| Winchester has been a popular tourist | | | | are still 25 Brothers, whose apartments form |
| destination for over 300 years. Once, a | | | | one 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 destination | | | | the 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 of | | | | are four models of the city that illustrate |
| Anglo-Saxon England; it was the capital city | | | | how the City has changed through the |
| of a region of England called Wessex. The | | | | centuries. There are also period shop |
| city's rulers spent large sums of money on | | | | interiors of shop that once traded in the |
| building churches, palaces, parks, and of | | | | City. The shops interiors were saved and |
| course, the Cathedral. The city is rich in | | | | relocated when the shops closed. A recent |
| history and many famous figures from English | | | | addition is the Roman `Venta´ Gallery with |
| history have visited, lived, worked and died | | | | displays of mosaics that were discovered in |
| in Winchester. The city is now the | | | | archaeological digs in the city. The 'Floral' |
| administrative capital of the county of | | | | mosaic was found in Brooks and is the |
| Hampshire - a county that many regard as | | | | earliest found in Winchester. You can see a |
| being the quintessential English county, with | | | | fragment 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 the | | | | dozens of mills scatters about but all fell |
| visitor. The first port of call should be | | | | into disuse. The name City Mill came into |
| Winchester Cathedral. The cathedral is | | | | being after Queen Mary Tudor gifted it to the |
| probably England's most beautiful. It's | | | | city in 1554 following her wedding in the |
| setting, just off the High Street, is | | | | nearby cathedral. The mill has been restored |
| idyllic, being surrounded by a park with | | | | to full working order and the visitor can now |
| tree-lined avenues. Construction of the | | | | see wheat being ground into flour. |
| present day cathedral began in 1079. There is | | | | |
| a small admission fee but one really should | | | | Winchester Great Hall was built in 1232-1240, |
| go inside to appreciate the beauty of the | | | | by Henry III. The Great Hall is the only |
| cathedral. Also, you can see the tombs, of | | | | remaining part of the 13th Century Winchester |
| some ancient Kings of England as well as the | | | | Castle 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 in | | | | of the 5.5 metre diameter table, weighing |
| concert. The Choir comprises sixteen to | | | | 1200kg, surmounted by King Arthur on his |
| twenty choristers and twelve lay clerks, | | | | throne. However, the table is a medieval |
| whose numbers are augmented when larger | | | | fake, 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 was | | | | setting of the mayor's official residence. |
| never a hospital in the modern sense of the | | | | The Theatre Royal stages many plays, comedies |
| word; rather it has its name from the word | | | | and exhibitions throughout the year -with |
| 'hospitality'. St Cross was founded in 1132 | | | | many of Britain's leading actors taking |
| by Bishop Henri du Blois. The Bishop is | | | | centre stage. The walk up St Catherine's hill |
| quoted as saying that the establishment would | | | | gives the visitor a magnificent view of the |
| be for `thirteen poor men, feeble and so | | | | city of Winchester. |
| reduced in strength that they can scarcely or | | | | |
| not at all support themselves without other | | | | There are too many other tourist attractions |
| aid´. For over 850 the Hospital has | | | | to 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, which | | | | time visitor around the city. Many visitors |
| the visitor is welcome to go inside. There is | | | | return time and again to this most wonderful |
| also a magnificent walled garden with a large | | | | of English cities. |
| pond. The Hospital is no museum piece; there | | | | |