Good Luck AYBG!

[a_person]

When I first read Winchester there, I thought of Sam and Dean Winchester from Supernatural.. Stupid I know... oh well...

(Dean Winchester is awfully hot!!)

[Ms Thrifty]

Off-topic, but I think Winchester has a Xmas market. Doubt it will interest AYBG, though!

[Ms Thrifty]

On reflection, AYBG, I am seriously tempted to start a "Good Things About Winchester" thread to lure you out of your ivory tower. I can recommend the Intech Science Centre and Planetarium, to the east of the city. Winchester must be coming up in the world because there was never anywhere decent to stay, but a new type of Holiday Inn is due to open there (adjacent to the Science Centre) in March 2010. And apart from the single cinema in Winchester, the new one in Eastleigh won't be far away, will it? But more importantly, we should have an influx of new members because everyone on your course will sign up to FMUK!

[jaydee36]

Good Luck AYBG, enjoy your time at Uni!

[5rannoch]

Good luck at Uni ATBG - enjoy freshers week!

[Diane65]

Good Luck and have a fabulous time at Uni!

[Beate]

http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/

Winchester, England, is a unique heritage city just an hour south west of London, with a magnificent Cathedral, award-winning pubs and restaurants and a tempting array of independent shops, all surrounded by fabulous rolling countryside and pretty Hampshire villages.

Things to do
Winchester is packed with historic buildings, museums, family attractions and tranquil green spaces just waiting to be explored. If you are not sure where to begin, take a look at our popular attractions below or use one of the themed links above for our suggestions.

In the city centre
Winchester Cathedral
A place of worship for over 900 years, Winchester's world-famous cathedral is as remarkable for its hidden treasures - Anthony Gormley's Sound II, the Winchester Bible and Jane Austen's tomb, as it is for its spectacular architecture.

The Great Hall and King Arthur's Round Table
Winchester is famous for its legendary Arthurian Round table, a striking sight well worth visiting in The Great Hall - the only remaining part of Winchester Castle.

Winchester College
Believed to be the oldest continuously running school in the country, Winchester College boasts some illustrous alumni including Douglas Jardine, Lord Howe and Anthony Trollope.

City Museum
Uncover Winchester's past at the family-friendly City Museum.

The Westgate
A fortified medieval gateway which served as a debtors' prison for 150 years. Read prisoners' graffiti, see the interesting collection of weights and measures and take in splendid rooftop views across Winchester.

The City Mill
Perched over the fast-flowing River Itchen, Winchester City Mill has regular milling demonstrations, children's quizzes and an interactive exhibition.

Winchester Military Museums
Home to one of the most sizeable collections of regimental history outside London in the form of five museums.

St Cross Hospital
Admire medieval architecture and take part in a 900-year-old tradition as you receive the Wayferer's Dole.

Wolvesey Castle
Visit the extensive ruins of Winchester's medieval Bishop's Palace.

River Park Leisure Centre
For sporting facilities in Winchester take your swimming costume to the River Park Leisure Centre.

Winchester Discovery Centre
Winchester's modern library with exhibitions and a cafe.

In the surrounding area
INTECH Science Centre & Planetarium
Float through the universe with out-of-this-world digital theatre presentations in the UK's largest planetarium.

The Mid Hants Railway
Explore Hampshire's beautiful countryside on a steam or heritage diesel train.

Marwell Wildlife
Visit Marwell Wildlife and get up close to the wonders of the natural world and help save them.

Royal Armouries Fort Nelson
A superbly restored Victorian fort overlooking Portsmouth Harbour and home to the Royal Armouries national artillery collection with over 350 historic guns on display.

Jane Austen's House
Pleasant 17th Century house where Jane Austen lived from 1809-1817, and wrote or revised her 6 great novels.

Chawton House Library
A rare collection of women's writing from 1600 to 1830 and the former home of Jane Austen's brother.

Hinton Ampner Gardens
A visionary's garden and house - beautiful National Trust property near Alresford.

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
Over 42,000 plants in 180 acres of themed landscapes and gardens.

Houghton Lodge Gardens
A haven of peace above the tranquil beauty of thee River Test.

Beaulieu
Explore the National Motor Museum and the historic Beaulieu Abbey in the heart of the New Forest.

Buckler's Hard
A unique 18th Century village by the Beaulieu River.

Whitchurch Silk Mill
Picturesque watermill making silk since 1825.

The Museum of Army Flying
Award winning museum is home to a national collection of military kites, World War 2 gliders, areoplanes and helicopters.

Milestones
Hampshire's living history museum in Basingstoke, brings the past to life.

Wickham Vineyard
Visit a leading Hampshire winery and vineyard producing a wide range of award-winning wines.

Twyford Waterworks
Open on the first Sunday of every month from May to October inclusive with a different theme each month.

St Catherine's Mizmaze
Winchester's very own outdoor maze.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Request a free visitor guide

For lots more ideas on things to do in the Winchester district, request a free copy of the Winchester Visitor Guide.

[Beate]

10 things to do for free
A visit to Winchester needn't cost a penny. Here are our top ten tips for freebie fun:

1. Open your eyes
Discover for yourself Winchester's public art and the many accomplished artists in the area. Look out for David Kemp's Hampshire Hog, Elizabeth Frink's Horse and Rider and Antony Gormley's Sound II.

2. Feast your eyes at the farmers' market
It costs nothing to savour the sights, sounds and smells of Winchester's thriving twice-monthly farmers' market, the largest in the UK and popular with the likes of Rick Stein. Whether you can resist parting with your pennies for some delicious local produce is another matter entirely.

3. Get a bird's eye view
Take the Sunset Walk to the top of St Giles' Hill. With superb panoramic views over the city, it's a great spot for a picnic, kite flying, family games or or a twilight stroll.

4. Become a knight of the Round Table
The only remaining part of Winchester Castle, the Great Hall is home to the legendary Arthurian Round Table. Have fun deciphering the names of the famous knights written around the rim and imagining their meetings in this grand setting.

5. Explore Hampshire's oldest museum
Learn the story of Winchester at the City Museum, which celebrated its centenary in 2003. There are reconstructed Victorian shops and hands-on activities and quizzes.

6. Climb The Westgate
Read the prisoners' graffiti at this fortified medieval gateway which was a debtors' prison for 150 years. See the painted Tudor ceiling and then take in the excellent city views from the top.

7. Plan a visit with military precision
Winchester is home to the Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum, the Adjutant General's Corps Museum and HorsePower - The King's Royal Hussars Museum, all of which are free of charge. Don't miss The Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson, near Fareham, for its impressive collections of guns and cannon, daily re-enactments and noisy gun-firings.

8. Meet the birds, bees and butterflies
Yew Hill Farm Butterfly Reserve is the perfect spot for getting close to nature. Five acres of open downland, crossed by deep gullies said to be the old roads into Winchester, provide the warm, sheltered conditions that butterflies need to flourish.

9. Feel Festive
Outlandish and fun, Winchester Hat Fair is Britain's longest-running festival of street theatre, it's colourful, crazy and completely free.To find out about the event, keep an eye on the Hat Fair website.

10. Beware pikemen and musketeers!
Download a copy of the Cheriton Battlefield Walk and follow in the soldiers' footsteps, as you cross the site - just south of Alresford - of the famous Civil War battle of 1644. The leaflet highlights the important strategic locations of the encounter and provides background information on the Civil War in Winchester and Hampshire.

[Ms Thrifty]

I forgot the farmers' market (how could I?!), but it's fabulous! I love them and it's the best I've ever visited, though Petersfield's runs it close. Cakes to die for! And I'm amazed by how many things I've done/places I've visited from Beate's list. Not sure now if I can justify another visit, but was planning one...

[tufty]

Very Best of Luck at Uni, enjoy!