Winchester Cathedral

I used to play in the grounds when i was a child and still go back just to sit there and watch the world go by. Its a beautiful place and there is not much i can add to previous reviews, except when you are visiting, check out the soldiers grave on the green and find out why you should only drink ‘strong beer’!

Came back for the Christmas fair & can highly recommend it!

Im yet to go inside, its £6.40 for an adult. Outside, the building is beautiful and the green is lovely to relax on. It gets busy in the summer and in the winter feels very christmas with the market and ice rink. Worth visiting.

Please Help, I am a student working on a management project about Winchester cathedral and I am interested about receiving feedback about the cathedral visitor experience. I f anyone would be willing to fill in a questionnaire about their experience inside the cathedral it would be appreciated. I could send the questionnaire through email.

Winchester Cathedral is a fabulous place to visit if you are in Winchester. This building was used in the film 'The Da Vinci code’ and also its a popular destination spot for tourists as for its very recognisable. They definitely kept its old features and historic looks about it and the interior is very clean and tidy and grand! During the week, if you wanted to visit the cathedral you would have to pay but if you go on Sunday its free. The cathedral is situated in the middle of the town centre and has a large grassy area outside for a nice picnic day outing.

Winchester is one of my favourite places to take foreign visitors. It’s easily accessible and makes a perfect day out from London in summer.

It’s a historic place: it was the capital of Wessex and then of England until Norman Conquest in 1066. Not surprising then, that a large cathedral was built here around 648 AD. All that remains of this is its foundations, clearly marked next to the present building.

And what a building that is. At 556ft (170m) the longest mediaeval cathedral in Europe, it illustrates perfectly the developments in mediaeval archtecture from the Norman Romanesque of its building in 1079, through High Gothic to the Perpendicular of the rebuilt west front and nave of 1400. There are several impressive chantry chapels and a beautiful 13th century retro choir. Richard I was crowned here in 1194, and Henry IV (1401) and Queen Mary (1554) were both married here.

But it is also full of other points of interest: the graves of Jane Austen, William II, and the Saxon kings Egbert, Ethelwulf and the Danish Canute; mediaeval stained glass and frescoes; pre-Raphaelite glass from Burne-Jones; and in the ancient library, the Winchester Bible, one of the pre-eminent mediaeval illuminated books in Europe.

The area around the cathedral is also delightful for a walk, and the award-winning refectory is a good place to eat. My favourite iwalk is along the lovely River Itchen to the church of Saint Cross (see separate entry). On a high summer’s day, it’s a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Modified: 03-10-2007

I am fascinated by cathedrals, their architecture and history. Winchester is one of my favourites. An amazing space, and with unique elements to its story. The logistics of the way the cathedral was prevented from sinking through the work of a diver, William Walker, packing concrete under the foundations is especially fascinating, and there is a fitting - if incongruous-looking - statue of him in the body of the cathedral. I loved the Gormley figure standing in the still water which gathers in the crypt. I really enjoyed the tour of the roof space and tower with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.

A truly awe inspiring cathedral set in one of the most beautiful places I’ve been lucky enough to visit in the UK. The cathedral itself is the last resting place of Jane Austen and you can see her tombstone embedded in the floor as you walk in the left hand side of the cathedral. The entry fees are £5 for adults and kids under 16 are free, one carer goes in free with a wheelchair. The ground floor is fully accessible and there is a wheelchair lift. The parking in Winchester is a bit of a mare but you can park unlimited with a blue badge outside the tourist information centre which is inside the Winchester Guildhall
High Street Winchester. Then it’s just a short walk to the cathedral. The cathedral has a fully stocked gift shop selling some wonderful keep sakes, from candles to perfumes and religious things.

A superb cathedral in Winchester (the former capital of England.) This is a remarkable building, with a unique acoustic. There are frequent orcheatral concerts in the cathedral which exploit this acoustic to the full. There is a lot of history to this 1000-year old building. At one point, one part of the cathedral was slowly sinking and it had to be saved. There have also been reports of a ghost being sighted inside the cathedral; this was in the form of a monk. There is a fantastic circular stained glass window at the end of the cathedral; at sunset it lights up gloriously. A cathedral not to be missed!

Visited this with friends again yesterday and each time you go you see something new… It is intricate in it’s architecture and carvings. I am fascinated by medieval history and what is amazing is I found the resting place of the duke of Lancaster and I had only been reading of him in a medieval murder novel not long ago!!! So the novel which is based on historical events was brought suddenly to life.. The best day to visit is a Sunday mainly because there is no charge but also sometimes you get to hear the choir practising and the sound carries through the whole of the cathedral.. The Cathedral shop has very individual gifts in too and well worth a browse!!! this is also the final resting place of Jane Austen but to date I still haven’t found her grave stone… Next time I shall ask!

Winchester cathedral is a great attraction for anyone interested in architecture, history or religion.

When I went they had a sculpture exhibition on. You can find out about whats going on, special events and on their website. It’s very informative and has all the info you need. Alternatively you can pop into the Winchester Tourist information centre.

I was interested in it’s links to the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the round table.

As mentioned it is very popular with foreign visitors I bumped into a Lady who was visiting from Australia, and we had a lovely chat!

The old Winchester cathedral is a really inspirational building, its features are still staggering to see and this building was used in the film, the di vinci code’ and every time we walk past it, likes like taking us back into the past.

I would also add, take some time to look at the altar screen. It is a Victorian copy of the original 14th century one and is staggeringly beautiful - a stunning filigree of lacework in stone. Winchester is definitely my favourite cathedral out of all those I have seen. I like its groundedness (if there is such a word) and still has an atmosphere of prayer, unlike many of the great cathedrals.

This is an impressive and educational cathedral to visit. It’s huge and full of history. The many stages of its architecture, from Norman to medieval gothic to more modern supporting work, are apparent. It’s got art both ancient and modern. It has towers and crypts. It has connections to the Arthurian legends, and was the capital of England in the middle ages. It has ancient books and the tomb of Jane Austen. We timed it just right to join one of the guided tours, and so felt we really got our money’s worth (only a fiver). It’s a worthy visit.