Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Cathedral is a major medieval church in Winchester, Hampshire, and one of the largest and longest cathedrals in Europe. The building’s fabric spans Norman and later Gothic phases, producing the long, continuous interior for which it is well known.

Key interior features include an extended nave and choir, a large central tower and numerous chapels that host medieval tombs and memorials. The cathedral also houses the important 12th-century illuminated Winchester Bible and a collection of carved stonework and woodwork.

Construction began in the Norman period and the structure was substantially rebuilt and altered through the 12th to 16th centuries, reflecting evolving architectural styles and the cathedral’s ongoing ecclesiastical role. The site remains an active cathedral and major visitor attraction.

The cathedral lies in the city centre of Winchester, adjacent to historic streets and close to the ruins of the old bishop’s palace and other medieval urban remains.

• Overall length: The cathedral is one of the longest medieval church buildings in Europe, with an overall length of about 170 metres.
• Notable memorials: Contains notable burials and memorials including the grave of novelist Jane Austen and royal tombs dating from the medieval period.

What to See #

• Nave and choir: The nave and choir, which together form the long medieval interior and contain major screens, tombs and choir stalls.
• Winchester Bible and treasury: The cathedral's medieval treasury items and the illuminated Winchester Bible, one of the finest surviving 12th-century manuscripts.