Inside Winchester Cathedral
I’ve always felt a great sense of peace inside religious buildings. Quiet structures that often embody hundreds of years of local history, cathedrals tend to particularly pique my interest. Winchester Cathedral is no exception to this, especially as the city used to hold huge significance as the capital of England! There’s lots to see and you can easily spend a few hours taking in everything that the cathedral has to offer.
Upon entering the building, you’ll be confronted with a grand main room flanked with rows of seating for the local congregation. This is a nice spot for quiet reflection, and I recommend taking a moment to absorb the calm atmosphere. While exploring the ground floor, make sure that you nip down the stairs to get a glimpse of the crypt (top right photo above). It floods regularly and has taken a huge conservation effort to preserve, so it’s cool to see!
After taking a leisurely stroll around the ground floor I’d recommend visiting their fascinating exhibition: Kings and Scribes, the birth of a nation. Starting at the top and working your way down, you’ll have the chance to learn all about the history of the Cathedral and the importance of Winchester itself as an English city. It really is an interesting exhibition that includes an original King James Bible, that was written out by hand in the 1700s and coloured using various inks. Although the exhibition passes by the library (pictured below), it’s currently closed to the public and I’d love to pop by if they ever open it up for viewing.
Before you leave, make sure you take a minute to visit the grave of Jane Austen, who was buried inside the Cathedral. You can find her floor marking and brass plaque in the north isle. She died aged 41 in 1817, before reaching fame as a writer.
Pricing
Tickets to the Cathedral start at £6.50 for students, £8 for concessions and £9.95 for general admission. As with many other cathedrals in the country, the proceeds go towards the running and maintenance of this magnificent historical building.
Opening times
The Cathedral is open for visitors between 9am and 5pm from Monday - Saturday, and from 12 - 3pm on Sundays.
Getting to Winchester Cathedral
Winchester is very easily accessible by train, and the cathedral itself is just a 15 minute walk from the station. There are also a number of car parks dotted around the city centre if you’d prefer to drive, and a direct bus is available from the nearby city of Southampton.
I hope that you enjoy your visit to Winchester cathedral and, if you’re a Jane Austen fan, don’t forget to visit her other landmarks that are in the area.
Further Reading
Four Bookshops to Visit in Winchester
