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• Mission and values
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• Our academic experts
• University structure
• Charitable status
• Schools and colleges
• Our history
• Our location
• Internationalisation
• Community and social engagement
• Centre for Lifelong Learning
• Academic quality
• Art at Winchester
• Winchester University Press
• Catering for life
• Environmental sustainability
• Universities Week 2012

Our location

Winchester is located at the centre of southern England, in the county of Hampshire, and is one hour away from London by train.

Winchester is a picturesque city set on the edge of the South Downs, with Winchester Cathedral providing the main focal point from miles around.

More information about Winchester can be found at www.visitWinchester.co.uk

City life

Winchester is a small but lively city offering an array of award-winning pubs and bars that provide an ideal setting for a night out. It has more than its fair share of cafes and restaurants and so there is something to suit all budgets and tastes.

Many of the familiar high street shops are in Winchester mixed in with some unique independent shops and boutiques. It also plays host to Hampshire’s Farmers Market which attracts some interesting culinary providers and celebrity chefs.

The city has an independent cinema and two theatres as well as the Guildhall which is a venue for concerts and shows. There are also various art exhibitions held in the Guildhall Gallery and City Museum.

Winchester plays host every year to the famous street theatre festival known as the Hat Fair, as well as the Blissfields Festival.

Winchester's roots

The city is the ancient capital of England as chosen by King Alfred the Great as the seat of power for his Kingdom of Wessex. William the Conqueror commissioned the monks of Winchester to write his notorious Domesday Book which was housed in the Kings Castle. Now only the Great Hall remains of the castle and in it is the legendary 'Round Table of King Arthur'. Winchester is also the resting place of author Jane Austen, who is buried in Winchester Cathedral.

Beyond Winchester

London is one hour away by catching the train from Winchester to Waterloo. Many students choose to go there for the art galleries, museums, theatres and to explore the tourist attractions if they have not visited London before.

The city of Southampton is located 20 minutes away by train and that offers further shopping, entertainment and nightlife opportunities. It also provides ferry links to the Isle of Wight and there are various sailing clubs around the city if you want to head out on the Solent.

Waterfront shopping and more entertainments are available in the city of Portsmouth which is about 30 minutes away from Winchester. Less than an hour’s drive away are the seaside resorts of Bournemouth and Poole which are renowned for their sands, sea, watersports and great nightlife.

There are also many tranquil areas to explore such as the New Forest, Stonehenge and the South Downs. Winchester is also perfectly located to enjoy the rugged coastline of Dorset.

Transport links

The University of Winchester is a 10 minute walk from the train station in the city centre and it is situated close to the M3.

London Waterloo is one hour away from Winchester by train where it is possible to travel to Paris via the Channel Tunnel or pick up links to Heathrow or Gatwick Airport to travel anywhere in the world.

The National Express bus service picks up from Winchester to various UK destinations.

Southampton Airport is located 15 minutes away by train and offers services within the UK, Channel Islands and mainland Europe.

Portsmouth provides ferry links to various destinations including France, Spain and the Netherlands.