Winchester Cathedral is a living monument to the heritage of England and is one of the most historically significant buildings in Britain. From the time of Alfred the Great until after the Norman Conquest, Winchester and the Cathedral was its royal chapel. Much of England’s early history was based here and twelve English kings are believed to be buried here – meaning that Winchester can lay claim to being the first Royal Mausoleum.
Explore
Kings & Scribes
The opening of Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation in 2019 marked the culmination of an ambitious seven-year project to unlock the Cathedral’s stories and treasures by inspiring active engagement in the interpretation and exploration of our heritage.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other generous supporters, a spectacular three-level exhibition space in the South Transept takes visitors through over 1,000 years of history, whilst offering awe-inspiring views of the Cathedral.
Kings and Scribes
A scribe's tale
The Winchester Bible is the largest and finest of all surviving 12th-century English bibles. Hear the incredible story of how and why the Winchester Bible was made, in the Cathedral where it was created, and admire its exquisite illuminated initials and elaborate decorative schemes.
The birth of a nation
Winchester played a unique role in shaping early English history and Old Minster, the Anglo-Saxon Cathedral, lay at the centre of its foundation. Join us on an intriguing journey of discovery as we unearth the secrets hidden within the Cathedral’s mortuary chests, meet influential Anglo-Saxon kings in the city from which they ruled and discover the role of Winchester’s Anglo-Saxon and Norman Cathedrals in the birth of a nation.
Decoding the stones
Unlock the mysteries of Winchester Cathedral, a building which has been created, destroyed and remade over centuries of struggle and Civil War. Decoding the Stones tells the story of the Cathedral itself, linking modern restoration works and contemporary craftspeople with their medieval predecessors.
The mezzanine
Explore the realities of monastic life at Winchester Cathedral Priory with a fascinating rolling programme of displays from the Cathedral archives.
Opening times (Subject to volunteer availability)
Monday - Saturday
10.30am - 4.30pm
Sundays
12.30pm - 2.30pm
Upcoming Closures
Closures notice
Cathedral
2nd July – The cathedral will be closed from 3pm onwards but will remain open for services and worship.
3rd July – The cathedral will be closed all day but will remain open for services and worship.
7th July – The cathedral will be closed between 1.30pm and 5pm.
13th July – The cathedral will be closed between 9am and 1.30pm.
23rd July – The cathedral will be closed between 1pm and 5pm.
Kings and Scribes
2nd July – Open 10.30am – 2.30pm only.
3rd July – Full day closure.
7th July – Open 10.30am – 1pm only.
13th July – Open 2pm – 4.30pm only.
23rd July – Open from 10:30am – 12:30pm only.
27th July – Open from 11.30am – 4.30pm only.
There are currently no further upcoming closures listed.
Please ensure to check the website regularly for any closure updates.
Please note that the exhibition may need to close at short notice in response to an insufficient number of available stewards. Apologies in advance for any inconvenience caused.
This exhibition has enclosed spaces. For the protection of others we encourage you to wear a face-covering in these areas.
Occasionally for services, special events and steward availability it is necessary to close Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation. Please check the closures page in advance of your visit.