Winchester Travel Information
By road
Winchester is connected to the motorway network with easy access from all parts of the country. Drivers approaching Winchester from the north (from London or travelling via the M25 orbital) should exit at junction 9 on the M3. At junction 10, motorists can only access and exit the M3 from the south (travelling from either Southampton or Bournemouth). Parking in Winchester is expensive and the one-way system can make it a nightmare for the first-time visitor. You can use the Park-And-Ride scheme (park your car on the outskirts and then get a bus into town), simply follow the signs when you leave the M3.
By rail
This is by far the best way to arrive in Winchester. The city is served by the mainline route between London Waterloo and the South Coast. Fast services to London Waterloo take approximately 55 minutes. There are also regular connections to the Midlands and the North.
You can pick up a bicycle outside the station for free, yes that's right, free! Well, not quite. There is a single administration fee of £15 pounds but you can then borrow a bicycle as many times as you like. The scheme is called 'Bikeabout' and is provided by Hampshire County Council. They'll even give you the helmet and reflective jacket. Call 01962 847474 or visit www.winchestermiracles.org for details. Exploring Winchester and the surrounding countryside really is best done on foot or by bicycle. For more information on rail travel visit www.thetrainline.com, or telephone 08457 48 49 50 for National Rail Enquiries.
By air
The closest airport to Winchester is Southampton (Eastleigh), with daily flights from Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam as well as from the Channel Islands, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow. London Heathrow is 50 miles away and London Gatwick is 72 miles away. There are regular road, rail and coach links from both of these airports with the motorway journey time to Winchester between 1 and 2 hours. National Express runs a coach service to and from the airports.
By coach
National Express run regular coach services from London, Heathrow, Oxford and Southampton with connections from most other destinations in the UK.
For more information on coach travel visit www.nationalexpress.co.uk or telephone 0990 808080 for National Express enquiries.
Taxis
Taxi ranks can be found at the station; or telephone Wessex Cars, 01962 844022.
By foot
I have never arrived in Winchester on foot; I doubt few have. But if you have, especially via the old Pilgrim's Route that runs between Winchester and Canterbury, congratualtions.