I felt that I owed Winchester my first blog post due to my love for the city and how much I rave about it to friends and family. Although small, this is what makes it unique and so beautiful because it is not overrun by people but busy enough for there to be a lively buzz every day. Despite the first year being tainted by covid, I spent three years living in this lovely and charming city for university, Winchester has embedded itself within my heart. My daily walks into the city centre, weekly coffee dates, and the beauty and history that encased Winchester will be missed.
I love Winchester for its atmosphere, despite my last year being one of the most stressful it felt relaxed with walks around the river and sitting outside the cathedral reading books or catching up with friends. The city also hosts a considerable amount of coffee shops which I spent a lot of time (and money) studying in, as well as people watching. My favourites alternated between Café Nero, Costa, and a few singular businesses such as Open House Deli. The Arc (Hampshire Cultural Trust) has the cheapest coffee in Winchester at £2.90, along with their new loyalty card and food it is a great study area and stop before heading up to their gallery or the library. For a student, it was hard to afford my coffee addiction, and so the chains allowed for free and discounted drinks, but I cannot deny I preferred the vibes and sustainability of the smaller businesses. Winchester prides itself on their strive for sustainability, which can be seen through smaller businesses.
History:
Winchester is an incredibly historical city, known as the original capital city of England due to Alfred the Great, despite the growing importance of London, and continued to be so until 1066 with the Norman invasion. Alfred’s statue can be seen at the bottom of the city centre, standing tall and eye catching, highlighting his importance and significance for the city. Other incredible statues are scattered throughout the city, with Licoricia outside the Arc and Greta Thunberg’s replica outside the West Downs campus of the university.
Winchester hosts the magnificent and beautiful cathedral, which is the resting place of Jane Austen, and just round the corner is one of her homes. When standing beside the cathedral, no matter the weather or time of year it is truly a sight to behold. Over the course of three years, I took nearly the same photo of the cathedral, despite the fact they all looked the same. The city is also home to the oldest medieval commercial building, the Chesil Refectory. I would recommend a tour around Winchester as there is much history to learn that is not obvious or less known. However, there are many museums and signs throughout the city that are either free or have a low entry price, such as the Winchester City Museum that holds the Round Table, and other military museums.
The history of Winchester is so prevalent today that photos do not do it justice. Although I am leaving to travel, I do hope to come back to this beautiful city and think it may remain one of my favourites, but I may be biased due to spending so much time there.
