Winchester on foot
the old capital, on foot
England's ancient capital, done on foot. A water-meadow walk, the cathedral close and the medieval Round Table, mostly free.
Free day out · Winchester · Hampshire · Waterloo → Winchester
Winchester was the capital of Anglo-Saxon England and wears the history lightly. You can wander the cathedral close, the medieval streets and the buttercross for free, and the Great Hall, home to the giant medieval Round Table, asks only for a donation.
The best free bit is the walk: follow the River Itchen out past the old mill to the water meadows and up St Catherine's Hill for the view back over the spires. Bring a picnic and it is a full free day in one of England's loveliest small cities.
Getting there from London: Waterloo to Winchester, around 1h direct, advance singles, book ahead. The city, the water meadows, the cathedral close and the Great Hall (donation) are free. The cathedral interior asks for a ticket.
Getting there: Winchester station is a ten minute walk into the centre. The Great Hall is on the way in and the cathedral and water meadows lie beyond it.
Best time to go: A clear day for the St Catherine's Hill and water-meadow walk. Term-time weekdays are quietest.
Official site: https://www.visitwinchester.co.uk
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