Be one of the first to explore Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation, a stunning new exhibition at Winchester Cathedral.
Winchester Cathedral is a living monument to the heritage of England and is one of the most historically significant buildings in Britain. From the time of Alfred the Great until after the Norman Conquest, Winchester was England’s capital and the Cathedral was its royal chapel. Much of England’s early history was based here and twelve English kings are believed to be buried here – meaning that Winchester can lay claim to being the first Royal Mausoleum. The opening of Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation marks the culmination of an ambitious seven-year project to unlock the Cathedral’s stories and treasures by inspiring active engagement in the interpretation and exploration of our heritage.

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other generous supporters, a spectacular three-level exhibition space in the South Transept will take visitors on a journey through over 1,000 years of history, whilst offering awe-inspiring views of the Cathedral.

There are four exciting galleries to explore:

A SCRIBE’S TALE
The Winchester Bible is the largest and finest of all surviving 12th-century English bibles. Hear the incredible story of how and why the Winchester Bible was made, in the Cathedral where it was created, and admire its exquisite illuminated initials and elaborate decorative schemes.

THE BIRTH OF A NATION
Winchester played a unique role in shaping early English history and Old Minster, the Anglo-Saxon Cathedral, lay at the centre of its foundation. Join us on an intriguing journey of discovery as we unearth the secrets hidden within the Cathedral’s mortuary chests, meet influential Anglo-Saxon kings in the city from which they ruled and discover the role of Winchester’s Anglo-Saxon and Norman Cathedrals in the birth of a nation.

DECODING THE STONES
Unlock the mysteries of Winchester Cathedral, a building which has been created, destroyed and remade over centuries of struggle and Civil War. Decoding the Stones will tell the story of the Cathedral itself, linking modern restoration works and contemporary craftspeople with their medieval predecessors.

THE MEZZANINE
Explore the realities of monastic life at Winchester Cathedral Priory with a fascinating rolling programme of displays from the Cathedral archives. The Mezzanine also provides access to the remarkable 17th-century Morley Library and its outstanding collection of books, which have remained in their current location for over 400 years.

Let the train take the strain as you sit back, relax and travel through the heart of the English countryside. Whether you are taking a trip down memory lane or creating new ones, it’s the perfect way to unwind and experience the nostalgic sights, sounds and smells of steam travel from a bygone age.

We are open every weekend from mid-February to the end of October, daily during school holidays and midweek from May until September.

5 reasons to visit (included in your ticket price):

• Hop on and off our trains all day with unlimited travel
  
• It's the perfect day out for all the family, with plenty of activities
  
• The ten mile route has four authentic stations adjoining the South Downs National Park.
  
• As a charity, your visit is supporting the restoration of part of our country’s heritage.
  
• Investigate our impressive engineering sheds and see preservation in action.

Adult /Senior £16

Child (age 5 - 16yrs) £8

Child Age 4 and under FREE!

Family (2A+2C) £40

Disabled One FREE adult carer per full fare paying

disabled child or adult

Dog FREE

Day Out With Thomas

Meet Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends

Contact for details as dates and times may alter

Spring Steam Gala 2021

'Steam' packed FOUR days of locomotives

We look forward to welcoming you to our FOUR day weekend. There will be steam locomotives operating a varied timetable from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. each day.

Details and booking please call as times and dates may be altered.

Join Aled Jones as he embarks on a UK-wide tour, performing at many of the nation’s best-loved cathedrals.

Over his extraordinary 30 year career, Aled's outstanding performances have made smash-hit box office history. He is the original crossover star and has sung for the Pope and the Royal Family, received an MBE, released over 30 albums - with over 10 million album sales and counting - and has over 40 silver, gold and platinum discs. After beginning his career at the age of 12, Aled became one of the world’s most successful boy sopranos, releasing 12 hit albums in 4 years with the defining moment being ‘Walking in the Air’, the hit song from the family-favourite, Christmas animated film ‘The Snowman’. As a broadcaster, Aled has forged an extensive career, having presented across BBC Radio 2 & 3 and BBC Radio Wales. Aled also hosts the Classic FM Sunday Breakfast Show and has become a popular favourite on the station and enjoyed his own show ITV Weekend.

• VIP tickets include a Meet and Greet which will take place from 6.00 pm.
• Tickets: VIP Meet and Greet £70, Platinum £35, Gold £30, Silver £25 + £1 per ticket booking fee (capped at £5 per transaction)
• Tickets available from the Cathedral Box Office 01962 857275 or online.

Vintage Vehicles Display Enjoy a display of vintage vehicles and traction engines - Steam packed four days of Locomotives

Please contact for more details, as dates and times may alter.

War on the Line

Experience life on a WWII railway, please call for more details, as date and times may change.

Day Out With Thomas

Meet Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends - Please contact for more detail, as times and dates may alter.