London is home to a lot of architectural feats, St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard and Tower Bridge to name a few, but if you fancy venturing a little further afield, you can discover one of the most beautiful medieval cathedrals in Europe.
That’s right, I’m talking about none other than Winchester Cathedral. It’s home is the heart of the city of Winchester itself which is considered to be the ‘ancient capital of England‘ so there’s a whole lot of history to be enjoyed there.
One of the finest medieval cathedrals in Europe
It goes without saying that the magnificent architecture of the cathedral is one of it’s major draws, esecially considering it is the longest medieval cathedral in the world.
Founded in 1079, the cathedral has been remodelled over the centuries which means it has a mix of architectural styles including Norman, Renaissance and Gothic features throughout the building.
The cathedral is also home to an array of works of art, from stained glass windows to painting and sculptures.
As you can imagine, the walls of th cathedral have been witness to many historical events and visitors including Kings and Queens like William the Conqueror, Mary Tudor and Prince Philip of Spain. Jane Austen, the great English novelist, is buried at the cathedral.
Visiting Winchester Cathedral
If you’re looking to visit this historic site, you can purchase tickets directly from the Winchester Cathedral website, and over the summer adult tickets are £12.05 and children’s tickets £4.70. There is also an option to buy an annual ticket.
Currently there is a Kings & Scribes exhibition located in the South Transept of the cathedral, where visitors can learn about the history of the building dating back to its Anglo-Saxon origins. There are also guided and self guided tours available.
The cathedral is still a living place of workship and around 25 regular services take place each week.
How to get there from London
The best way to get to Winchester from central London is to hop on a train from Waterloo, which takes just over an hour. The cathederel is then just a short 10-15 minute walk through the historic city centre from the station.
If you’re driving to Wincheser, it can take between an hour and a half to two hours.
