Explore Winchester College
Join one of our guided tours, led by experienced and friendly guides, to learn more about the College’s history and enjoy its stunning historic architecture and tranquil gardens.
Our range of tours include College tours, War Cloister tours and Garden tours. All tours start at the Porters’ Lodge on College Street, SO23 9NA.
Due to high demand, we strongly recommend booking your tickets in advance. For bookings of 10 or more, please contact us.
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College Tours
Tours of the College’s original 14th-century campus run daily, focusing on the school’s history and medieval architecture. Highlights include:
Chamber Court (the medieval heart of the College), Chapel (the 14th-century Gothic chapel), College Hall (where the Scholars still eat their meals), Cloisters and the 17th-century redbrick schoolroom.
College tours last for one hour.
TOUR TIMES: Monday - Sunday, 14.15 and 15.30
Please note that from 9th December 2024 – 12th January 2025, College tours will run at the earlier times of 13.30 and 14.45 to accommodate the reduced daylight hours. The College will also close from 20th December 2024 – 2nd January 2025.
War Cloister Tours
Commemorating 100 years since the opening of the College’s tranquil private war memorial, these thought-provoking tours bring to life the stories of the pupils and teachers from Winchester who died in both World Wars and subsequent conflicts, as well as the architecture, symbolism, and impact of War Cloister today. It has been described by Historic England as the largest private war memorial in Europe.
War Cloister tours last for one hour and start at the Porters’ Lodge.
TOUR TIMES: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 14.00 and 15.30
TOUR TIMES AFTER 1ST DECEMBER 2024: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 14.00
Garden Tours
Led by members of the Winchester College gardening team, these tours explore the vast biodiversity and horticultural history of the beautiful hidden gardens of Winchester College. This includes a look at a traditional college ‘quad’, a quiet sitting garden for the old College sick house, the tranquil gardens of the College’s war memorial, and the ‘Warden's Garden’ with its herbaceous borders, woodland, and private section of one of the most famous chalk streams in the world.
Garden tours last for approximately 2 hours and start at the Porters’ Lodge. 2025 garden tour dates will be announced soon.
Group Bookings
We welcome group bookings for all tours. For bookings of 10 people or more, please contact us or ring our Tours Coordinator on 01962 814 611.
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