Winchester is the ancient Capital of Wessex and the County Town of Hampshire.
It’s the burial place of many of England’s Kings, Queens, Saints, and famous people such as Jane Austen, Izaac Walton and Keats. Surrounding the cathedral grounds there are remains of a medieval defensive wall and Winchester school, the house where Jane Austen died, a medieval town gate, and the river Itchen all lying just outside the grounds.
There has been a Cathedral in Winchester since about 648 AD. The foundations of the current Cathedral were laid out in 1079. Between 1905-12 William Walker, a diver, worked with 150 others to underpin most of the cathedral walls which were in danger of collapsing.

There are interesting museums to visit in Winchester. These include several connected with different army regiments: The Gurkha Museum; The Royal Green Jackets; The Royal Hussars; The Light Infantry; The Royal Hampshire Regiment. The City Museum has many important archaeological finds on view. The Westgate is one of the two remaining gates to the City. The room above the gateway is now a museum. There are good views from the roof and displays include a painted ceiling from Winchester College, weaponry, and weights and measures. The Guildhall Gallery has Fine art, Sculpture, Photography, Ceramics.

The Great Hall is all that remains of the once important royal castle of Winchester. The hall was built between 1222 and 1236 for Henry III, and replaced an older hall that was demolished as part of Henry's remodelling of the castle. In 1302 a serious fire caused widespread damage to the royal apartments at the castle, as a result the castle was no longer used as a royal residence. The Hall was the heart of the Castle. When in residence the King dined there, discussed affairs of State with his barons and clergy and sat in court to administer justice. The Great Hall has the greatest symbol of medieval mythology, ‘The Round Table of King Arthur’. The names of the 24 knights are written around the edge of the 5.5-metre diameter table which weighs 1200kg. This isn't the real Round Table, rather a version made for King Edward I (1272-1307), a king known for his interest in the Arthurian legend. Originally it was undecorated, but a young Henry VIII had it painted for a visit by Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor.

In the main shopping street you can see the High Cross, also known as the City or Butter Cross. It dates from the early 15th Century. It was once used by countrymen to sell produce, hence the name Butter Cross. On the lower levels of the Brooks Shopping Centre is the `Brooks Experience´ which gives a view of life in Medieval and Roman Winchester based on remains found during construction of the shopping centre. The story is told using `Dioramas´, a mix of action and drama.

There is a lovely walk along the river and through the water meadows. This starts at the bottom of the main shopping street, just c past the Palace Gardens. There are often swans and ducks on the river and the water is so clear that you can see fish.