Mummy Diaries | Walking in a Winter Wonderland, Winchester

Sunday 2 December 2018

We had another free weekend so decided to visit somewhere new – and after looking into Christmas markets, Winchester appeared a number of times. Situated in the grounds of the famous cathedral, it looked as though it’d be worth the nearly-4-hour-roundtrip. In a desperate bid to save some money, I was in charge of organising three packed lunches and soon we set off.

There are numerous car parks and park & rides in and around the city centre – and at the third attempt, after being stuck on a one-way road, we were able to park for free before getting the bus. It was under 10 minutes away and we actually walked back to the car on our return, which didn’t take too long and was a lovely scenic river route.

So we went straight to the market – and there was a queue to get in! As well as the usual stalls, there was an ice rink and cafe. We didn’t skate, so I’m not sure how much it cost (hopefully this link will shed some light). There was a bit of repetition within the stalls, in that there were so many selling crocheted or knitted hats. However, there were some beautiful handicrafts including wreaths and Christmas tree decorations; and other goods such as pottery, glassware and engraved wood made for lovely gifts. We stopped at Wood Like To Play to buy Alfie a puzzle for Christmas. The puzzles were all hand-cut and painted and I think I could have bought several at once! The range included alphabet and number puzzles in a variety of themes, including animals and vehicles – and we purchased the ‘Animals of the Zoo’ puzzle play set for £30.

We had a super quick look around the food and drinks stalls, while giving Alfie his lunch... and I wish I’d stopped for a glass of mulled wine. There were also carts selling roasted chestnuts, caramelised cashews and even a fire pit for toasting marshmallows! The food and drink stalls were certainly less busy than the crafts, but it was so busy and overrun with buggies and wheelchairs, we soon left.

Next stop was the high street, with its more traditional market (likely to run every weekend) and the usual shops. We had a quick look for Christmas presents, but decided a drink pit stop was needed. There are some really lovely pubs in Winchester, but being a Sunday afternoon, trying to get a seat (never mind a table!) seemed impossible. As we made our way back to the bus stop, we called into Alfie’s (!) as they were showing the North London derby. We managed to perch at a table outside, but under cover to shelter from the rain... and I managed to enjoy three-quarters of my glass of wine before Alfie had had enough.

I don’t think I’d return to Winchester for its Christmas market, but if there’s anything to do or see at another point of the year, please let me know – I’d love to hear your recommendations.

Love, Lucy xx

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