross, which has 12 statues of the Virgin Mary, saints and other historical figures, three bronze figures, including one of Queen Victoria and one of King Alfred, Winchester Guildhall and finally the City Museum, which is full of local items and artefacts.
So now you know of some of the fabulous places to see in Winchester, it is definitely worth getting out into the city and exploring some of them. You will also see as you walk around Winchester, other beautiful places such as the Roman streets, period buildings and finally lots of independent shops. No wonder this city is among the most desirable to live in Britain.
If you’re studying at WSA, don’t forget to check out our official Facebook page and the Erasmus Park Halls group. During Freshers’, we are running events at both Winchester and Highfield and we are offering FREE transport to our Master Pass events for WSA students (get your tickets from www.unionsouthampton.org/boxoffice).
