Tours and Group Visits

Groups of up to fifty people are very welcome at the Hospital of St Cross. They must be pre-booked. A guided tour (max twenty-five in one group) and refreshments can also be booked. The Hospital has received visits from groups all over the world. More local to home there have been many from The Arts Society, from The National Trust, U3A, Garden Societies and others.

REFRESHMENTS

The Tea Room in the Hundred Men’s Hall is open for morning coffee and afternoon tea in the spring and summer months, served with delicious cakes https://hospitalofstcross.co.uk/visiting-st-cross/opening-times/. Groups should always pre-book.

Please note: Due to volunteer staffing levels and availability of provisions, parties of 20 people or more (max capacity 50) refreshments MUST be pre-booked and paid for in advance. Groups of 20+ will not be served if not pre-booked.

GUIDED TOURS (pre-booked groups only)

A tour round the Hospital with a Brother, wearing his traditional gown and trencher hat. The tour is roughly an hour in length and covers the history and architecture of this superb medieval building complex.

Visitors may explore the Norman church, the 14th century Brethren’s Hall with its Minstrels’ Gallery, the Tudor Ambulatory and the Georgian Kitchen and Bread Room, hearing about the historical facts as well as the legends and the half-truths. They may also enjoy the beauty of the Master’s Garden.

Visitors may, on request, partake of the unique and ancient tradition of the “Wayfarer’s Dole” . This is a small cup of ale and a morsel of bread.

Unusual, stylish and attractive small gifts may be found in the Porter’s Lodge Shop https://hospitalofstcross.co.uk/visiting-st-cross/porters-lodge-gift-shop/

To book a tour with a Brother please ring Catherine Secker, Porter, on 01962 851375 or e-mail porter@hospitalofstcross.co.uk

A charge of £20 is made for each guided tour in addition to the admission fee payable on the day (Standard Adult £7.50pp, Adult Gift Aid/Donation £8.00pp). Brothers provide tours twice a day at 11.00am and 2.00pm apart from Wednesday mornings and Sundays when no tours are given.

There is limited wheelchair access.

Other Places to Visit in Winchester, to make a combined day:

It is enjoyable to walk along the water meadows to:

Daily Visitors

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Weddings

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Private Events

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