A Sunday Visit To ...

A Sunday visit to ... Winchester, a cathedral city in Hampshire, on the River Itchen, 97 km south-west of London and 23 km from Southampton.

Winchester developed from the Roman town of Venta Belgarum, and was one of the most important cities in England until the eleventh century. The area around Winchester has been inhabited since prehistoric times. During the Middle Ages, the city was an important centre of the wool trade, before going into a slow decline.

The city's major landmark is Winchester Cathedral, built in Protected content , and the longest Gothic cathedral in Europe. The city is also home to the University of Winchester and Winchester College, the oldest public school in the United Kingdom still using its original buildings, for over Protected content .

Winchester is also well known for the Great Hall of its castle, which was built in the 12th century. It is famous for King Arthur's Round Table. The names of the legendary Knights are written around the edge of the table.

We will meet at the Reading train station promptly at 11:20, in front of the Three Guineas, to take the train to Winchester at 11:52, arriving at 12:26. We will have lunch at The Bishop on the Bridge, and visit the City Mill, King Alfred the Great statue, the Abbey Gardens, the Cathedral, Winchester College … Before taking the train back to Reading at 19:31, we will have a drink / dinner at Piecaramba! or Turtle Bay.