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 and a heritage site of international significance.
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 which are used by the school today. The school welcomes visitors seven days a week to its museum, Treasury, and on a range of guided tours, as well as to public events throughout the year.
Jane Austen & 8 College Street
In the summer of 2025, Winchester College will open No. 8 College Street, Winchester – the house where Jane Austen spent the final weeks of her life and died in 1817 – to the public for the first time.
The house will be open for a limited period as part of a worldwide celebration of the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth. Through displays and artefacts, visitors will learn about Jane’s connections with Winchester and the story of her last days.
Tickets for visits to No. 8 College Street will be released at 9am on 16th September 2024. Due to high demand, we strongly recommend pre-booking. To find out more and to book your tickets, click the link below:
Guided Tours
The College offers a range of public tours throughout the year, showcasing the College's history, architecture and gardens. These include:
College Tours, which run daily and focus on the school's history and medieval architecture.
War Cloister Tours, to mark one hundred years since the opening of the College's tranquil private war memorial.
Garden Tours, which will explore the vast biodiversity and horticultural history of the College's beautiful hidden gardens.
Treasury Museum
The Treasury Museum 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. Take a virtual tour.
William of Wykeham: 1324-2024
5 August – 20 December 2024
This exhibition celebrates the 700th anniversary of the birth of William of Wykeham (1324-1404), the founder of Winchester College.
Rising from humble origins, he became Bishop of Winchester and chancellor to two kings: Edward III and Richard II. His great wealth allowed him to engage in a remarkable range of charitable activities and building projects, including the creation of New College in Oxford (1379) and Winchester College (1382).
This exhibition brings together objects associated with Wykeham and his world, including portraits, manuscripts, and silver, illuminating the life of a key figure in fourteenth-century England.
Poetry and Illustration
20 May - 20 December 2024
This exhibition explores the relationship between printed words and images. Through a selection of books from the Fellows’ Library, the exhibition looks at ways in which poetry collections have been illustrated from the seventeenth century to the twenty-first. The work on display includes striking engravings of Paradise Lost from the 1688 edition of that poem to the anonymous, handmade silhouettes in a copy of the third edition of Lyrical Ballads, as well as contemporary experiments in typesetting and binding. It has been put together by two current fourth-year pupils and two members of the English department.
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 and facilities with the wider community.
Throughout the year, the school hosts numerous events including the annual National Garden Scheme weekend, Heritage Open Days, concerts and afternoon teas for local schools and charities, as well as carol services.
Choral Evensong
Members of the public are very welcome to attend Choral Evensong, which is sung in Chapel at 17:30 most Tuesdays, and Quirister Eucharist, also in Chapel at 17:30 on Thursdays. Visitors should sign in at the Porters' Lodge on College Street on arrival.
Please always check the school calendar for the most up-to-date information.
