Winchester College, founded by William of Wykeham in 1382, is one of the world’s most famous and distinguished schools and a heritage site of international significance.
Now you can learn more about its heritage thanks to a new programme of guided tours, showcasing the College’s hidden gems including its medieval architecture, private war memorial and tranquil gardens.
War Cloister Tours
Commemorating one hundred years since the opening of the College’s peaceful war memorial, these tours bring to life the stories of the pupils and teachers from Winchester College who died in both World Wars and subsequent conflicts, as well as the architecture, symbolism, and impact of War Cloister today.
Originally designed by the architect Sir Herbert Baker, War Cloister is described by Historic England as the largest private war memorial in Europe.
Tuesdays and Saturdays, 14:00 and 15:30
Garden Tours
Led by members of the Winchester College gardening team on selected dates throughout the spring and summer, these tours explore the vast biodiversity and horticultural history of the beautiful hidden gardens of Winchester College. This includes a look at the traditional College ‘quad’, a quiet sitting garden for the old College sick house, the tranquil gardens of the College’s war memorial, and the ‘Warden’s Garden’ with its herbaceous borders, woodland, and private section of one of the most famous chalk streams in the world.
College Tours
Tours of the College’s original 14th-century campus run daily, focusing on the school’s history and medieval architecture. Highlights include Chamber Court (the medieval heart of the College), the 14th-century Gothic chapel, College Hall (where the Scholars still eat their meals), Cloisters and the 17th-century redbrick schoolroom.
Monday to Sunday, 14:15 and 15:30.
Prices
Adults £12, Concessions £10.50, children under 11 free. T
Group bookings
The College welcomes group bookings for all tours. For bookings of 10 people or more, please contact visitus@wincoll.ac.uk or ring the College’s Tours Coordinator on 01962 814 611.
Find out more about the College’s tours programme here.
Treasury Museum
Whilst visiting Winchester College, you can also visit the school’s Treasury museum, which houses the school’s collections of art and archaeology.
Since its foundation in 1382, Winchester College has acquired many objects of historic and artistic significance. A selection of these is on permanent display in the Treasury museum, housed in the College’s medieval stables. The museum’s current special exhibition marks the hundredth anniversary of War Cloister, the school’s war memorial. Visitors to the museum can also see artefacts from Egypt, Greece and Rome, medieval art and early English silver, and Chinese ceramics from the Tang to the Qing dynasties.
Treasury is open to the public every afternoon from 2pm to 4pm. Entry is free.
