Winchester and surrounding villages

Winchester is a historic city with an awe inspiring Cathedral and a city centre full of 'must visit' places.

The historic city of Winchester has plenty to offer with the Cathedral being the splendour that it is, at the centre of it all. It includes museums, galleries, the Great Hall, Wolvesey Castle and Palace and King Alfred’s statue to name but a few! There are many amazing locations to visit, such as the views at the top of both St Catherine’s Hill and St Giles’s Hill with wonderful views across the city. A visit to St Cross Hospital is a must and this can be reached along the River Itchen where city soon turns into countryside and there are some beautiful walks/cycle rides that take you out to the outlying villages of Twyford, Easton, Otterbourne and Compton. We also have the benefit of a great theatre and cinema!

The High Street has plenty to offer with a mix of shops, cosy pubs and restaurants, many popular restaurants such as The Ivy Brasserie, Rick Stein, Blanc Brasserie, the Chesil Rectory and the Black Rat which are a stone's throw away for Kat and various drinking establishments including the Vine, Bishop on the Bridge and Greens which is a Winchester institution and one of Kate's favourites. There are a plethora of independent coffee houses and we are very lucky to have Coffee Lab, Cafe Winchester and Orangery on our doorstep.

All located in the beautiful county of Hampshire which itself has so much to offer and an hour’s train ride from London, and that is some of the reasons that we have been voted as one of the best places to live.

If it’s the children you need to please then you have many options… River park Leisure centre in the City Centre with activities galore or Marwell Zoo and Activity Barn just a short drive out of town.

It’s not just the city centre which draws people in, the surrounding villages are beautiful and packed with gorgeous countryside. St Catherine’s Hill is the place for a dog walk or if you’re feeling brave a run up the steps!! Farley Mount and Cheesefoot Head are just a few of the other beauty spots to mention.

The villages have many lovely country pubs with great grub – The Old Forge in Otterbourne and The Bugle in Twyford are just two of the goodies.

And lastly, for the serious stuff… education and travel. Winchester has many excellent State and Independent schools. There really are too many to mention, but of particular note is St Faith’s primary in St Cross and Peter Symonds 6th form college, both Ofsted outstanding. Twyford Prep situated on the South Downs is a popular choice for an independent prep taking girls and boys from aged 3 through to 13. Frequent trains run to London Waterloo in just under an hour, and access to the M3 and beyond is just outside the City Centre.