From the 29 March the Stay at Home order will end, although many lockdown restrictions will remain. Find out more about the government’s four-step road map to ease restrictions across England here.
If you are out and about in the Winchester district please remember Hands, Face and Space and to follow the latest government restrictions. If an area looks busy why not visit on another day?
Some of our parks and gardens are open in line with government guidelines but please make sure you book in advance and plan your trip.
Respect, Protect and Enjoy our beautiful district.
Even though many of our non essential shops are still closed until the 12 April, many of our shops are still offering deliveries and click and collect. So please support our local independents and surprise someone this Easter with a sweet Winchester treat.
The Winchester district has some great independent chocolate shops ready to satisfy your Easter sweet tooth. Chococo takes chocolate to a whole other level with their Easter selection. Enjoy Chococo’s fantastic chocolate eggs with honeycombe, dusted cocoa beans, or hazelnuts studded inside. Delight your little ones, or those young at heart, with a giant milk chocolate dinosaur studded Easter egg or a chocolate bunny in a box – the perfect gift from any Easter bunny to click and collect. Browse the selection here.
Why not surprise that special someone this Easter with some beautiful daffodils…made from chocolate at The Wickham Chocolate shop. With chocolate bunnies, an Easter gift pack of chocolate characters or a sheep lolly there is so much to choose from. View their Easter treats here.
If you’re looking to try something a little different this Easter why not buy a voucher to Chocolate Craft in Alresford for a future workshop to make your very own chocolates.
If you’re looking for a different fix to your sweet tooth Sweet Treat have a great selection of Easter treats. Enjoy an Easter Bunny Pouch, give an Easter Sweet Basket as a gift or enjoy a Chocolate Heaven Sweetcake as the centre piece to your Easter table. There is so much to choose from.
For more sweet options order online from The Sweet Corner in Bishops Waltham who stock everything you could want. Traditional sweets, American candy and a retro cube of your favourite – they have it all.
If you’re looking to use your chocolate to make a special Easter cake Dinghams has everything you will need to make that special desert. Don’t forget to browse their collection of Easter cake decorations and a carrot headband for the bakers. Find your Easter kitchen tools here.
If you are looking for something other than chocolate to send to that special someone Winchester’s florists can help send beautiful spring colours into your loved ones home.
Order online from Wild Bunch Florists and send a beautiful bunch of flowers to brighten someone’s day. Their beautiful selection is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.
Only the best will do from Wickham Flowers. Send a ‘Just because’ basket to let someone know you’re a thinking of them, a beautiful ‘Sunrise’ bunch to bring a warm glow to a room or send ‘Spring Kisses’ for the fun person in your life.
Are you cooking a feast this Easter? Only the best ingredients will do. Click and collect from Beech Croft Direct and enjoy a full range of fresh lamb, beef, pork and chicken or enjoy the best of local and beyond at Cobbs Farm Shop with quality seasonal produce and quality meat from their master butchers.
In line with government guidance, outdoor spaces only at Hinton Ampner are open for local visitors to access for walks. You will need to book your visit in advance.
If you are local, join Hinton Ampner for an Easter adventure in nature from Monday 29 March to Sunday 4 April. Discover their family-friendly trail and get out on a spring adventure with ten activity points throughout the grounds. Engage all your senses to record your journey on the sheet provided and collect your chocolate treat at the end. Tickets need to be booked in advance so Hinton Ampner can monitor visitor numbers to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.
Please remember to follow government advice and social distancing rules at all times and remember to wash hands regularly.
The gardens and park land are open to the public – tickets must be pre- booked in advance, please see website for bookings and full details of opening times. The Tea Shed is open for takeaways.
Explore the grounds on a brand new activity trail, running over the Easter weekend, from Friday 2 to Monday 5 April, with children receiving an Easter chocolate at the end.
Order a delicious afternoon tea box from the Old Kitchen Tearoom, available for collection or local delivery over the Easter weekend. Filled with seasonal delights baked fresh from the Old Kitchen Tearoom, including a mini egg brownie, cream egg cupcake, finger sandwiches and much more all for just £12.50.
On Saturday 17 April enjoy a day of creativity within the Hampshire Countryside, based at the beautiful setting of Chawton House. Their house photographer will guide and support you to take your photography to the next level. All levels are invited to join and the workshop is in the beautiful setting of the gardens at Chawton House so you can absorb the atmosphere and get up close to nature.
The group size will be set to a maximum of six people to allow for social distancing. You will use your own equipment and we will provide wipes and hand sanitiser so that Claire can help you if she needs to.
Have you ever walked around your local area and noticed just how old the buildings around you really are? If you live locally to Winchester take a walk around the city centre with the Hampshire Cultural Trust and become a street detective.
Gilbert White viewed nature by ‘observing narrowly’ and changed forever how we look at the natural world. This year Gilbert White’s House will be holding four seasonal photography competitions culminating in an exhibition in 2022. If you have been busy taking photos of nature this spring, why not enter the Gilbert White’s House Observing Narrowly Spring Photography Competition?
Local families now have even more reason to visit the play parks in Winchester city centre with a chance to find Wonky the Woodpecker and his friends on the Wonky Trail. Collect the letters on display in each park to discover the names of Wonky’s friends. Return the trail to the Winchester Visitor Information Centre (reopening on the 12 April) to claim your prize. Please ensure you follow government guidance and social distancing.
From Monday 29 March The Beaulieu National Motor Museum is opening their attraction grounds and gardens to local visitors. Take your little ones to discover Little Beaulieu, their adventure play space, and let off steam exploring their wider parkland and grounds. Tickets need to be booked in advance. Find out more here.
Are you planning an Easter picnic this year? Winchester is full of picturesque green areas perfect to lay down a blanket and enjoy a picnic. Discover 10 of our favourite places throughout the Winchester district here.
® Harvey Mills Photography 2017
