Blog date – 27 Jan 2022
Winchester is set to shine from Sat 29 Jan to Sun 6 Feb, thanks to a first for the city which will see its iconic landmarks and buildings lit up.
Winchester – Lights in the city sees light installations in key locations across the centre.
The theme of the event is ‘Winter into Spring’ and coloured lights will show the changing of the seasons as visitors follow the lights through the centre.
The trail will start with ‘winter’ and cool white and blue lights and projections at the top of the high street including outside The Great Hall, which will also be home to a cone of light, and the Westgate Museum. The seasonal theme continues with twinkling ceiling of lights approaching The Square and City Museum and a matching coloured curtain of lights draped on their frontages. Next, the public will be encouraged to follow the trees lining the iconic path from the City Museum to Winchester Cathedral, which will showcase lights around their trunks, while a further ceiling of lights will hang to form a tunnel of light over this route. The bushes of the little-known, secluded Busket Yard will also be subtly lit.
Guildhall Winchester marks the start of ‘spring’ and the building will be illuminated with multicoloured lights and white icicle features. Abbey Gardens will be home to giant tulip illuminations.
Thrusters on – Winchester Science Centre are taking you back to 2002! But don’t worry if time travel leaves you feeling a bit peckish, they are cooking up a scientific storm. 22 Jan to 13 Mar Weekends and school holidays.
In 2022 Winchester Science Centre are celebrating 20 years of wow moments at the Science Centre. Take a trip down memory lane and enjoy some of their best show themes and demos from the past 20 years – all with a retro 2002 twist.
Join the audience of Winchester Science Centre’s very own noughties cooking show, Science Chefs, get cooking with curiosity. Find out what makes a chemical reaction. Explore the chemistry of snacks and how different foods supply your body with different amounts of energy. And discover how much chemical energy changes depending on the food.
And of course, their marvellous menu of science bites wouldn’t be complete without some epic demos. There’ll be new fire-filled demos. And, because this is a return to the best demos from the past 20 years, the team will be bringing back some old favourites. Get set to be wowed again by one of their most spectacular chemical reaction demos, the explosive sugar flame-thrower.
The digital ‘Sensing the Unseen: Step into Gossaert’s ‘Adoration” exhibition has began its first tour from the National Gallery at Winchester Cathedral.
The exhibition is a multisensory experience, transporting you into the world of Jan Gossaert’s ‘Adoration of the Kings’. The 3D perfect facsimile of the painting (produced by Factum Arte) showcases the depth of the paint, the vivid colours and the exquisite details of this 16th-century masterpiece. It is complemented by a soundscape, the squawking of birds, the chink of the bridles and the voice of King Balthasar.
Using digital technology, you can experience one of the National Gallery’s most popular paintings like never before. The exhibition space will comprise of the full-scale facsimile painting, spotlit and flanked by three yurt-like pods. Inside each pod, you will encounter a digital image of the painting, which has been ‘sonified’ using soundscapes, spoken words, music and a poem. As you step into the experience you can discover and navigate previously unseen elements.
Explore the beautiful market town of Bishops Waltham located in the delightful countryside of Hampshire in the Meon Valley area.
Discover this charming town with this interactive QR trail walking you through the sites of Bishops Waltham. Scan your smartphone over the Quick Response codes to access historic information and make the town come to life.
The Cycle Company
The Cycle Company offer electric bike rental from their shop, right next to Shawford Train Station (10 minutes from Winchester). Hiring an e-bike for the day, or for your holiday is guaranteed to put a smile on your face; e-bikes have electric motors, which means it doesn’t matter if some of your group are less fit… everyone can keep up. It also means you can ride further in a day and climb more hills without getting tired!
The Cycle Company are local and know all the best rides and routes for electric bikes. They provide everything you need for your e-bike hire including helmets, locks, puncture repair kits, chargers, maps (online or paper) and advice and guidance on the best routes for your bike hire adventure.
What e-bikes do they have to offer?
Hybrid e-bikes: Perfect for cruising around on the road, gravel tracks, trails and with up to 40 miles of range they will take you anywhere you want to go without working up a sweat!
Mountain e-bikes: Perfect for exploring the off-road trails around Winchester, including The South Downs Way & King Alfreds Way.
Foldable e-bikes: It’s easy! Fold them up, pop them in the boot of your car and you’re away. It makes all of Hampshire’s sites accessible and even more fun!
Kids Bikes: For family days out we have a variety of sizes for under 14s, as well as child seats to fit on the back of our e-bikes.
Routes and what’s nearby
The Cycle Company have a variety of routes for you to try, whether that is on the road visiting some of the scenic villages on the outskirts of Winchester, or exploring some of the best known off-road cycle routes in the country. They can recommend routes focused on the best local sites, family days out including a great lunch, or more serious cycling routes. They also have spare batteries if you are planning a tour and need help covering the extra miles.
