Winchester College Heritage

Tours of Winchester College’s original 14th-century campus run daily at 2.15pm and 3.30pm, focusing on the school’s history and medieval architecture. Highlights include: Chamber Court (the medieval heart of the College), Chapel (the 14th-century Gothic chapel), College Hall (where the Scholars still eat their meals), Cloisters and the 17th-century redbrick schoolroom. College tours last for one hour and start at the Porters' Lodge on College Street, Winchester, SO23 9NA. Accessibility: Due to the historic nature of the site, a small number of spaces on the tour can only be accessed via steps or stairs. Please also be aware that there is cobbled ground at the entrance to the College, which can be slippery when wet and uneven for wheelchair users / those with mobility restrictions. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the accessibility of our tours.

Commemorating 100 years since the opening of the College’s tranquil private war memorial, these tours bring to life the stories of the pupils and Dons from Winchester who died in both World Wars and subsequent conflicts, as well as the architecture, symbolism, and impact of War Cloister today. War Cloister tours last for one hour and start at the Porters’ Lodge on College Street, Winchester, SO23 9NA. Accessibility: This tour is accessible for wheelchair users. However, there is cobbled ground at the entrance to the College, which can be slippery when wet and uneven for wheelchair users / those with mobility restrictions. Please also be aware that there is no hearing loop in War Cloister. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the accessibility of our tours.

New for 2025, Treasures tours explore the treasures of Winchester College’s collections, including works of art and rare books that are not normally on public display. Led by the Museum and Collections Manager, visitors will explore the picture gallery in ‘Musa’, the College’s original museum and art gallery, where oil paintings, watercolours, and tapestries are on show. We also visit part of the Fellows’ Library, where there is a changing display of rare books and manuscripts, prints, and drawings. The tour also explores the school’s architectural heritage, including buildings in the Perpendicular, Baroque, and Gothic Revival styles. Treasures tours last for 1 – 1.5 hours and start at the Porters’ Lodge on College Street, Winchester, SO23 9NA. Accessibility: This tour involves climbing multiple flights of stairs, some of which are steep and winding. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the accessibility of our tours.

The Winchester College Archives record the history of the school, its estates, buildings and pupils from its foundation. Uniquely, the Archives are housed in the same rooms built for their storage in the 1390s, and due to the quality of that provision, remain remarkably well preserved. New for 2025, this tour allows a rare opportunity to view two medieval rooms which house the school’s Archives, as well as documents and artefacts relating to the school’s history which will be on display. The tour will be delivered by our College Archivist, Suzanne. Archives tours last for 1 – 1.5 hours and start at the Porters’ Lodge, College Street, Winchester, SO23 9NA. Accessibility: Please note that access to the Archives is via two spiral stone staircases of 36 & 52 steps each, with no handrails. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the accessibility of our tours.

Led by members of the Winchester College gardening team throughout the spring and summer, these tours explore the vast biodiversity and horticultural history of the beautiful hidden gardens at Winchester College. This includes a look at the traditional College 'quad', a quiet sitting garden for the old College sick house, the tranquil gardens of the College's war memorial, and the 'Warden's Garden' with its herbaceous borders, woodland, and private section of one of the most famous chalk streams in the world. Garden tours last for approximately two hours and start at the Porters’ Lodge on College Street, Winchester, SO23 9NA. Accessibility: This tour is partially accessible for wheelchair users. One of the four main gardens on the tour is reached via two steps, and there is cobbled ground at the entrance to the College. There is seating in each of the gardens. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the accessibility of our tours.

The rooms where Jane Austen spent her last days were, until recently, a private residence. In the summer of 2025 they will host an exhibition about Jane Austen and Winchester, including a specially commissioned film and artefacts from the collections of Winchester College. Other items associated with Jane Austen will be on display in Treasury, the school’s museum, from May 2025 until the end of the year. Ticketed visits to No. 8 College Street cost £12.50 and will be available on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4th June - 30th August 2025. Your visit will start at the Treasury museum, followed by a visit to the exhibition and garden of No. 8 College Street.

Celebrate the artistry of Regency embroidery in this exclusive one-day workshop, held at No. 8 College Street in Winchester, the house where Jane Austen spent her final days. Under the expert guidance of Hand & Lock’s skilled tutors, students will create a unique design inspired by Regency-era fashion and decorative motifs. This workshop combines the delicate precision of silk shading with the opulent techniques of goldwork, offering a rare opportunity to learn these traditional methods in a setting steeped in history and literary heritage. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced embroiderer, this course is designed to be accessible and inspiring for all skill levels. All materials and equipment are provided, and attendees will leave with their completed embroidery piece and the skills to continue exploring these timeless techniques. Est. in 1767, Hand & Lock are world-renowned masters of embroidery, bringing over 250 years of expertise to the art of needlework.

Join us this summer to celebrate the 250th anniversary year of Jane Austen's birth, with an outdoor performance of Pride and Prejudice by the Chapterhouse Theatre Company. With stunning period costume, an original score, and Austen's timeless wit, Chapterhouse’s Pride and Prejudice is a faithful telling of Austen’s most well-known work. The performance will be in the College's tranquil Warden's Garden, with its Regency border, wild woodland, and private section of one of the most famous chalk streams in the world providing an idyllic setting for a magical evening of theatre. This performance is recommended for ages 8+ and the running time is approximately 120 minutes, including an interval. Doors will open at 6pm and the performance will start at 7pm. Please bring your own rugs or low-back seating. Chapterhouse Theatre Company produces critically acclaimed UK and international tours, specialising in Shakespeare, classic literature adaptations, and family shows.