On foot
Winchester is at the western end of the South Downs Way (http://www.nationaltrails...) and hikers starting out on or completing the 100-mile trail are a common sight in the city.
By taxi
There are couple of Winchester based taxi companies providing long distance transfers from major airports, towns, bus and rail stations to Winchester. Winchester Taxi Co (http://www.winchestertaxi.com/), Winch Taxis Winchester (http://www.winchtaxis.com/), Airport Taxis Winchester (http://www.airporttaxiwin...) and Winchester Taxi Link (http://www.winchestertaxi...) provide online cab/taxi booking facility.
Taxi Fare
Approximately £75 from Heathrow, £90 from Gatwick, 120 from Luton, £20 from Southampton, £55 from Bournemouth airports.
By bus
National Express (http://www.nationalexpres...) operate services to Winchester from cities throughout the UK including London. Advanced ticketing is required. National Express coaches drop off in the Broadway. Megabus (http://uk.megabus.com), which requires online pre-booking, offers cheap daily tickets to Winchester from London on the routes to Southampton and Bournemouth. The drop off location is St. Catherine's Park and Ride car park, 15 minutes' walk from the city centre.
For those with a special interest in cathedral cities, Wilts & Dorset (http://www.wdbus.co.uk/) operate the branded Cathedral Connection between Salisbury and Winchester, taking in some very attractive countryside on route. Despite its branding, this is a rural bus service number 68 with no need for advance ticketing; it operates six times a day except Sundays and takes about an hour and a half for the journey. Timetable details can be found on the website, or by telephoning 01722-336855 from anywhere in the UK.Sometimes the buses take a long time to arrive
By plane
The most convenient airports for Winchester are in order of distance:
Southampton Airport
(http://www.baa.co.uk/main...) is a relatively small airport and serves destinations in the UK and Europe. It is about 8 miles drive from Winchester via the M3 northbound. There is a direct rail service from Southampton Airport Parkway station, which is immediately adjacent to the airport terminal building, to Winchester; four trains an hour take about 10 minutes for the journey.London Heathrow Airport
(http://www.baa.co.uk/main...) is about 60 miles drive from Winchester via the M25 anti-clockwise and the M3 southbound. It is one of largest airports in the world, with copious flights to most major international destinations although they are generally more expensive than other London airports. There is a RailAir (http://www.swtrains.co.uk...) coach service to Woking station, where mainline trains to Winchester can be boarded; two services an hour give a journey time of just under two hours for the whole journey. There are also direct National Express buses from Heathrow Airport Bus Station to Winchester, which take about an hour. The second option is generally cheaper and faster. See the 'By bus' section below.Bournemouth Airport
London Gatwick Airport
(http://www.baa.co.uk/main...) is about 80 miles drive from Winchester via the M23 northbound, M25 clockwise and M3 southbound motorways. By train, catch a London bound train which stops at Clapham Junction note that the heavily advertised Gatwick Express do not stop there from the airport rail station, and change at Clapham Junction for a service to Winchester; two or three services an hour give a journey time of just under two hours for the whole journey.
By train
Winchester has a station on the main line from London to Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. It is also served by long-distance services from Reading, Oxford, Birmingham and places further north.
From London, trains to Winchester depart from London Waterloo; there are several trains an hour which take about one hour for the journey. A "cheap" day-return adult ticket between Winchester and London Waterloo is typically around £22.Train times from any location can be found on the National Rail Planner (http://www.nationalrail.c...) or by calling 08457 48 49 50 from anywhere in the UK.
Bear in mind that engineering works can occur, particularly at weekends. Double-check your journey with South West Trains before you travel. If engineering works are occurring, consider using a coach/bus for travels outside Winchester instead - it may be faster than the replacement rail bus service and is invariably cheaper.
Crossing to the other platform at Winchester station is not obvious there are no signs or fast it's couple of minutes walk, leave plenty of time if you don't already know the way. From either side you must leave the station to enter a subway from the car park.
By car
The town is conveniently situated for the M3 motorway US English: freeway from London to Southampton, with the A34 providing access from the Midlands and the North. Winchester and its city centre are generally regarded as car-unfriendly; an excellent Park and Ride site National Park and Ride Directory (http://www.parkandride.ne...) is located just off junction 10 of the M3 from M3 north, exit at junction 9 and follow the signs and buses provide a link to the city centre every 10-15 mins taking under 10 mins for the journey. Operates Mo-Fr 7.30AM-6.30PM; Sa 8AM-6PM; no service Sundays; £2.70 per car including all passengers.