Themed Tours

800+ Years of Winchester Mayors

Step back in time with the Mayor's Walks in Winchester, a captivating series of guided tours presented by the Winchester Area Tourist Guides Association. Celebrating the city’s mayoralty, recognised as the oldest in England after London, these walks delve into the contributions of Winchester’s mayors over the last eight centuries. Starting at 2.30pm from the Guildhall steps, each walk offers intriguing stories, from the possibly imaginary first Mayor to a banquet that tragically impacted the Cathedral Dean and local oyster industry, and the fascinating tale of how King Alfred’s statue came about thanks to a Mayor named Alfred.

Led by a qualified Winchester tourist guide, the walks provide a unique perspective on the city’s rich history, including how past mayors managed royal visits, invading armies, and significant public works such as schools and clean water systems. Learn about their diverse roles and surprising efforts, including an attempt to improve the local accent.

The tour concludes at the Mayor’s official residence, Abbey House, a historical site not typically open to the public. Here, participants will enjoy a delightful tea and the chance to meet the current, 825th Mayor, Councillor Russell Gordon-Smith. This informal gathering offers a wonderful opportunity to extend your experience, ask questions, and engage in lively conversation about Winchester’s storied past.

Don’t miss this extraordinary chance to explore Winchester’s history through the lens of its mayors and enjoy a memorable afternoon in one of England’s most historic cities. Guests are welcome to stay at Abbey House until 4.30pm.

Please note that the tea and opportunity to meet the Mayor is in the upstairs reception room and there is no lift.

Tickets: £15 (plus booking fee).

Venue: Visitor Information Centre, The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH

Chesil Railway

A guided walk exploring the route of Winchester’s “other” railway, the old Didcot, Newbury and Southampton line operated by the Great Western Railway.

Winchester Chesil station was opened in 1885 and closed in the 1960s because of lack of demand. The tour explores the old station site, the route of the line, some of its remaining buildings and ends by going inside the disused Chesil Railway tunnel, one of the city’s hidden treasures. There are steep slopes and steps around St. Giles’ Hill which makes this tour unsuitable for wheelchairs. Please wear suitable footwear.

Tickets: £11 adults, £5 children (under 16).

Venue: Visitor Information Centre, The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH

Children's Winchester History

Explore Winchester during the children’s holidays to see what you can spot to decode the city’s history. This is a 60 minute walking tour.

The Children’s Winchester History tours are for children aged 7 years and over along with their grown-ups. The tour will highlight the most wonderful, worst, weirdest and whackiest stories of Winchester. Including myths, legends, ghosts and the craziest of the kings, queens and ordinary folk of the city’s past. There will be some hair-raising stories about Winchester’s past people!

Tickets: £8 adults, £3 children (under 16).

Venue: Visitor Information Centre, The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH

St Giles' Hill, Winchester

Explore St. Giles’ Hill, home to a Bronze Age settlement, a great medieval fair and Winchester’s prestigious eastern suburb. There are some steep steps but the view over the Winchester is worth the effort.

St. Giles’ Hill is located in a commanding position overlooking the historic city of Winchester which nestles in the River Itchen valley below. The tour charts the fascinating and intriguing history of St. Giles’ Hill from the Bronze Age settlement dated to 1500BC, Saxon burials, the site of one the most important medieval annual fairs in Europe which was run by the powerful Bishops of Winchester to the development of Winchester's prestigious eastern suburb and pleasure park in the late 19th century.

There are steep slopes and steps around St. Giles’ Hill which makes this tour unsuitable for wheelchairs. Please wear suitable footwear. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome.

Tickets: £11 adults £5 children (under 16).

Venue: Visitor Information Centre, The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH

Halloween Tours

A Halloween feast of ghosts and other ghastly goings-on. Come dressed for the part if you like!

A night-time meander around the backstreets and alleyways of old Winchester including the Cathedral precinct and the ancient High Street. A mix of well-researched, age-old tales of local supernatural activity from Winchester’s rich history and lore together with some of Winchester’s contemporary ghostly goings-on.

Suitable for visitors to Winchester as well as locals who would like to experience their city in a different way. For adults only. A morning Children’s Tour on 29th October is suitable for families.

Tickets: £11 (adults only).

Venue: Visitor Information Centre, The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH

Christmas at Abbey House

An opportunity to visit Abbey House, the official residence of the Mayor of Winchester. After a tour round the principal rooms enjoy a glass of mulled wine and mince pies with the Mayor. This tour starts next door at the Visitor Information Centre in the Guildhall.

This is a tour which will give you access to an important public building not normally open to members of the pubic. The tour gives a brief history of the house from about 1700 and its evolution over the years up to its acquisition by Winchester City Council in the 1890s and it becoming the official Mayor’s residence. It will include the principal rooms within the house focusing on their use and the many and varied contents, all of which form part of the Winchester City Council collection. At the end there will be a chance to meet the Mayor, see the Mayor's regalia and ask questions about the role as well as enjoy a Christmas glass of mulled wine and mince pies!

There are stairs and limited space in parts of the house which make this tour unsuitable for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. Numbers are limited so advance booking is recommended. The tour price includes a donation to the Mayor’s charities. Minimum age 12 years old.

Tickets: £16 (including a donation).

Venue: Visitor Information Centre, The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH