| Winchester has been a popular tourist destination | | | | apartments form one side of the historic |
| for over 300 years. Once, a favourite summer | | | | quadrangle. |
| residence for London's aristocracy and leading | | | | Winchester's City Museum is situated between |
| socialites, Winchester is now a year-round | | | | the High Street and the Cathedral. It was the first |
| destination for people from around the world. | | | | purpose built museum to be built outside of |
| Winchester was once the ancient capital of | | | | London. Inside the museum there are four models |
| Anglo-Saxon England; it was the capital city of a | | | | of the city that illustrate how the City has |
| region of England called Wessex. The city's rulers | | | | changed through the centuries. There are also |
| spent large sums of money on building churches, | | | | period shop interiors of shop that once traded in |
| palaces, parks, and of course, the Cathedral. The | | | | the City. The shops interiors were saved and |
| city is rich in history and many famous figures | | | | relocated when the shops closed. A recent |
| from English history have visited, lived, worked | | | | addition is the Roman `Venta´ Gallery with |
| and died in Winchester. The city is now the | | | | displays of mosaics that were discovered in |
| administrative capital of the county of Hampshire | | | | archaeological digs in the city. The 'Floral' mosaic |
| - a county that many regard as being the | | | | was found in Brooks and is the earliest found in |
| quintessential English county, with rolling hills, | | | | Winchester. You can see a fragment of it in the |
| downs, pretty villages and crystal clear rivers. | | | | museum. |
| Winchester has many attractions for the visitor. | | | | Winchester City Mill spans the River Itchen in the |
| The first port of call should be Winchester | | | | heart of Winchester. The City once had dozens |
| Cathedral. The cathedral is probably England's | | | | of mills scatters about but all fell into disuse. The |
| most beautiful. It's setting, just off the High | | | | name City Mill came into being after Queen Mary |
| Street, is idyllic, being surrounded by a park with | | | | Tudor gifted it to the city in 1554 following her |
| tree-lined avenues. Construction of the present | | | | wedding in the nearby cathedral. The mill has been |
| day cathedral began in 1079. There is a small | | | | restored to full working order and the visitor can |
| admission fee but one really should go inside to | | | | now see wheat being ground into flour. |
| appreciate the beauty of the cathedral. Also, you | | | | Winchester Great Hall was built in 1232-1240, by |
| can see the tombs, of some ancient Kings of | | | | Henry III. The Great Hall is the only remaining part |
| England as well as the tomb of Jane Austen, the | | | | of the 13th Century Winchester Castle that |
| famous novelist. Winchester Cathedral Choir is | | | | remains above ground. It houses the greatest |
| recognized as one of Britain's leading cathedral | | | | artefact of medieval mythology; "The Round |
| choirs, both for its singing of the services and in | | | | Table of King Arthur". The names of the 24 |
| concert. The Choir comprises sixteen to twenty | | | | knights are written around the edge of the 5.5 |
| choristers and twelve lay clerks, whose numbers | | | | metre diameter table, weighing 1200kg, |
| are augmented when larger forces are required. If | | | | surmounted by King Arthur on his throne. |
| you have the chance, you should go to one of | | | | However, the table is a medieval fake, but still |
| their concerts. | | | | impressive, all the same. |
| St Cross Hospital is a short, but beautiful walk, | | | | There are many other tourist attraction in |
| from the centre of town. St Cross was never a | | | | Winchester. There is Abbey House and gardens - |
| hospital in the modern sense of the word; rather | | | | a beautiful floral park that is also the setting of |
| it has its name from the word 'hospitality'. St | | | | the mayor's official residence. The Theatre Royal |
| Cross was founded in 1132 by Bishop Henri du | | | | stages many plays, comedies and exhibitions |
| Blois. The Bishop is quoted as saying that the | | | | throughout the year -with many of Britain's |
| establishment would be for `thirteen poor men, | | | | leading actors taking centre stage. The walk up St |
| feeble and so reduced in strength that they can | | | | Catherine's hill gives the visitor a magnificent view |
| scarcely or not at all support themselves without | | | | of the city of Winchester. |
| other aid´. For over 850 the Hospital has | | | | There are too many other tourist attractions to |
| provided food and shelter for those in need. The | | | | mention. But the above tourist information of |
| Hospital has a beautiful church, which the visitor is | | | | Winchester should help to guide the first time |
| welcome to go inside. There is also a magnificent | | | | visitor around the city. Many visitors return time |
| walled garden with a large pond. The Hospital is no | | | | and again to this most wonderful of English cities. |
| museum piece; there are still 25 Brothers, whose | | | | |