Visit Winchester > Explore Bishop’s Waltham

Explore Bishop’s Waltham

Wallops Wood
Wallops Wood

Bishop’s Waltham is a vibrant and historic market town set in the glorious Hampshire countryside. With a foot in the South Downs National Park and located at the mid point of a long-established route between Winchester and Portsmouth, the town has long been appreciated as a place to stop and relax.

Bishop’s Waltham is only a 20 minute drive from Winchester.

By bus: on bus route 69. For more information visit our local travel page.

By car: leave Winchester down Southgate Street and at Bushfield roundabout follow the signs for Bishop’s Walton on the B3335. After Twyford keep left on the B3354 until Fisher’s Pond. At the Fisher’s Pond traffic lights turn left onto the B2177 to Bishop’s Waltham.

The earliest record of a settlement within the Bishop’s Waltham area was of a church built in around 640 AD.

The name of the town is also Saxon, being derived from two words – ‘wald’ (forest) and ‘ham’ (settlement). It earned the name ‘Bishop’s Waltham’ when, in 904 AD, King Alfred’s son, King Edward the Elder, granted the land to Denewulf, Bishop of Winchester, in exchange for land in Portchester.

Despite being destroyed by the Danes in 1001 AD, the settlement grew steadily to become one of Hampshire’s largest villages.

Due to the town’s close proximity to the port of Portsmouth, Bishop’s Waltham has fascinating connections with naval characters including Admiral Edward Vernon ‘Old Grog’, Admiral Villeneuve – one of the best known captured sailors during the Napoleonic Wars when Bishop’s Waltham served as a ‘parol town’ and Admiral Lord Andrew Cunningham.

There’s no shortage of great places to eat in Bishop’s Waltham.

Cafes and coffee shops serve breakfast, morning coffee (and cake!), lunch and afternoon tea. Why not pick something up to eat elsewhere, like in the beautiful Palace grounds?

If you prefer more formal dining, there’s a great choice of restaurants and pubs open lunch time and evening, with menus to suit all budgets. Enjoy some fantastic local, home-cooked food in friendly and welcoming surroundings