Complete Programme of Special Tours 2009
A chronological listing of all themed, events and seasonal walks.
Each year, Winchester's tourist guides run a series of special tours in addition to their City Walking Tours. Tickets can be booked at the Tourist Information Centre in advance and purchased from the guide at the start of the walk, if available.
Tours cost £4.50 (£1 children), take about 1.5 hours and start from the Tourist Information Centre unless otherwise stated. Click here for a map of the location of the Tourist Infomation Centre.
| 7 April Tuesday |
11am for 1 hour | 'I bet you've never noticed' Family Tour
£4 adult, £1 child Come and discover quirky signs, carvings and other oddments, at least some of which we bet you've never noticed before. Hear the stories behind them. Suitable for all the family |
| 11 April Saturday |
3pm | Winchester, A Capital City (pre 1300) The creation of England's first capital from its early beginnings to its importance in the Middle Ages |
| 18 April Saturday |
3pm | Winchester, A Royal City (c1300-1700)
400 years of plague, war and the best buildings |
| 25 April Saturday |
3pm | Winchester, A Changing City - into the Modern Age (c1700 onwards) The period of Enlightenment and Change, and where it showed in Winchester, particularly in its hospitals, transport, religion, population, buildings and sewage! |
| 26 April Sunday |
2.30pm for 1 hour | 'I bet you've never noticed' Family Tour £4 adult, £1 child Come and discover quirky signs, carvings and other oddments, at least some of which we bet you've never noticed before. Hear the stories behind them. Suitable for all the family. |
| 30 April Thursday |
6.30pm | Abbey House This largely Georgian house is the official residence of the Mayor of Winchester. Tickets £5 Sorry, no children under 12 years old. Groups limited to 15 Meet at Abbey House, The Broadway |
| 2 May Saturday |
10.45am 1pm 3.15pm |
Chesil Railway and Tunnel A guided walk exploring the route of Winchester's 'other' railway, the old Didcot, Newbury and Southampton line. Includes a chance to go inside the disused Chesil Railway tunnel. (The walking is rough, involving steep steps and slopes, and stout footwear is advised) Must be booked in advance |
| 5 May Tuesday |
6.30pm | St Peter Street and Staple Gardens A relaxed stroll through two of Winchester's historic streets running north from the western end of the High Street. Meet at Buttercross, High Street |
| 12 May Tuesday |
6.30pm | Canon Street, Kingsgate Street and College Street Dons and Divines Meet outside west end of Cathedral, by War Memorial |
| 17 May Sunday |
2.30pm | Alresford Town Tour This walk retells the fascinating story of Alresford from its very beginnings to the present day. Meet at the Information Board in Alresford Station Approach, just outside the Ticket Office. In conjuction with the Watercress Festival |
| 19 May Tuesday |
6.30pm | Exploring the Soke - St John's Street and Chesil Street Once Winchester's largest and most prosperous suburb, discover the history behind the area formerly administered by the medieval Bishops |
| 26 May Tuesday |
6.30pm | High Street A dip into the High Street's long history from prehistoric trackway to bustling shopping street |
| 28 May Thursday |
6.30pm | Abbey House This largely Georgian house is the official residence of the Mayor of Winchester. Tickets £5 Sorry, no children under 12 years old. Groups limited to 15 Meet at Abbey House, The Broadway |
| 2 June Tuesday |
6.30pm for 2 hours | Pubs of Hyde Explore the historical area just outside the site of Winchester's old North Gate and take in three pubs en route - White Swan, King Alfred, Hyde Tavern. £4.50 (Drink not included in ticket price.) Adults only. Each group limited to 12 Meet outside Discovery Centre, Jewry Street |
| 6 June Saturday |
10.45am 1pm 3.15pm |
Chesil Railway and Tunnel A guided walk exploring the route of Winchester's 'other' railway, the old Didcot, Newbury and Southampton line. Includes a chance to go inside the disused Chesil Railway tunnel. (The walking is rough, involving steep steps and slopes, and stout footwear is advised) Must be booked in advance |
| 9 June Tuesday |
6.30pm | The history and natural history of Chilcomb Discover the history of Chilcomb, visit the Norman church and appreciate the views of Winchester from above the village. Meet at Chilcomb village, where the road forks |
| 16 June Tuesday |
6.30pm | Street Furniture Did you know that streets have furniture? If you would like to know more, come on a stroll around the streets of our 'home' of Winchester to discover the familiar and perhaps not-so-familiar furniture we have in them |
| 23 June Tuesday |
6.30pm | The history and natural history of Hyde Abbey and Winnall Moors C A N C E L L E D |
| 27 June Saturday |
3pm | In the steps of Keats Follow the route from Winchester to St Cross and back taken by the poet Keats during his stay in Winchester in 1819. In conjuction with Writers' Conference |
| 30 June Tuesday |
6.30pm | Otterbourne Discover the history of Otterbourne. Stout footwear recommended Meet on the Common opposite the Otter pub |
| 7 July Tuesday |
6.30pm | Jane Austen's Winchester Part of The Winchester Festival |
| 11 July Saturday |
12 noon | Bishops Waltham Take a tour of Bishops Waltham, historic market town, celebrating its annual Festival Meet in the Town Square by the Millenium Clock Tickets also available from H W Veck and Sons, High St, Bishops Waltham Part of the Bishops Waltham Festival |
| 11 July Saturday |
3pm | Literary connections An odyssey to discover some of Winchester's less well-known literary connections, both real and fictional Part of The Winchester Festival |
| 14 July Tuesday |
6.30pm for 2 hours | Pubs of Chesil Explore the area around the site of Winchester's old East Gate and the historic suburb of The Soke whilst taking in three pubs en route. £4.50 (Drink not included in ticket price.) Adults only. Each group limited to 12 Meet at Station Approach, by The Chesil Rectory |
| 18 July Saturday |
3pm | Jane Austen's Winchester Part of The Winchester Festival |
| 18 July Saturday |
10.45am 1pm 3.15pm |
Chesil Railway and Tunnel A guided walk exploring the route of Winchester's 'other' railway, the old Didcot, Newbury and Southampton line. Includes a chance to go inside the disused Chesil Railway tunnel. (The walking is rough, involving steep steps and slopes, and stout footwear is advised) Must be booked in advance |
| 21 July Tuesday |
6.30pm | Chesil Railway and Tunnel A guided walk exploring the route of Winchester's 'other' railway, the old Didcot, Newbury and Southampton line. Includes a chance to go inside the disused Chesil Railway tunnel. (The walking is rough, involving steep steps and slopes, and stout footwear is advised) Must be booked in advance |
| 28 July Tuesday |
6.30pm | Wickham Meet in the Old Station car park, Wickham |
| 30 July Thursday |
6.30pm | Abbey House This largely Georgian house is the official residence of the Mayor of Winchester. Tickets £5 Sorry, no children under 12 years old. Groups limited to 15 Meet at Abbey House, The Broadway |
| 4 August Tuesday |
6.30pm | Henry VIII 2009 is the 500th anniversary of Henry's accession to the throne at the age of 18. Hear about his early life; the marriage and death of his brother Arthur; Henry VIII's visits to Winchester; the invitation to a Spanish king; the indiscretion of one queen and Henry VIII's marriage to another queen who lived near Winchester |
| 11 August Tuesday |
6.30pm | Shawford and Twyford Learn about the history of Shawford and Twyford and enjoy a ramble across the fields between. Meet at Shawford Down car park Stout footwear advised |
| 15 August Saturday |
3pm | Jane Austen's Winchester |
| 18 August Tuesday |
6.30pm | Three great Queens of England and their influence on Winchester Emma, twice crowned. Eleanor of Castile, married Edward I - a true love match. Virgin Queen Elizabeth who ruled so wisely in troubled times for 45 years. |
| 25 August Tuesday |
6.30pm for 2 hours | Pub walk to St Cross Visit the Wykeham Arms, The Queen and The Bell and hear about the history of the route that connects them £4.50(Drink not included in ticket price) Adults only. Each group limited to 12 NB this is a linear walk |
| 29 August Saturday |
10.45am 1pm 3.15pm |
Chesil Railway and Tunnel A guided walk exploring the route of Winchester's 'other' railway, the old Didcot, Newbury and Southampton line. Includes a chance to go inside the disused Chesil Railway tunnel. (The walking is rough, involving steep steps and slopes, and stout footwear is advised) Must book in advance |
| 12 September Saturday |
3pm | Artistic, crafted Winchester explored Looking at the diversity of art, craft and design used on features to be seen in the city. In conjuction with HCC Culture-all initiative |
| 19 September Saturday |
3pm | St Giles' Fair St Giles' Fair in Winchester was the smart place to go and buy your spices, jewels and furs in days gone by. The Fair disappeared hundreds of years ago, but it has left its mark on the city of today. Come and find out all about it. |
| 22 October Thursday |
2pm | Abbey House This largely Georgian house is the official residence of the Mayor of Winchester Tickets £5 Sorry, no children under 12 years old.Group limited to 15 Meet at Abbey House, The Broadway |
| 30 October Friday |
6.30pm and 7.30pm | Ghastly Goings On In Winchester
A Halloween feast of ghosts and other ghastly goings-on |
| 31 October Saturday |
6.30pm and 7.30pm | Ghastly Goings On In Winchester
A Halloween feast of ghosts and other ghastly goings-on |
| 28 November to 20 December Saturdays and Sundays |
2.30pm | Christmas in Winchester through the ages With the Cathedral Christmas market in full swing, come for an hour's stroll around the decorated streets of Winchester looking at how Christmas has been celebrated here through the ages. Tickets £4 (children £1) Meet at Luminous Motion (near City Museum), outer Cathedral Close |
| 17 December Thursday |
2pm | Abbey House This largely Georgian house is the official residence of the Mayor of Winchester Tickets £5 Sorry, no children under 12 years old. Group limited to 15 Meet at Abbey House, The Broadway |
| 17 December Thursday |
6.30pm | Abbey House This largely Georgian house is the official residence of the Mayor of Winchester Tickets £5 Sorry, no children under 12 years old. Group limited to 15 Meet at Abbey House, The Broadway |