Winchester, the county town of Hampshire, England, is located at the western end of the South Downs National Park, along the course of the River Itchen.
Winchester developed from the Roman town of Venta Belgarum, which in turn developed from an Iron Age oppidum.
Its major landmark is Winchester Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, with the distinction of having the longest nave and overall length of all Gothic cathedrals in Europe.
King Arthur stands proud but currently overlooks a temporary bus station in Winchester. Not quite the setting I expected or befitting a legendary British leader.
The situation does, however, bring a smile and it is nearby Winchester Cathedral, one of the largest in Europe, which dominates this history-packed Hampshire city.
It is full of also home to Winchester College, founded in 1382, which has the longest unbroken history of any English school.
However, there is more to Winchester than that history. It's a bustling place with a busy High Street and is full of unique shops, cosy tearooms and atmospheric pubs plus major High Street brands.
It is easy to get around the centre, but watch the one-way traffic system.
The surrounding area has been inhabited since prehistoric times and it has literary connections.
Jane Austin died here and is buried in the cathedral and you can walk in the footsteps of poet John Keats.
He wrote in 1819: "An exceeding pleasant town, enriched with a beautiful cathedral and surrounded by fresh-looking country."
This description is still apt today with medieval buildings mixing with parks on the banks of the River Itchen.
Getting there
Just one hour from London, the city is located off Junctions 9, 10 and 11 on the M3. It is 61 miles from south-west London and around 14 miles from Southampton.
Regular train services from Waterloo (one hour) are available. National Express operate regular coach services to London, Heathrow and Oxford. It is a 40-minute drive from Portsmouth ferry port and 20 minutes from Southampton.
By air it is 15 minutes by road or rail from Southampton International Airport and London Heathrow is 50 miles away and London Gatwick 72 miles distant.
Guided tours
There are a number of themed tours including Women in Winchester, Hidden Winchester, Hidden Places and Civil War Tours.
www.winchestertouristguides.com
City museum
It is situated in the heart of the city and tells the story of England's ancient capital, the seat of Alfred the Great.
www.hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-museum
Winchester Cathedral: people have come to seek inspiration in the cathedral for almost 1,000 years and it welcomes more than 750,000 visitors a year.
It also hosts concerts and talks and the area around the cathedral also houses a Christmas Market and ice rink.
Great Hall
The legend of King Arthur has endured for over 1,000 years and The Great Hall is home to 'King Arthur's Round Table' a symbol of medieval mythology
www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk
Winchester Science Centre
This has 100 hands-on exhibits from testing your body's agility to solving maths puzzles. Is the UK's largest standalone planetatium.
www.winchestersciencecentre.org
Winchester City Mill
It dates back over 1,000 years but suffered flood damage in 2014. Surveys have found many of the beams in a bad state.
The National Trust need to raise £125,000 for essential repairs or it may have to close so pay a visit as we did and help with the project. There are interesting exhibits and clear explanations of the milling process.
www.Nationaltrust.org.uk/winchestercitymill
Great Hall
The legend of King Arthur has endured and The Great Hall is home to King Arthur's Round Table, a symbol of medieval mythology.
Facebook: :GreatHallWinchester
Jane Austen
She died in a house on College Street after a short illness. The trail traces her journey from birth to death.
You can also visit her last home where she revised earlier novels Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey.
www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk
Keats
On this walk you pass through the landscape with inspired the ode To Autumn.
Winchester College
Guided tours of the college which educates around 700 boys aged 13 to 18, with 70 scholars still housed in medieval buildings, are available.
Medieval Jewish Trail
Winchester has an important Jewish past dating to the mid-1100s making it one of the earliest, largest and wealthiest Jewish settlements in England. This story is little known.
Royal Blood
Winchester has been the focal point for royal activity and patronage since the Early Middle Ages. Learn more on this trail.
Military
Trace the city's military past from the Iron Age to the nuclear age at the military museums
www.WinchesterMilitaryMuseums.co.uk
Viaduct: the Hockley Viaduct has recently been restored and is now part of the National Cycle Route Network Route 23.
Visitor trail by wheelchair: the city's pedestrianised streets and dropped kerbs make it wheelchair-friendly and this trail has been devised by Winchester Shopmobility and the city council.
Marwell Zoo
It covers 140 acres and is home to hundreds of endangered and charismatic animals from giant anteaters to leaf cutter ants, white rhino and amur tigers to name a few.
The Winchester Royal Hotel
It is located in St Peter Street, in the heart of the city. We booked online and the price seemed fine.
The website claimed the bedrooms were designed "with luxury, comfort and a great night's sleep in mind". The luxury claim is pushing it but ours was comfortable and we had a good night's sleep. It was also quiet.
However, watch the extras. The breakfast, which was one of them, was disappointing. The cost was £12 if you bought on arrival or £17 if you strolled up.
I asked for soya milk and was told: "It is on order but we don't have any." That cancelled out the cereal part of breakfast and they were so busy I did not ask for a poached egg alternative.
Car parking was £10 overnight. Fine if you arrive mid-afternoon but a tad steep if you arrive after the restrictions are removed.
What's more, they don't appear to police the car park so I had to make a 20-point turn to get my car out because an inconsiderate motorist had parked outside the designated areas.
Eating out
The problem was selecting one.
We picked Bistro La Place in a quiet square near the cathedral run by French proprietor Gael. He has, according to the website, earned a reputation locally.
It was intimate and the exterior (bulging hanging baskets) plus the subtle internal lighting was an attraction.
There was also a nice buzz. And the food? Good but not exceptional and the service was slippery slick.
The boeuf bourguignon with mashed potatoes was appreciated and my casserole de poissons (fish and seafood stew with new potatoes) was a poor man's bouillabaisse.
Tasty but lacking something which I could not put my finger on.