About Winchester

Winchester is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city boasts decades of history and is home to one of England’s oldest Cathedrals. It is a thriving busy city with a host of shops, businesses, attractions and recreational facilities as well as beautiful water meadows and St Giles’ Hill.

The Winchester district has a population of over 109,000 spread across 250 square miles of land, mostly living within rural locations. 35% of the district's population live in the Winchester town area and 65% live in rural areas.

Winchester is just one hour from London and benefits from having nearby maritime cities of Southampton (13 miles) and Portsmouth (30 miles). The New Forest and to the west (18 miles) are easy to reach within an hour. There are good local transport networks to Winchester and neighboring towns. 

   High Street


Winchester’s High Street offers a full range of top national high street names and independent shops to fulfil your shopping needs. If you’re looking for something specific or just to window shop, why not pop into Debenhams, Boots and Char. More treasures wait as you make your way leisurely through town past the Westgate where you will find quality independent retail opposite Winchester’s popular military museums.

Parchment Street


Parchment Street can be found just off of the High Street tucked away by WH Smiths. The street is a unique boutique street that offers a range of quality independent shops such as Bell Fine Art and Boudoir Blush. This up and coming area presents a host of independent jewellery shops to provide you with something special for the one you love. 

The Square and Market Lane


This part of Winchester is situated near the Cathedral and benefits from having some the finest restaurants in town. The Square offers a relaxing atmosphere with many of its cafes and bars providing outside seating, so you can unwind and enjoy the summer sun. Market Lane is the entrance to the historic Cathedral, which also plays host to popular High Street names such as White Stuff, Crew Clothing and Monsoon. 

The Constabulary


The Constabulary can be found tucked behind the high street next to The Square and running up to Southgate Street. It comprises of St Thomas Street, Southgate Street, St Clement Street, Minster lane, Little Minster and Great Minster. This charming row of streets offers a host of independent traditional shops for you to enjoy; this includes The Beanstalk, Burns and Graham, Hambledon Furniture and Harvey Jones. The Constabulary is an up and coming area with a new Café, Ginger Two, opening in early March. 

City Bridge and Chesil Street



These two Streets can be found by the beautiful river Itchen located near the City Mill. Bridge Street and Chesil Street play host to a brides dream, offering The Bridal Room, Mills’n’Bloom Florist, The Bridge Patisserie and popular bars where you can sit back, relax and make those all important decisions.  

St. George’s Street


St. George’s Street can be found running adjacent to Winchester’s High Street. If you are looking for a gift for a young child why not try looking in The Toy Cupboard, this can be found along here amongst other shops and cafes such as Winchester News and Café Centro.    

The Brooks Shopping Centre


The Brooks Shopping Centre is located right in the heart if Winchester’s city centre. With ample parking this is a great place to start your Winchester experience. Within the shopping centre you will find a range of High Street names and popular retail outlets such as Argos, BHS and Waterstones, that you, your family and friends will all enjoy.

Eating out, Entertainment and Attractions

Winchester is filled with exciting and fun activities for to you to enjoy. This section of the handbook will guide you through all the hidden secrets that Winchester has tucked away behind its busy High Street in the City centre.

When wining and dining in Winchester we offer you a host of pubs, cafes, brassieres, bistros and restaurants, so take your pick, sit back and relax to take in the warm welcoming atmosphere Winchester has to offer. 

Winchester is packed full of historic attractions for you and your family to enjoy. The most popular attractions are The Cathedral, The Great Hall and King Arthur’s Round Table, but that’s not all Winchester has to offer. Take a stroll down by the river, wander through our narrow historic streets to the top of the city and explore our fascinating history in our museums.

The Guildhall in Winchester is located on The Broadway just in front of the beautiful Abbey gardens. Situated above the Tourist Information Centre the Guildhall offers a range of exciting exhibitions displaying paintings, photography, crafts, ceramics, sculpture, modern works and topographical paintings. With a frequent changing programme there will be a range of exhibitions for you to enjoy.

Winchester is proud to accommodate street music, dance and theatre performances, so take a stroll down the High Street as unsigned talent makes your shopping experience more enjoyable.  

Services

Winchester offers a range of services to cater for your every need. This section of the website will inform you about the companies Winchester has to offer who deal directly with the general public.  

Winchester’s business district can be found within the heart of the city centre. Business’ working in the city centre pride themselves on their attention to personal service. We have quality practitioners in most areas, and our annual Business Excellence Awards have shown that the quality of service is outstanding within Winchester.  

Winchester Park and Ride
Winchester City Council, in partnership with the County Council, operates two Park & Ride car parks - Barfield and St Catherine's.
Car parking and bus travel costs just £2.70 for the whole car full.

For more information regarding Winchester Park and Ride, please visit www.winchester.gov.uk/TransportAndStreets/ParkAndRide

Shop mobility
Shop mobility can be found on the upper floor within the Brooks shopping centre and offers free parking for any shop mobility user. If you need to arrange another pick up point then shop mobility will provide a service where they can meet you from your car, taxi or Dial-a-Ride bus, and equipment can be delivered or collected from your hotel or home within the local area around their base.

For more information regarding Shop mobility services please contact:
Tel: 01962 842 626
E-mail: winchestershopmobility@waca.org.uk

Bikeabout
Bikeabout is a unique service offered to everyone over the age of 18 who visits Winchester. This service encourages people to use cycling as a means to get out and about within Winchester. You will be provided with a free personal cycle helmet, a free personal reflective jacket and a free cycle map to ensure your ride is safe and enjoyable as possible.

For more information regarding Bikeabout services and its membership please contact:
Tel: 01962 847 474