Visit Winchester is saying farewell to resolutions and hello to the Winchester Wishlist for ideas, inspiration and must-see things to do this year in Winchester!
I wish… I could explore the outdoors.
Winchester is lucky enough to be nestled into some of the most beautiful countryside the South has to offer. If you fancy a stroll around the city’s green spaces, download our Tree Trail Map, where you can learn about over 20 species of trees dotted across the city. For those looking to avoid steep hills and hard-to-access nooks, Winchester’s Accessible Trail Map is the perfect way to explore with confidence. Further afield, The Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail will guide you along the winding waterways of the district and beyond, while King Alfred’s Way cycle route will take the seasoned cyclist through the heart of Hampshire and historic Wessex.
Winchester also has some glorious gardens to see. Winchester College offers garden tours, exploring the vast biodiversity and horticultural history of the beautiful hidden gardens in the heart of the city. Further afield, visit Gilbert White’s House and Gardens for the cottage, herb and kitchen gardens, as well as sweeping lawns and a wildflower meadow. Throughout the year, a series of ‘Gilbert’s Garden’ tours will show you some of its hidden gems. The grounds at Chawton House have also been restored to their 18th century beauty. Be sure to explore the Walled Garden, built by Edward Austen, and the Elizabeth Blackwell Herb Garden while you are there.
I wish… I could learn something new.
Winchester Science Centre invites you to come in from the cold and warm up this February half term with some explosive science fun! Get ready for a squishy, stretchy and slime-tastic live science show, The Slime Show, blast off on the ultimate family space adventure with the return of Sub-zero Space Adventure in The Planetarium and uncover the exciting world of astronomers in subtitled Planetarium film show, We Are Astronomers.
For more family fun, head to 878 AD, the award-winning immersive Anglo-Saxon experience. After discovering the stories and artefacts of King Alfred’s Winchester, use the 878 AD: Winchester Revealed app to explore the city. While here, Winchester City Museum and Westgate Museum can complete your historic journey through Winchester’s past. With the Historic Winchester Super Explorer ticket, enjoy 12 months of access to four attractions in the heart of Winchester - The Great Hall, Westgate Museum, 878 AD and City Museum. This access is valid for one whole year.
I wish… I could indulge in a delicious meal.
Whatever you’re craving, Winchester has a delicious place to grab a bite to eat! For a pre-theatre dinner or a romantic meal, Rick Stein Winchester offers a hint of Cornish heritage in the heart of Hampshire. From 8 to 26 January 2025, Rick Stein’s Charity Lunches return in support of The Winchester Beacon.
For authentic Japanese cuisine, including a renowned sushi and sashimi selection, Kyoto Kitchen is the perfect place to enjoy a weekday lunch or a more leisurely dinner. To experience a quintessential country pub in the heart of the city, The Wykeham Arms is the place for you. With roaring fires and award-winning dining, you can tuck a slice of Winchester’s history in this 17th century gem.
I wish… I could get creative.
If you are interested in getting crafty, The Arc has plenty of workshops to get the creative juices flowing in 2025. Enjoy an evening out with friends with a Alan Beckett's series of 'paint and sip' sessions inspired by artists such as Vermeer and Klimpt. Join novelist Judith Heneghan and director Tim Fywell for an all-day writing workshop to delve into what film can teach us about writing. Nurture your little artists' talents with February half-term's Invent and Inspire Week, including junk robot building, galaxy painting and puppet making!
I wish… I could watch some shows.
The Theatre Royal Winchester is a one-stop-shop for all kinds of performances, and the 2025 programme does not disappoint. For the National Theatre lovers, watch a screening of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, or see Steve Coogan take centre-stage in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove.
To tickle your funny bone, check out comedian and Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland in Yonks! this January. Or, see four incredible stand-up comedians at the Winchester Comedy Festival: Spring Gala 2025.
Musical connoisseurs can enjoy The Merry Opera Company's performance of Die Fledermaus or a musical journey through the careers of your favourite musicians such as Sir Tom Jones, Taylor Swift, and Oasis.
Family fun is never lacking at the Theatre Royal. With Hat Fair Cabaret, every generation can enjoy an indoor extravaganza of mayhem and laughter. Best-selling children's books will also come to life on stage in productions of Room on the Broom, The Baddies and The Elmer Adventure.
I wish… I could be more sustainable.
In 2024 we should all be thinking greener. Luckily Winchester has plenty of sustainable and bcorp-certified businesses to choose from. Aspiga is a boutique where every decision is geared towards minimising their impact on the planet. From plastic-free packaging to ethically sourced fabrics, this shop is determined to offset carbon emissions with every purchase. Earthian Zero Waste Shop is the go-to location for a sustainable food shop. They are officially Carbon Neutral and are currently working towards Zero Waste To Landfill accreditation through their sustainable business practices.
For a sustainable day out, be sure to visit conservation award-winning Marwell Zoo. Their team of conservation experts and partners are working to help restore nature and promote sustainable living. Recently, more than 6,000 Extinct in the Wild and Critically Endangered Partula snail species from zoos across Europe, including Marwell Zoo, have travelled more than 15,000 miles in a bid to reverse their extinction, "by far the greatest contribution to a conservation project in Marwell’s history”.
Do your bit for the planet by visiting Winchester by bus or rail. See our getting here page and read our blog Leave the car behind for a green visit.
I wish… I could spend a few nights away.
After the hustle and bustle of Christmas, there is nothing quite like a few nights away from home. Step into the 16th century Winchester Royal Hotel for a luxurious stay in the heart of the city or enjoy the modern and relaxing Mercure Wessex for a view of the stunning Winchester Cathedral.
If you prefer the cozy and eclectic, a room above The Wykeham Arms is the perfect bolthole for your city stay, featuring four luxury double rooms offering stylish accommodation at a great value.
If you would like a stay in the South Downs National Park, while benefitting from a fantastic route into the city, visit the voco Winchester Hotel and Spa. Just pop on the 64 bus from outside the hotel for a 10-minute journey into Winchester.
I wish… I could read more.
Winchester is a book-lover’s dream, with its fascinating connections with the likes of Jane Austen and John Keats, as well as a wealth of contemporary authors calling the city their home. Step back in time and experience a book shop as Jane Austen would have at P&G Wells. This 18th century booksellers and stationers is the perfect place to find your next read. After, you can pop by the Deanery Bookshop, nestled in Winchester Cathedral’s inner close, for a treasure-trove of pre-loved books. Be sure to say hello to the resident pug, Bustle, while you’re there!
This year, Winchester is celebrating 250 years of Jane Austen with a host of special events, tours and exhibitions to celebrate her remarkable life and works. Step inside the house where Jane Austen spent the last weeks of her life at No. 8 College Street, open to the public for the first time. Take time for reflection at Jane Austen's final resting place in the north nave aisle of Winchester Cathedral. Meanwhile, experience the world premiere of "The Storytellers," an enchanting immersive son et lumière event celebrating the rich tapestry of literature, poetry, and the oral traditions.
In Chawton, the village where Jane lived and wrote her beloved novels, Jane Austen's House is hosting festivals in honour of Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Emma and Persuasion. Visitors can also explore the sunny Drawing Room, where she read Pride and Prejudice aloud to a neighbour on the very day she received her first copy, and the vibrant green Dining Room, complete with the little table where she sat to write all her famous works.
