Explore the towns of England


Winchester Tourist Information

Winchester has been a popular touristare still 25 Brothers, whose apartments form
destination for over 300 years. Once, aone  side  of  the  historic  quadrangle.
favourite summer residence for London's
aristocracy and leading socialites,Winchester's City Museum is situated between
Winchester is now a year-round destinationthe High Street and the Cathedral. It was the
for  people  from  around  the  world.first purpose built museum to be built
outside of London. Inside the museum there
Winchester was once the ancient capital ofare four models of the city that illustrate
Anglo-Saxon England; it was the capital cityhow the City has changed through the
of a region of England called Wessex. Thecenturies. There are also period shop
city's rulers spent large sums of money oninteriors of shop that once traded in the
building churches, palaces, parks, and ofCity. The shops interiors were saved and
course, the Cathedral. The city is rich inrelocated when the shops closed. A recent
history and many famous figures from Englishaddition is the Roman `Venta´ Gallery with
history have visited, lived, worked and dieddisplays of mosaics that were discovered in
in Winchester. The city is now thearchaeological digs in the city. The 'Floral'
administrative capital of the county ofmosaic was found in Brooks and is the
Hampshire - a county that many regard asearliest found in Winchester. You can see a
being the quintessential English county, withfragment  of  it  in  the  museum.
rolling hills, downs, pretty villages and
crystal  clear  rivers.Winchester City Mill spans the River Itchen
in the heart of Winchester. The City once had
Winchester has many attractions for thedozens of mills scatters about but all fell
visitor. The first port of call should beinto disuse. The name City Mill came into
Winchester Cathedral. The cathedral isbeing after Queen Mary Tudor gifted it to the
probably England's most beautiful. It'scity in 1554 following her wedding in the
setting, just off the High Street, isnearby cathedral. The mill has been restored
idyllic, being surrounded by a park withto full working order and the visitor can now
tree-lined avenues. Construction of thesee  wheat  being  ground  into  flour.
present day cathedral began in 1079. There is
a small admission fee but one really shouldWinchester Great Hall was built in 1232-1240,
go inside to appreciate the beauty of theby Henry III. The Great Hall is the only
cathedral. Also, you can see the tombs, ofremaining part of the 13th Century Winchester
some ancient Kings of England as well as theCastle that remains above ground. It houses
tomb of Jane Austen, the famous novelist.the greatest artefact of medieval mythology;
Winchester Cathedral Choir is recognized as"The Round Table of King Arthur". The names
one of Britain's leading cathedral choirs,of the 24 knights are written around the edge
both for its singing of the services and inof the 5.5 metre diameter table, weighing
concert. The Choir comprises sixteen to1200kg, surmounted by King Arthur on his
twenty choristers and twelve lay clerks,throne. However, the table is a medieval
whose numbers are augmented when largerfake,  but  still  impressive,  all the same.
forces are required. If you have the chance,
you  should  go  to  one  of  their concerts.There are many other tourist attraction in
Winchester. There is Abbey House and gardens
St Cross Hospital is a short, but beautiful- a beautiful floral park that is also the
walk, from the centre of town. St Cross wassetting of the mayor's official residence.
never a hospital in the modern sense of theThe Theatre Royal stages many plays, comedies
word; rather it has its name from the wordand exhibitions throughout the year -with
'hospitality'. St Cross was founded in 1132many of Britain's leading actors taking
by Bishop Henri du Blois. The Bishop iscentre stage. The walk up St Catherine's hill
quoted as saying that the establishment wouldgives the visitor a magnificent view of the
be for `thirteen poor men, feeble and socity  of  Winchester.
reduced in strength that they can scarcely or
not at all support themselves without otherThere are too many other tourist attractions
aid´. For over 850 the Hospital hasto mention. But the above tourist information
provided food and shelter for those in need.of Winchester should help to guide the first
The Hospital has a beautiful church, whichtime visitor around the city. Many visitors
the visitor is welcome to go inside. There isreturn time and again to this most wonderful
also a magnificent walled garden with a largeof English cities.
pond. The Hospital is no museum piece; there



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