Undergraduate Prospectus 2013 - University of Winchester

The city of Winchester
Shopping
Winchester has a bustling atmosphere
for shopping with many well-known
high street brands blurred in with some
unique independent shops and boutiques.
Many of the locally owned businesses
are nestled on the picturesque cobbled
streets that surround Winchester
Cathedral.
The city also plays host to the Hampshire
Farmers’ Market, usually every fortnight.
It attracts interesting culinary providers
and celebrity chefs, such as James
Martin who co-owns a delicatessen in
Winchester.
Culture
There are also two theatres in the city and
a Guildhall, which regularly is the venue
for concerts, stand-up comedy and shows.
The city also has an unusual cinema inside
a converted military chapel, which screens
a programme of independent and foreign
films in addition to the popular movies on
general release.
The city and its surrounding district have
inspired literary classics by Jane Austen
and John Keats. This has made Winchester
the ideal setting for literary events and
writers’ festivals, some of which are held
at or organised by the University.
Winchester also holds the Hat Fair every
year, which is a famous street theatre
festival, and there is also the annual
Winchester Festival.
History
The city is famous for being the ancient
capital of England as chosen by King Alfred
the Great as the seat of power for his
kingdom of Wessex. William the Conqueror
commissioned the monks of Winchester
to compile his notorious Domesday Book,
which was housed in the Kings Castle.
Now only the Castle’s Great Hall remains
and in it is the legendary ‘Round Table of
King Arthur’. Winchester is also the resting
place of author Jane Austen, who is buried
in Winchester Cathedral.
Transport links
Winchester has excellent transport
links including a direct train service to
London Waterloo, which runs every 20
minutes during peak times. The station
is also well served by trains running to
and from Southampton, Basingstoke,
Bournemouth, Weymouth, Brighton, the
New Forest and the north of England.
The University of Winchester is located
close to the M3, which provides easy road
access to the M25 and M27. Travelling
to and from Heathrow and Gatwick
airports is easy by both road and train,
and Southampton Airport is located 15
minutes away by train and offers services
within the UK, the Channel Islands and
mainland Europe.
The National Express coach service picks
up from Winchester and serves various
destinations across the UK. Ferry services
from Portsmouth link to various ports in
France, Spain and the Netherlands.
8 Undergraduate Prospectus 2013