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Known as England’s ancient capital, the historic and beautiful city of Winchester is regularly crowned one of the best places to live.

Its appeal lies in its rich cultural heritage, beautiful surrounding countryside, excellent schooling and commuting convenience.

What to do in Winchester

Cultural attractions abound within the city, including Winchester Cathedral, which dates back to the 11th century, and The Great Hall, home to ‘King Arthur’s’ legendary round table.

There’s also the Edwardian Theatre Royal Winchester, which plays host to an eclectic mix of live music, drama, comedy and dance, as well as the popular luxury cinema Everyman. The Arc has a programme of regular exhibitions in The Gallery and City Space, hosting live entertainment including comedy shows, talks, concerts and theatre. Annual events such as Winchester Books Festival in April, and Hat Fair, an outdoor arts festival in the summer, attract strong lineups and visitors from across the country.

Meanwhile, the bustling high street is home to numerous independent shops and boutiques, alongside major retail stores, with regular street and farmers markets.

King Arthur and Winchester

Tales of King Arthur are associated with many places across the land but Sir Thomas Malory’s 15th century work, Le Morte d’Arthur, places Camelot at Winchester. The round table in the Great Hall, however, is thought to date from the time of Edward I.

Jane Austen and Winchester

This year, the city takes centre stage for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Austen spent her final weeks living in Winchester and she is buried in the cathedral. There is a host of special events, tours and exhibitions taking place throughout the year to mark the occasion, including the unveiling of a new statue of Austen within the Cathedral Close in the autumn.

Food and drink

Winchester has a vibrant food scene, with plenty of popular restaurants and cafés to choose from. Local independents such as The General Store café and wine bar, Bento Kitchen serving authentic Japanese food and Open House Deli specialising in organic homegrown produce, are a few of our favourites.

Buying and renting property in Winchester

The city has a wide variety of property types, which attracts a range of buyers, particularly families drawn by the excellent schools across the board alongside the lifestyle on offer here.

We also see many empty nesters who are making the move from the surrounding countryside into the city centre for all that it offers on the doorstep.

Properties that are within a 25-30 minute walk of the station are always in demand, with best-in-class homes of all types most sought after, whether it’s a fantastic apartment, a townhouse within the cathedral lanes or a family home with a lovely garden.

Victorian terraced homes in areas/streets such as Hyde Street, Hatherley Road, Edgar Road and St James Lane are enduringly popular for their architectural charm and proximity to the city centre. The residential areas of Hyde, Fulflood, St Giles Hill and St Cross are frequently at the top of buyers’ lists.

House prices in Winchester

Average house prices in Winchester were just over £570,000 in the year to November 2024 and, by house type, this jumps to £808,000 for a detached home, while semi-detached is £516,000, terraced is £479,000 and an average flat is £287,000. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the average property value within the city outperforms the wider county average of £387,000. The highest value surrounding villages include Crawley, Sparsholt, Owslebury, Headbourne Worthy and Kings Worthy, according to house price averages over the same period.

Looking at the rental market, prices in Winchester have seen an annual increase of 2.4%, with five year growth recorded at 38%. Monthly rental costs in the Winchester area are around £1,000 to £1,850 per month for a flat, and anywhere from £1,500 up to around £4,000 for a house.

Transport

For a small city, Winchester is very well connected, with frequent train services into London Waterloo in around an hour, and Southampton and Bournemouth within easy reach. Additionally, the M3 motorway gives easy access to London in one direction and the south coast in the other.

Here is a selection of properties currently for sale in Winchester and its surrounds: