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View from St Mark's Hill, Winchester
It
would be difficult to choose a more delightful place for a family break
during the school holidays than the glorious city of Winchester.
It lies deep in the heart of rural Hampshire surrounded by water
meadows, woodlands, valleys, steep chalk hills and rolling chalk
downland. Yet it lies only one hour by car from London or by train
from Waterloo.
The imposing statue of King Alfred
Winchester is home to some of the greatest medieval buildings in Europe
and is quite small, compact and easy to get around on foot. The main
thoroughfare runs from the old City Mill at the bottom end of town right
up to Winchester Castle at the top. It passes massive Saxon King
Alfred's bronze statue, reminding us that he not only burnt those cakes
but rebuilt the city after the Dark Ages and made it his capital.
But first - where to stay? For families looking for somewhere
welcoming and reasonably priced, I can warmly recommend the delightful
colonial, safari-style Marwell Hotel which lies a few miles outside the
town, right beside Marwell Zoo. The whole place evokes the
atmosphere of a tropical safari lodge with bedrooms opening on to
private balconies overlooking surrounding woodlands. To add to
this safari style, the beds are draped with mosquito nets (you won't
need to unfurl them!) and tape-recorded calls of strange birds and wild
animals echo along the walkways. In the restaurant, tablecloths
and seat covers resemble leopard, tiger, elephant, cheetah and giraffe
skins and on the walls, mock lizards, spiders and strange birds vie for
space with African masks!
Meerkat and young at the zoo along with
an ocelot
Marwell Zoo is home to over 200 species of animals and birds from tiny
insects to tall giraffe. Many roam free in beautiful, spacious,
grassy areas where clearly marked information boards give details about
their
history and behaviour patterns. It is absolutely ideal for children and,
what¹s more, every day, knowledgeable keepers answer questions
and give riveting talks about specific animals. Details of
times and venues are available at the entrance gate.
A ride on the Mid-Hants Railway Watercress Line (it once transported
watercress to London) is another absolute 'must' for families. You
can join the train at the little Georgian town of Alresford, seven miles
east of Winchester. It runs along a single track for 10
miles to the market town of Alton - stopping at two villages along the
way - Medstead & Four Marks and Ropley. The great thing is, that an
ordinary standard ticket (£10 adults and £5 children) entitles one to
all-day travel. You can hop on and off, explore the engine yard at
Ropley and admire Alresford¹s restored station with its Victorian
waiting room, ticket office and Souvenir Shop. Refreshments
are available in the Railway Buffet or you can picnic at the special
picnic area at Ropley.
Winchester boasts six magnificent Military museums illustrating the rich
history of the British Army and relating stories of conflict from around
the world. There is the Museum of the Royal Green Jackets where 30
Victoria crosses won by their soldiers are displayed and, in the Gurkha
Museum, visitors can uncover the horror of the Indian Mutiny. At
the Museum of the King¹s Royal Hussars, the stories of three famous
cavalry regiments are depicted including the Charge of the Light
Brigade.
Winchester Cathedral
In the heart of Winchester, the great 11th century Cathedral rises
majestically from smooth green lawns dotted with chestnut and beech
trees. Here, you can explore over 1,000 years of England's history
and, in Europe¹s longest medieval nave (556ft) lie the tombs of Jane
Austen, Izaak Walton and early English kings. Especially for
children, nine trails are led by knowledgeable guides including 'Medieval
Realms' and 'Watchers of Winchester'. Others are designed for
younger children such as 'Saints Galore' and 'The Wood-Worm Trail'.
I need hardly add, guided tours for adults are laid on regularly as
well, some including visits to the crypt and tower.
King Arthur's legendary Round Table,
Winchester Castle
No stay in Winchester would be complete without a visit to marvel at
legendary King Arthur's Round Table in Winchester Castle. It can
be seen in all its glory in the Great Hall, the only remaining part of
this ancient Castle still standing. This magnificent Table has
hung here since 1348 bearing the names of King Arthur¹s 24 knights.
Just outside the Castle you can marvel at views across the City with its
great Cathedral, the ornate Victorian Guildhall (now a civic and
conference centre and home to Winchester Tourist Information Centre) and
numerous medieval and Georgian buildings lining streets and squares.
Nearby, Winchester City Museum traces the city's fascinating past
history which dates from Roman times.
The City Mill is a N.T. property rebuilt
in 1744 spanning the River Itchen. There is a video, children's
quizzes and extra activities during school holidays
Should the weather be a problem, the restored Winchester Theatre Royal
in Jewry Street not only presents a range of classic plays, music,
dance, comedy and children's theatre, it also stages workshops for
children during school holidays. (Subjects range from street dance
and mask-making to set design). At River Park Leisure Centre (also
in the town centre) there's a fully equipped facility with a pool,
creche, children's activities, a skateboard park and an indoor adventure
play area. Also, on the town's outskirts the world of science is
brought to life at INTECH, a marvellous family science centre with over
100 hands-on and interactive exhibits, guaranteed to blow the minds of
all who visit.
Over and above all, the glorious countryside which lies on the outskirts
of this city with its water meadows, streams and rivers are truly 'out
of this world'. Head first for Abbey Gardens (near the TIC)
and take the
Weirs Walk. This runs alongside the fast flowing River Itchen
bordered by reeds, grasses and overhanging trees to the medieval
Hospital of St Cross founded in 1136 and still functioning as an
almshouse for 25 'brothers'.
There is also a free leaflet entitled The Winchester Watercress Tour giving
details of where you can see fields of watercress. And in
Alresford I sampled watercress soup for lunch at The Bell Hotel and
watercress scones for tea at Caracoli, both on the town centre.
Apparently Watercress Beer and Watercress Ice cream are sometimes
available, too!
Where to eat with children is always a problem and I was delighted to
see the free 'Winchester Visitor Guide' lists a number of genuinely
child-friendly pubs in local villages. Also, in the heart of the
city The
Courtyard Cafe at the Guildhall is ideal for families. Parents can
enjoy lunch or a 'light bite' while children can savour mouth-watering
dishes specially created for little people.
Should you be looking for a more substantial meal, the cozy Wykeham Arms
in Kingsgate Street serves wonderful hearty meals in a warm-hearted
atmosphere of times past. I can also recommend the charming
Georgian Hotel du Vin and Bistro in Southgate Street. Here,
superb, fresh food is served in an enchanting dining room tastefully
decorated with exquisite pictures of vineries and other rural scenes.
FURTHER INFORMATION
WHERE TO STAY
The Marwell Hotel Thompsons Lane, Colden Common,
Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1JY
Tel: 01962 777625
e-mail: info@marwellhotel.co.uk
www.marwellhotel.co.uk
2 night breaks for two adults and up to 2 children sharing a room costs
£144 per night including breakfast, dinner and entrance to Marwell Zoo
For details relating to a stay in Winchester including up-to-the-minute
information on accommodation, events and attractions with dates and
times when open, log on to www.visitwinchester.co.uk
ALSO CONTACT
The Tourist Information Centre, High Street, Winchester SO23 9GH
Tel: 01962 840 500
e-mail <tourism@winchester.gov.uk
This Award-winning Centre supplies a large range of free leaflets (see
below) and a free Winchester Visitor Guide with maps and other
publications covering every item relating to a stay in Winchester.
They also organise regular, introductory guided walks around the city
offering an overview of Winchester history especially for families with
8 -14 year olds.
Free leaflets include:-
The Winchester Walk
What¹s On in Winchester
The Winchester Watercress Tour
Spend a Day in Alresford
Alresford Millennium Trail
Winchester Pocket Guide (ideas for family fun)
The Winchester City Centre Guide (shops and services)
(5/8/06)
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