Seasonal Fun In Winchester
Make lasting memories together.
Whatever time of year you stay with us at Norton Park Hotel, there’s always plenty to do in Winchester. Here’s some of our favourite things to do each season…
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The Gardens
Winchester is full of beautiful gardens, it’s time to find your favourite. Abbey Gardens (22 minute drive) paints a beautiful landscape dating back to the 1500s, and you can see remains of the Abbey that used to stand on the grounds. Gilbert White’s Gardens (40 minute drive) are a lot more expansive – they include a herb garden, orchard and a wildflower meadow.
Kings and Scribes exhibition (25 minute drive)
Explore over 1,000 years of history in this exhibition tracing the story of Winchester Cathedral from its Anglo-Saxon origins to the present day. See the magnificent 12th-century Winchester Bible and discover the evolution of the Norman Cathedral.
The Cheese and Chili Festival (20 minute drive)
Test your tastebuds with a chilli eating competition or treat yourself to rich cheeses – just make sure you bring your appetite. With music, face painting, falconry, and other live entertainment, this is a festival you won’t want to miss.
Hat Fair (25 minute drive)
Discover the art and culture of Winchester. Founded in 1974 as a busking fair, the name comes from performers ‘hatting’ – leaving hats upturned for money from the audience. Enjoy a wide variety of performances from theatre and puppet shows to dancers and singing, the Hat Fair has everything.
Stonehenge (40 minute drive)
Feel the energy of this ancient feature.
It isn’t far from Winchester to Stonehenge, so take a trip to this mysterious, prehistoric monument and connect with nature. No one really knows how or why Stonehenge was built, but it remains an important British landmark to this day, and it really is a sight to behold.
Keats’ Walk (20 minute drive)
Tread the same path as a true Romantic.
Experience the same scenery that inspired John Keats to pen his 1819 poem ‘To Autumn’. The path of Keats’ daily walk takes you all the way across the city, so you’ll find out plenty about Winchester history on your wanderings.
Christmas Markets (23 minute drive)
Awaken your holiday spirit. See the Cathedral decked out for the festive season. Housed in wooden chalets inspired by traditional German markets, local artisans sell their creations as well as various food and drink. Stop by for some festively spiced cider!
Winter Procession & Lantern Parade (30 minute drive)
Light up the streets of Hampshire.
Make your very own lantern by reusing and recycling materials you have at home. After the lantern judging, walk through the town and check out the competition in the parade. If you don’t feel like making a lantern, why not just pick out your favourites from the parade?
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Explore what else there is to do!
