03 May 2017
Tags: Winchester, Half-term, May half term holidays, Family, Mini Break
Enjoy May Half-Term in the Perfect English City, Winchester
This May half-term, families seeking a mini break should head to Winchester, the perfect English City. Rich in history, culture, surrounded by beautiful countryside, and with so many events happening in and around Winchester, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Winchester's convenient location means that families don't have to travel far for Easter fun. Those taking the train from London Waterloo can enjoy a journey of less than one hour to the city centre. Alternatively, Winchester's easy M3 and A34 accessibility makes it the perfect place for those looking to drive into the city.
Here are just some of Visit Winchester's best events for May half-term 2017:
Summer Half Term at Marwell Zoo
Between 27th May to 4th June, head off on a wild adventure around Marwell Zoo collecting stamps of exotic and endangered animals. Along the trail don't miss Marwell's new arrivals, including Norbert the pygmy hippo and the playful and curious Amur tiger cub triplets. Visitors who complete their mission by collect all the stamps can be in with a chance of winning an annual membership pass for two adults and two children.
Tickets from - Adults: £13.62, Child (3-16): £10.50, Family (2 A, 2 C): £44.50
High Voltage! Half Term Shows at Winchester Science Centre
From 26th May to 5th June, visit Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium for shockingly good, super-charged live science shows and electrifying demonstrations exploring the theme of electricity. A hair-raising highlight will be live demonstrations using the van de graaff generator. Visitors should be prepared to see, experience and participate in this family-fun event.
Tickets – Shows are included free of charge with general admission (£12 adult, £8.40 child – save 10% if booked online at least one day in advance).
On 20th May, Mayfest comes to Winchester; a celebration of music, dance, and song, in venues across the historic city. There will be a variety of dances on offer for visitors to watch and enjoy, from traditional English Morris dancing, to sword dancing and clog dancing. And if the audience feels like joining in, there's a mass dance at the end. There will also be performances from Winchester Musicals and Operatic Society, several choirs and orchestras. Best of all it's free.
Watercress Line Watercress Festival
On 21st May, there will be a free food festival in Alresford, featuring locally produced food, arts and crafts, music and street entertainment including a jazz band and Morris dancing. The railway will be running a park and ride service from Ropley to Alresford on the day. Steam trains will be running along the full length of the railway, so visitors can combine their visit to the festival with a ride on the 10 mile track.
Tickets for the Watercress line from – Adults: £16, Child (2-16): £8, Child (under 2): Free, Family (2A, 2C): £40
On 29th and 30th May, Horrible Histories Live comes to Theatre Royal, featuring characters from Britain's barmy past. Can Boudicca be defeated in battle? Will King John be a martyr for the Magna Carta? Can Parliament survive gunpowder Guy? This is the history of Britain with the nasty bits left in...
Tickets - £17 per person. Times – Mon 29th (1.30pm, 4pm), Tues 30th (11am, 1.30pm)
Jane's Winchester: Malady and Medicine
Between 13th May and 24th July, visit the Winchester Discovery Centre for an exhibition revealing the final chapter of Jane Austen's life, who achieved immortality through some of the most beloved works in world literature. On 24th May 1817, Jane arrived in Winchester to receive treatment for her illness; the exhibit offers a vivid snapshot of the city in that fateful year; the sights and sounds she would have experienced, the hospitals and doctors that treated her, the friends and family who comforted her. The discovery centre will also be putting on another exhibition called The Mysterious Jane Austen. Explore Jane's life and work and her relationship to Hampshire. Plus first editions of her work, personal letters and six portraits of Jane. Both exhibitions are free.
Half term kicks off a month of brilliant family friendly events including:
Alresford music festival returns for its 8th year on 10th June, and is perhaps one of the most chilled, family friendly festivals of the summer. There are five stages of live music so there's something for the entire family to see and dance to, from new bands right through to established names. There's a festival village plus a huge dedicated family arena with loads of free activities to try.
Advanced tickets from – Adults: £20, Child (13-17): £10, Child (5-12): £7.50, Child under 5: Free
Watercress Line War on the Line
Between 10th and 11th June, visitors to the Watercress line can experience what life on the steam railway was like during WWII. There will be service men and women dashing about, loved ones saying goodbye to each other and evacuees boarding trains. Find out about life on the Home Front, join in a '40's Jive and get a taste of railway life during the war.
Tickets from – Adults: £18, Child (2-16): £10, Child under 2: Free, Family (2A & 2C): £46
Winchester Criterium Cycle Race
Visitors to Winchester who fancy something a little bit more active can take part in the Winchester Criterium on 11th June. There will be races, events, and activities for all levels of cyclists. There will also be opportunities to try out different bicycles and watch a spectacular stunt show.
On 17th June, a new festival comes to Winchester city centre; Winchestival. An exciting new family-friendly festival, featuring live music, stand-up comedy, kids entertainment, local ales and cocktails plus some of the best street food in the U.K.
Tickets from – Adults: £18, Child (5-17): £10, Child under 5: Free
Between 30th June and 2nd July, Hat Fair returns to Winchester, the UK's longest running festival of outdoor arts. There's something for everyone to enjoy, from hidden gypsy fairgrounds to theatrical hatters, from pop-up surprises and swing-dancing streets to magical moments of calm amidst the hustle and bustle, and it's all free.
For more information and day-to-day events, visit http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/
Issued by Flagship Consulting
For further media information please contact:
Sophy Norris 01392 248934 sophy.norris@flagshipconsulting.co.uk
Luke Gold 020 7680 7172 luke.gold@flagshipconsulting.co.uk
