Winchester Cathedral
A 5-minute walk from The Winchester Royal Hotel, The Winchester Cathedral is a great place to visit when exploring this historic city with so much to discover and an inspiring day out for all ages.
Come and explore Europe’s longest medieval Cathedral with more than 1000 years of history to discover. Welcoming 300,000 visitors annually, The Winchester Cathedral is a popular tourist attraction, as well as with pilgrims, families and school groups.
Discover the beautiful illuminated Winchester Bible, 12th-century wall paintings, medieval carvings, contemporary art and the awe and wonder of this magnificent building.
A walk round the Cathedral takes you through centuries of English church architecture, from the massive vaults of its early Norman crypt to the ornate glories of its Renaissance chantry chapels. It’s also home to some great works of art, including paintings, sculptures and carvings.
The Cathedral is famous for its beautiful chantry chapels, where daily masses were said for the bishops who built them. A total of seven, all in different styles, were added between the 14th and 16th centuries. This is more than any other English cathedral, reflecting Winchester’s great power, wealth and royal connections.
The best way to experience Winchester cathedral is on one of their tours. Join the Cathedral Tour if you’d like a great introduction to the Cathedral and an in-depth look into its history and how it’s left a mark on the building, from Anglo-Saxon times to when the Normans invaded.
Hear about the oldest part of the Cathedral on the Crypt Tour, which is the least altered and provides a beautiful setting for Antony Gormley’s sculpture Sound II. Or climb 213 steps to the top of the tower with our Tower Tour and experience the breath-taking views that surrounds the Cathedral – not for the faint hearted however!
The Winchester Cathedral is an inspiring day out for all ages, especially with its free Children’s trail. Full of wonderful stories, fascinating facts and strange traditions, let your children lead the way using the map and uncover lots of fun activities along the way…
Look out for events that frequently take place at the Cathedral throughout the year. From open-air theatre, classical concerts, exhibitions and themed lunches.
If you feel a bit peckish after all your exploring, pop into The Cathedral Café for a delicious lunch, Hampshire cream tea or cup of tea and a pastry.
Don’t forget to take a memento from your visit and pop into The Cathedral Shop. Whether you want to dig a little deeper into the history, architecture or life of the Cathedral with one of their many informative books on sale, buy a souvenir to remember your visit or interested in buying a CD of choral, church or classical music, they have it all!
The Refectory and Terrace are both fully accessible, with toilet facilities in the building and also in the courtyard outside, including disabled access and baby-changing facilities.
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Do you love Gin? Uncover the secrets of the world-famous gin, Bombay Sapphire at the historic distillery, Laverstoke Mill in rural Hampshire.
Wolvesey Castle
On your trip to The Winchester Royal Hotel, why not visit Wolvesey Castle? It’s a great day out for all the family, those who are interested in history, or those wanting to find the ideal spot for a picnic and its completely admission free!
Great Hall & Round Table
You must have heard of the infamous Round Table? Located in The Great Hall, which is an atmospheric 13th- century hall featuring the legendary table which is romantically linked to King Arthur and his knights.
