Visit a comic book fair

The Winchester Comics Fair brings together 40 independent artists, writers and creators to showcase the diverse and inclusive UK comic book and graphic novel scene. There is something for everyone, aficionados and novices alike.

Winchester Comics Fair at The Nutshell. Saturday 1 November.

Celebrate Bonfire Night in Winchester

Remember (remember) to book tickets to one of the firework displays happening in and around Winchester to mark Bonfire Night 2025. There's Winchester Bonfire & Fireworks taking place on Saturday 8 November, starting with a free torchlit procession which will make its way from Winchester Guildhall up the High Street and across Jewry Street before heading to the firework and bonfire display, which is ticketed. Head to Alresford on Friday 7 November for a procession and display at Arlebury Park, or check out displays in Hursley, Whiteley, South Wonston, Sparsholt, Bishop's Waltham and more.

Read: Where to celebrate Bonfire Night in Winchester 

Go to Mozart's memorial

A unique musical experience, A Requiem for Mozart tells the story of the final year of the composer's life. The immersive production, featuring an orchestra, chorus, soloists, actors and theatrical lighting, sees the audience sit as the congregation at the composer’s memorial in a powerful and personal tribute to the real Mozart.

A Requiem for Mozart at Holy Trinity Church, Winchester. Wednesday 5 November.

Hang out with the Addams Family

The award-winning Winchester Musicals and Opera Society return with their brand new production: a delightfully spooky musical comedy set in the wonderfully weird world of The Addams Family. The well-known kooky characters will be bought to life in a hilarious tale of love, acceptance, and what it really means to be a family.

The Addams Family at Theatre Royal Winchester. Wednesday 5 - Saturday 8 November.

Make afternoon tea with a Bake Off winner

Master afternoon tea with Matty Edgell, winner of The Great British Bake Off in 2023. The baker is leading a hands-on class at Lainston House's Season Cookery School where participants will create a classic afternoon tea, featuring sausage rolls, a caramel chocolate tart, and a show-stopping Paris Brest filled with hazelnut praline and crème mousseline. On your marks, get set, bake!

Masterclass: Matty Edgell's Afternoon Tea at Lainston House's Season Cookery School. Friday 7 and Friday 21 November.

Walk across hot coals at the zoo

Take part in Marwell Zoo's Firewalk to raise money for wildlife conservation - and do something seriously scary. With the help of expert firewalking instructors (and any supporters you bring along with you), you'll master your mindset, overcome fear, build confidence and step out of your comfort zone. Very literally.

Firewalk at Marwell Zoo. Saturday 8 November.

Listen to Whitney Houston by candlelight

Enjoy Whitney Houston's hits, from soaring ballads to dance-floor anthems, in the glow of hundreds of candles. Winchester's Guildhall will be transformed with candlelight while a live band and Whitney tribute act perform tracks like I Wanna Dance with Somebody, One Moment in Time, I’m Every Woman and I Will Always Love You.

Whitney - The Candlelight Concert at Winchester Guildhall. Saturday 8 November.

Delve into the intimate detail of a wartime marriage

When Manchester Guardian journalist Gerard Fay was called up to fight in World War II in the summer of 1940, his wife Alice or 'Loll' (short for Lollipop) remained in the north of England. On the 80th Anniversary year of VE Day, Dear Loll brings to the stage the candid and compelling correspondence between the young couple: thousands of intimate letters full of drama, humour and emotion.

Dear Loll: A Wartime Marriage in Letters at Theatre Royal Winchester. Sunday 9 November.

Discover Winchester Cathedral's war memorials

To coincide with Remembrance this year, Winchester Cathedral are running a special interest tour exploring a thousand years of conflict, resilience, and reverence. The 90-minute tour will reveal how Winchester's Cathedral - founded in 1079 following the Norman Conquest - has stood as both witness and memorial to centuries of conflict, sacrifice, and endurance. The Cathedral is home to one of the most comprehensive war memorial collections in the country.

Conflict and the Cathedral Tour at Winchester Cathedral. Tuesday 11 and Friday 14 November.

Read: Remembrance in Winchester

Join a festive, folk music wassail

Two of the UK folk scene’s most celebrated artists unite for a nationwide wassail, wishing good health to all as they take their show across the country. Reviving the magic of age-old seasonal songs among a stage of illuminated Christmas trees, they will spread good cheer and light up the darkest days of the year, visiting Winchester on the second night of their tour.

The Wassail with Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden at Theatre Royal Winchester. Wednesday 12 November.

Watch the Christmas lights switch on

Kick off the countdown to Christmas by watching Winchester's high street come alive with twinkling bulbs. The annual Winchester Christmas Lights Switch On will take place on Thursday 13 November in The Broadway outside the Guildhall. The countdown will begin just before 6.30pm, when local heroes will help press the giant red 'ON' button that will light up the city. There will also be live performances from local choirs like The Pilgrims' School Chamber Choir and Winchester Rock Choir. The event will be hosted by Heart Radio's Jonny Meah.

Christmas lights switch on, Winchester. Thursday 13 November.

Read: Where to see Christmas lights in Winchester 

Hear the stories of forgotten Heroines

Meet Hypermnestra, Oenone, Ariadne, Laodamia and Phillis. Tired of being just a footnote in swaggering epic tales of "Great" heroes, the Heroines are loud, proud and ready to take centre stage. In this stage show at the Nutshell, they are grabbing the spotlight to show you that their stories, women's stories, are worth more than the two lines they were originally assigned.

The Heroines: 5 Stories from 5 Heroines at The Nutshell, Winchester. Thursday 13 and Friday 14 November.

Visit the Arc's new William Morris exhibition

Winchester's newest exhibition shows how William Morris’ love of gardens and green spaces was shared by his wife Jane and daughter May. It brings into focus the art and writings of those who gathered at the Morris homes, where gardens were transformed into creative and pleasurable spaces. From embroidery to wallpaper, decorated books to oil paintings, the exhibition gathers works from the earliest days of Jane and William’s marriage. It will also feature works by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones and John Ruskin, as well as designs by May Morris which are on public display for the first time.

Beauty of the Earth: The Art of May, Jane and William Morris at The Arc. From Saturday 15 November - Wednesday 4 February.

Watch a radio play live on stage

A performance with a difference, this show's setting is a radio studio, the actors ready as if for a radio broadcast. See television favourites Colin Baker and Peter Purves lead the cast of a new adaptation of Charles Dickens' Christmas classic - which also features a specially recorded appearance by Tom Baker as Jacob Marley.

A Christmas Carol: a radio play live on stage at Theatre Royal Winchester. Sunday 16 November.

Browse Winchester's Art and Design Market

If you're starting to think about Christmas shopping, Winchester's markets are a great place to head for unique and unusual gifts. This month's Art and Design Market falls on Sunday 16, and is full of stalls selling a curated selection of original pieces from local artists and makers.

Art and Design Market, Winchester. Sunday 16 November.

Read: Your guide to Winchester's markets.

Experience an eco light festival

A winter lights trail with a feelgood difference, this thoughtful event is designed to have a minimal impact on the natural world, using renewable energy, solar power and UV to power the lights. You'll still find captivating light installations in a unique trail, but the local wildlife is left as undisturbed as possible.

Eco Light Festival at Gilbert White's House, Selbourne. Thursday 20 November - Saturday 20 December (selected days only).

Read: Winter light trails near Winchester to book now 

Get competitive at Winchester's new boardgame café

Buy card games, role-playing games, board games and more at Winchester's newest shop-meets-social space. Mythic Tabletop Games is the place to stock up on all kinds of tabletop games, and you can actually play them here too. Book a table to play your own games, borrow from their in-house board game library or get involved with ticketed gaming events. There's also a café menu, serving snacks, tea, coffee, wine and beer.

Mythic Tabletop Games, Parchment Street, Winchester. Open now.

Walk part of the famous Camino de Santiago

You don't need to travel to Spain to walk a section of the famous Camino de Santiago. A stretch of the historic pilgrimage runs between Reading and Southampon, via Winchester. Walk the entire 68 mile way, or pick up a section of the route for a historic wander through Winchester countryside.

St James' Way, Winchester.

Learn about the history of witchcraft

Head to a Seed Talks event at Winchester's Science Centre where Dr Laura Kounine, published author and professor of Early Modern History at the University of Sussex, will be discussing the legacy of the early modern witch-hunts and how the Witch is now being reclaimed as a symbol of feminism, activism, and empowerment.

The History of Witchcraft and Women at Winchester Science Centre. Thursday 13 November.

Sing with Winchester Cathedral choir

Boys aged between six and eight are welcome to explore the exciting world of choral singing for free. Participants will get to sing and perform with the Winchester Cathedral Choir, dress up in choir robes, explore the majestic cathedral building and hear the mighty cathedral organ. No singing experience necessary.

Be a Boy Chorister at Winchester Cathedral. Saturday 15 November.

Go to a guided stargaze

If you've ever looked skywards and wanted to know more about what you're looking at, head to Winchester Science Centre's Night Sky Live! You'll start off in the Planetarium, learning the skills you need to identify what’s above your head, before following your stargazing host outside into the South Downs National Park. Being a Dark Sky Discovery Site, it's the ideal spot to have a go at spotting stars, constellations and planets in the November night sky.

Night Sky Live! at Winchester Science Centre. Tuesday 18 November.

Read: Stellar places for stargazing near Winchester 

Take a tour of Winchester's toilets

Head off on a rather niche guided walk, exploring the history of Winchester toilets to mark UN World Water Day and UN World Toilet Day. A donation from the ticket price will be made to WaterHarvest charity. The 90-minute toilet tour will be run by one of Winchester’s professional guides and will start at Winchester's Visitor Information Centre.

Privies, Pots and Pits: not a bog standard guided walking tour, Winchester. Wednesday 19 November.

Visit Winchester's much-loved Christmas market

Our annual Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is back, transforming the centre of Winchester into a mulled wine-scented festive wonderland. From Friday 21 November, the Cathedral's inner close will be lined with matching wooden chalets selling unique gifts - from wooden music boxes and ceramic Christmas tree decorations to artisan cheeses and locally-brewed ales. There are also food and drink chalets selling haloumi burgers, pigs in blankets, doughnuts and more. Considered one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is a must visit, whether you're there to do your Christmas shopping, to sample seasonal treats or to soak up the festive atmosphere beside the community stage.

Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market 2025. Friday 21 November - Monday 22 December.

Grab coffee and a toastie at Ohco Coffee

Welcome the newest addition to Winchester's thriving coffee scene by swinging by their café in the Brooks Centre. Ohco Coffee's new space serves up great cups of coffee - hand roasted in Hursley just outside of Winchester - toasties and pastries. They also sell coffee to make at home as well as coffee-making equipment, too.

Ohco Coffee, Winchester. Open now.

Take part in Winchester's annual lantern parade

Welcome in the festive season by walking in Winchester's annual lantern parade. Wander from Winchester Cathedral through Winchester with your own handcrafted lantern and back, where prizes will be awarded to the winners of four lantern categories. You can also watch the colourful spectacle from the side lines. This year the theme is 'light, bright, and sparkling', inspired by Jane Austen’s description of Pride and Prejudice in Austen's 250th anniversary year.

Fancy walking in the Lantern Parade but no idea how to make your own lantern? Head to BellaCrafts earlier in the month to take part in workshops that will show you how to construct your own wintery lantern using willow and colourful tissue paper.

Willow Lantern Making at BellaCrafts, Winchester. 6 and 16 November.

Lantern Parade, Winchester Cathedral. Monday 24 November.

Create a festive Christmas wreath

Make something beautiful to hang on your front door this festive season, with the help of local florists Wildbunch. They're running a two-hour wreath-making workshop at The Tichborne Arms this month, where participants will design and create a wreath using foliage, berries, dried fruit and colourful ribbons. There are lots of other wreath-making workshops taking place in Winchester this month and next, if this date doesn't suit.

Christmas Wreath Making Workshop at The Tichborne Arms. Thursday 27 November.

Read: Christmas wreath and craft workshops in Winchester

Eat supper at a vineyard

Secure your spot at this winter supper club, hosted by a much-loved local pub in Exton Park Vineyard's pretty surrounds. The Tichborne Arms has curated a three course set menu, paired with two glasses of Exton Park Sparkling, to be served in the vineyard dining room. Kick off with a crab tostada before enjoying duck with celeriac, red cabbage and bread sauce. Supper will be rounded off with custard tart.

Tichborne Arms x Exton Park Winter Supper Club at Exton Park Vineyard. Thursday 27 November.

Ride on an illuminated Christmas steam train

The Watercress Line's Steam Illuminations see vintage steam trains decked in technicolour lights for the season. Once you step into the glowing carriages, you’ll be wrapped in a vibrant light and sound display. Thousands of synchronised LED lights – both inside and out – create a dynamic, ever-changing show as the train steams through the countryside. There's also singalongs and entertainment on board, festive drinks and snacks, singing Christmas trees and more.

Steam Illuminations at The Watercress Line, Alresford. Friday 28 November - Sunday 4 January 2026.

Write your own song in a day

Craft your own song, from start to finish, in this workshop led by seasoned songwriter and guitar tutor James Uings. Whether you're a total beginner or someone looking to improve their songwriting skills, by the end of the day you'll have gained confidence with narrative concepts, song structure, generating lyrical ideas and basic music theory.

Write a Song in a Day at The Arc, Winchester. Saturday 29 November.

Conduct Christmas dinner research

'Tis the season to curl up in cosy pub corners with a comforting Sunday lunch. There are countless places in and around Winchester serving up incredible roast dinners every Sunday, from traditional meaty affairs to plant-based roasts. And it's a good job too. Trying this lot out is actually very important research for your own attempt on 25 December.

Read: Great Sunday roasts in Winchester

Follow a light trail around the zoo

Head to Marwell Zoo after dark for very special winter lights trail designed to fill you with wonder for the natural world. The twinkling trail will lead you through the zoo past glowing sculptures and florescent animal faces. Make a whole day out of it by spending time at the zoo beforehand (entry is included in the price of your Glow ticket) and stopping off for some festive food or a toasted marshmallow before you set out on the Glow trail.

Glow Marwell at Marwell Zoo. Friday 28 November - Saturday 3 January 2026.

Have brunch at Forte Kitchen

This much-loved Winchester café has just reopened following a fire during the summer, and they've taken the opportunity to launch a brand new brunch menu. Swing by for reimagined classics like eggs benedict with potato rosti and avo on toast topped with local smoked trout - or try something more unusual, like harissa cauliflower salad or a big build-your-own breakfast brioche.

Forte Kitchen, Winchester. Open now.

Take your teddy bear to a festive concert

Join the King's Chamber Orchestra for a fun and interactive festive concert, perfect for families with little ones. Everyone is encouraged to bring their favourite teddy bear along for the afternoon and enjoy a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere with lots of creative, entertaining tunes.

King's Chamber Orchestra - Teddy Bear Concert at Hope Church, Winchester. Saturday 29 November.

Grab tickets to the panto

If Christmas doesn't feel like Christmas without a family trip to the panto, book tickets to Puss in Boots at Theatre Royal Winchester. Running from 29 November until 4 January, the show has everything you'd expect from a traditional festive panto with plenty of family-friendly gags, original songs and loads of audience participation. It's a great family day out. (Oh no it isn't! Oh yes it is!)

Puss in Boots at Theatre Royal Winchester. Saturday 29th November - Sunday 4th January 2026.

Meet Father Christmas in a medieval hall

Santa's grottos don't get more impressive than this one, set inside Winchester's Great Hall, one of the finest surviving aisled halls of the 13th century and the last remains of Winchester Castle. Visitors will share a magical moment with Santa and his elf in the magical Great Hall Grotto and be given a very special Christmas gift. There will also be crafts and activities to take part in, as well as a complimentary hot chocolate for every ticket holder.

Santa's Grotto at the Great Hall, Winchester. Saturday 29th November - Tuesday 23rd December.