With the summer months underway, many Winchester residents will be searching for outdoor activities in the beaming sunshine.

For many people, that will involve scouring through TripAdvisor or speaking to friends and family for their takes on Winchester’s most popular attractions.

If you’re looking to get the kids outdoors, or you fancy a day trip in the sun, then we have compiled a list of Winchester’s best summer attractions.

1.    Abbey Gardens

Location: 65 The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9BE
TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5/5

Located in the beating heart of the city centre, Abbey Gardens is a vibrant and well-maintained park that is the perfect location for a picnic in the sun, a dog walk or a place for the kids to play in the sun in the play area.

Abbey Gardens (Image: Contributed)

Shane from Northamptonshire took to TripAdvisor to describe the gardens as “one of Winchester’s must-do’s”. He went on to say that Abbey Gardens is “a beautiful area to enjoy, with stunning flower beds and pretty gardens too, seating is situated all around Abbey Gardens and we saw many picnicking.”

2. Marwell Zoo

Location: Thompson's Lane, Colden Common, Winchester SO21 1JH
TripAdvisor Rating: 4/5

The ideal day trip for families with young children — located just eight miles south of Winchester — is Marwell Zoo, the family friendly outdoor attraction that boasts hundreds of exotic and endangered animals across a beautiful 140-acre park.

Marwell Zoo (Image: Contributed)

Open daily from 10am, 363 days a year, the zoo is described by Becky their experience on TripAdvisor as a “lovely day at the zoo”, while other users described their experiences as a “fantastic family day out”.

3. Winchester City Mill

Location: Bridge St, Winchester SO23 0EJ
TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5/5

For those keen on the history of Winchester city, the ancient watermill located on Bridge Street is historically one of the oldest mills across the UK, and is more than 1,000 years old.

Winchester City Mill (Image: Contributed)

Open 10am-5pm from Wednesdays to Sundays, users on TripAdvisor have described their outings as “an excellent visit” that is “well worth the visit”.

Regarded as the starting point for the South Downs Way — a serene 160km route perfect for an outdoor adventure in the sun — the Winchester City Mill is a historical landmark with a cafe for refreshments after the tour.

4. St Catherine’s Hill

Location: Bull Drove, Winchester SO23 9PA
TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5/5

Located just one and a half miles outside of Winchester, St Catherine’s Hill shows off uniquely stunning views of Winchester City as well as the Itchen Valley floodplains, which is the perfect afternoon hike with family and friends in the sun on the doorstep of the city centre.

St Catherine’s Hill (Image: Contributed)

Previous visitors Lucy and Janet were in awe of the breathtaking views surrounding Winchester, describing the hike as a “fabulous place to walk a dog” with “spectacular views from the top” on Tripadvisor.

5. Winchester Farmers’ Market

Location: High Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9BL
TripAdvisor Rating: 4/5

Taking place on the second and final Sunday of each month, the Winchester Farmers’ Market is just one of the great many activities in the heart of Winchester along the high street. The market — hosting 95 stalls up and down the high street — is officially the largest Farmers’ Market in the UK, known for its great atmosphere.

Winchester Farmers Market (Image: Contributed)

TripAdvisor users described the market stalls as “wonderful markets showcasing foods” stating that it was “wonderful to see the local vendors with their food that is always fantastic quality.”

If you are looking for more activities when visiting Winchester, make sure to visit the Winchester Visitor Information Centre.