Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gothic chapel, and the College Hall, among other sights.
Insider tip:
During term
time, you can attend Evensong for free on a Tuesday. Arrive by 5:30pm.
73 Kingsgate St.
&
01962/621209.
www.winchestercollege.org. Admission £6 adults, £5 students and
seniors. Guided tours Tues and Thurs 10:45am and noon; Mon, Wed, and Fri-Sat 10:45am, noon, 2:15,
and 3:30pm; Sun 2:15 and 3:30pm.
BEYOND THE CITY
Chawton Cottage
HISTORIC HOME This cottage is where Jane Austen
spent the last 7
1
⁄
2
years of her life, her most productive period. In unpretentious but
pleasant surroundings, she penned new versions of three of her books and wrote
three more, including Emma. You can also see examples of Austen's needlework and
jewelry, the rector's George III mahogany bookcase, and a silhouette likeness of the
Reverend Austen presenting his son to the Knights. Jane Austen became ill here in
1816 with what would have been diagnosed by the middle of the 19th century as
Addison's disease. She died in College Street, Winchester, in July 1817.
Chawton (1 mile southwest of Alton off the A31, 15 miles east of Winchester).
&
01420/83262.
www.
jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk. Admission £7 adults, £6 students and seniors, £2 children 6-16.
June-Aug daily 10am-5pm; Sept-Dec and Mar-May daily 10:30am-4:30pm; Jan-Feb Sat-Sun
10:30am-4:30pm.
Shopping
Fill up your suitcases at
Cadogan,
30-31 The Square (
&
01962/877399;
www.
cadoganandcompany.co.uk), which carries an upscale selection of traditional wool-
ens, shirts, and accessories for men and women. For a unique piece of jewelry or a
handmade hat, stop by designer Carol Darby's
Free Spirit
, 6 Little Minster St.
(
&
01962/867671
). The oldest book dealer in town is
P&G Wells,
11 College St.
(
&
01962/852016;
www.bookwells.co.uk), offering both new releases and local
interest titles. For window-browsers, the artisan stores along
Parchment Street
and
Great Minster Street
provide plenty of interest.
The city's farmers' market, on the second and final Sunday mornings of every
month, is among the best in England. See
www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk
.
Entertainment & Nightlife
Your best spots for a decent pint are the tiny, traditional bar at the
Eclipse,
25 The
Square (
&
01962/865676;
www.eclipseinn.co.uk); or, if you don't mind a gentle
10-minute walk from the center, the
Black Boy
, 1 Wharf Hill (
&
01962/861754;
www.theblackboypub.com). The latter is a freehouse specializing in locally brewed
ales. To keep partying until late, the place to go is the
Porthouse,
Upper Brook
Street (
&
01962/869397;
www.porthousenightclub.com), a nightclub sprawling
across three floors. Different nights have different themes, from urban music to pop.
Doors open at 9pm, and you'll pay £3 to £5 admission, depending on the night.
For a dose of culture, try the
Theatre Royal Winchester,
Jewry Street
(
&
01962/840440;
www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk). The eclectic program
might include anything from mainstream comedy to touring opera or a kids' show.
Where to Eat & Stay
Black Rat
MODERN ENGLISH If you like your food with an adventurous
edge, this fine-dining spinoff from the Black Boy pub (see above) is the best choice
in town. The dining room is decked with mighty oak tables and the decor is simple—
although the kitchen is anything but, having been awarded its first Michelin star in
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