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