3 A Winchester Walk
A WINCHESTER WALK Adam Rattray
Introduction
In 1819 , the poet John Keats described Winchester as ‘ the pleasantest town I ever was in ’.
Much of its charm survives : unlike its battered sisters , Basingstoke to the north , and Southampton and Portsmouth to the south , Winchester was spared the worst of wartime bombing and post-war redevelopment .
For those pressed for time , a walk around the College will take 30 minutes . There are then two extensions to this walk , both taking approximately one hour : EXTENSION A , via the Hospital of St Cross ; and EXTENSION B , via Winchester City centre . You will find these options clearly indicated in the text .
If you would like to follow these guided walks , please inform the Registrar , and sign in at the Porters ’ Lodge , where you will be given a lanyard . This lanyard must be visible at all times , and please do not enter any buildings or staircases which are not clearly included in the guide . Winchester College is a working school , and unfortunately there may be occasions when access to some of the buildings mentioned in the guide may not be possible . At the end of your walk , please return your lanyard to the Porters ’ Lodge .