Winchester

Getting to Rohan Winchester is easy with rail links from Weymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton and London Waterloo, and is just off the A34 and junction 9, 10 and 11 on the M3. There is also a Park and Ride service for £3 all day. The shop is directly opposite the museum and cathedral. From the High Street, go down the alleyway by the ButterCross between a pasty shop and L’occitane, and take a left into The Square.

If you’re looking for something to eat and drink, then you’ll be pleased to know Winchester is packed with pubs, cafes and eateries. There’s everything from traditional pubs, such as The Royal Oak, Bishop on the Bridge, The Wykeham Arms, to Michelin star options such as The Black Rat, The Chesil Rectory and Rick Stein. The Ivy is beautiful or, for eccentric décor with a cosy traditional feel, The Black Boy is a great choice with a well-stocked gin bar. Café Monde is a particular hit with the locals with outside seating to lap up the sunshine. While visiting the cathedral, you can drop into the Cathedral Refectory for afternoon tea.

Winchester is packed with historic buildings, monuments and museums all within a short walking distance of each other and just waiting to be explored. If you’re not sure where to begin, take the short climb up St. Giles Hill for a real overview of the city’s fascinating heritage. From the top you can trace the sweep of medieval and Georgian buildings, laid out according to the original Saxon street plan, and steal a birds-eye view of some of the city’s most notable landmarks; from the gothic turrets of the Victorian Guildhall to the perpendicular lines of the cathedral.

For the active walker there are many trails which weave in and out of the city. If you have a couple of hours to spare, have a wander through the Winnall Moors (5 minutes from the city centre) for the chance to spot water voles and otters among the historic marshes.

If you are seeking more of a challenge, why not try the South Downs way from Winchester to Eastbourne (starting just outside the Rohan shop), or the 26-mile Clarendon Way to Salisbury. Climbing to the top of St. Catherine’s Hill provides a beautiful lookout, and is right in the centre of the water meadows.

Our staff members are keen walkers and between them have walked every route leading from the city, so drop in for a chat about where to go and what to see.