Christmas in Winchester

Your guide to visiting ‘England’s Christmas Capital’ in 2025

Christmas Winchester Cathedral night

Winchester's historic city and vibrant market towns are a magical place to visit during the festive season

We love Winchester all year round, but the beautiful city and its surrounding district provides the perfect backdrop to the festivities and looks especially pretty during the winter months, thanks to twinkly lights, stunning shop window displays and the annual Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market.

Visit Winchester in winter 2025 to discover a calendar packed with Christmas events, from a stunning lantern parade to craft workshops, family-friendly theatre shows and festive film screenings. Enjoy a family day out at one of our attractions, made up for the season in winter finery, or find the perfect gift in one of our independent shops. It's easy to head out into the stunning South Downs countryside which surrounds the city of Winchester for a winter walk before finishing off your Winchester Christmas experience by dining in one of our independent eateries, sipping a seasonal drink in one of the city's buzzy bars or getting warm beside a roaring fire in one of Winchester district's cosiest pubs.

So what should you expect from Christmas in Winchester? Each year the festive season kicks off with the Christmas Lights Switch On, followed by the annual Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market, recognised as one of the best in Europe - and then there's so much more while you're here.

Christmas events

Steam Illuminations

The Watercress Line

DATE: 28 Nov 2025 - 4 Jan 2026

CLOSES: 5th Jan 2026

Lantern Parade

Winchester Cathedral

DATE: 24 Nov 2025 - 24 Nov 2025

CLOSES: 25th Nov 2025

Glow Marwell

Marwell Zoo

DATE: 28 Nov 2025 - 3 Jan 2026

CLOSES: 4th Jan 2026

Father Christmas Express

The Watercress Line

DATE: 13 Dec 2025 - 23 Dec 2025

CLOSES: 15th Dec 2025

Festive reads

Watch our Christmas in Winchester film

For a taste of what to expect this yuletide season, take a look at our Christmas in Winchester film to help plan your trip.

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