Once the ancient capital of England and former seat of King Alfred the Great, Winchester is the quintessential English city with a rich heritage and vibrant contemporary culture.
Its picturesque location is just an hour southwest of London by train and 12 miles from England’s south coast. It is filled with quaint cobbled streets, Regency terraces, street entertainers, historic pubs, a 13th Century Great Hall which claims connections to King Arthur’s Round Table and indeed an impressive Cathedral with the longest Gothic nave in the world.
This bustling, friendly community of about 50,000 people, enjoys a daily market and independent shops, artisan stores, cosy heritage pubs and eateries, including restaurants from celebrity chefs Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Rick Stein. Winchester also holds the national Purple Flag status, which recognizes cities that are safe and enjoyable places for a night out.
The city is also well placed for exploring other parts of the UK and beyond. Its proximity to London means day trips, extended stays or even evenings out in the capital are possible and access to international airports is easy. There is an hourly coach from Winchester to Heathrow airport and Southampton airport is only 8 minutes away by train. There is also a strong local bus network for traveling around the city and to neighboring towns and cities.
Winchester has charmed everyone who has visited it throughout history, from kings, to novelists such as Jane Austin and Keats, and A-list celebrities. It’s hushed backstreets and generous share of medieval buildings have lent themselves to scenes in films such as The Da Vinci Code, Les Misérables and Wolf Hall, which were all shot here.