Receive a warm welcome at Winchester College

Winchester College, founded by William of Wykeham in 1382, is one of the world’s most famous and distinguished schools.

Located in the historic surrounds of England’s medieval capital, the school is fortunate to maintain 11 acres of formal gardens and more than 80 listed buildings. Many of these buildings are of national importance and all are in current use.  The school welcomes visitors to its museum, Treasury, and on guided tours, as well as to public events throughout the year, including Heritage Open Days

Read more about our buildings and grounds.

 

Guided Tours

Our one hour tours, led by experienced Tour Guides, concentrate on the medieval heart of the school including Chamber Court, Chapel, College Hall, Cloisters and the 17th Century School building. The film, Hidden Winchester, takes in some of the highlights you will see on the tour, as well as revealing hidden spaces not usually seen by the public.

Tickets and Times

Adults £10, Concessions £8.50 (No charge for children under 11)

Monday - Sunday 14:15 and 15:30

Due to high demand, we strongly recommend booking your tickets in advance. To book your tickets, please follow the link below.

For group bookings of 10 or more should pre-book by emailing our Tours team or by phone on 01962 621209.

Treasury

The Winchester College Treasury houses the school’s collections of art and archaeology. These include artefacts from Egypt, Greece and Rome, casts of the Parthenon Frieze, and Chinese ceramics from the Tang to Qing dynasties. They are displayed in the medieval Warden's Stables, converted into a museum in 2016.

Please ask the guide for a free Treasury Trail to entertain younger visitors. A guidebook of the collections is available to purchase.

You can now explore much of the collection online via the Winchester College Collections database and take a virtual tour of the galleries, via the link below.

Current Exhibitions:

War Cloister: A Centenary Exhibition - 22 January to 31 July

This year is the one-hundredth anniversary of the opening of War Cloister, the College’s memorial to the dead of the First World War. A display in Treasury explores the development of this important work of architecture, described by Rudyard Kipling as ‘incomparably the best of all the War Memorials.’  

Italian Medals, 1440s-1470s - 22 January to 31 March

Portrait medals are one of the most characteristic products of the Italian Renaissance. This display explores the early development of the medal, from the princely courts of northern Italy to the resurgent city of Rome. It features work by leading artists, such as Pisanello, and images of some of the great personalities of the fifteenth-century, from Sigismondo Malatesta to Pope Paul II.

Opening Times

The Treasury is open 2 - 4pm every day.

Entry is free and there is no need to pre-book. 

For more information or to inquire about school bookings or other special groups, please email the Museum Manager.

Community Events

Winchester College is committed to sharing its resources, expertise and facilities with the wider community.

Throughout the year, the school hosts numerous events including an annual Carol Service for Rose Road, a school and respite centre for children and young people in Hampshire living with disabilities, a Christmas fundraising concert for Trinity Winchester, a Christmas Party for the Elderly, and a Summer Tea for the Elderly.

There is also a Visiting Artists programme, with a series of public concerts from world-class musicians, and regular public lectures.

Heritage Open Days

As the main sponsor of Winchester Heritage Open Days, each September we typically welcome hundreds of members of the public to view the school's exceptional collections and to explore its hidden treasures - for free.

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