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Winchester College

One of England's independent (fee-paying) schools, founded in 1382 and believed to be the oldest continuously running school in the country. Guided tours are available, lasting approximately 1 hour and include Chamber Court; the Gothic Chapel with its 14th-century vaulted roof; College Hall; the 17th-century red brick schoolroom built in the style of Christopher Wren; the original cloister.

Address: College Street
Hours: Visit by guided tour only, which run several times most days of the year
Price: Adults £7; Concessions £6; Under 12s free
Website: winchestercollege.org (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Winchester (England), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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Church of St. Swithun upon Kingsgate
This was once a not uncommon position for a place of worship in England, but St. Swithun's is the only one remaining today. The interior of this tiny church is very plain, with whitewashed walls and an unadorned wooden ceiling. Sit for a moment in the simple wooden pews and it is hard not to feel a sense of peace.
Open during daylight hours except for occasional services.Free (but donations gratefully accepted)
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Wolvesey Castle
This palace was the chief residence of the Bishops of Winchester and its extensive ruins still reflect their importance and wealth.
Open Apr–Sep 10AM–5PMFree
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Winchester Cathedral
A Norman cathedral begun in 1079, containing the Winchester Bible and featuring the longest Gothic nave in the world. The cathedral was built on rafts floating on a peat marsh! For 800 years the raft was able to carry the weight but, by the 19th century, the cathedral was in danger of collapse and the foundations were rebuilt by a diver working underwater; look out for the statue and story of this "Winchester Diver" if you visit. The cathedral is the venue for regular recitals and concerts, and hosts Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's Summer Series. The famous English novelist Jane Austen died in Winchester in 1817 and is buried in the cathedral. A statue by British artist Anthony Gormley is to be found, somewhat unexpectedly, in the crypt of the cathedral. Hidden away in cathedral Close is the Dean Garnier Garden, which offers splendid views of the cathedral. Pay special attention to the stonework, and how the medieval builders suffered from problems with subsidence.
Mon–Sat 9:30AM–6PM; Sun 12:30PM–3PM (restricted access during services)Adults £7.50; concessions £5.50; students £4; under 16s free. The Tower Tour and Audio Tour cost an additional £6 and £3 respectively
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Cathedral Shop
Housed in an old Coach House 25 m from the West Front of the Cathedral, this shop offers a range of gifts, many of them unique to the cathedral.
Mar-Oct: daily 9:30AM–5:30PM; Nov-Feb: daily 9:30AM–5:00PM