Weekend away in Winchester (and surrounds) - Christmas things to visit?

[WhenDoISleep]

We are spending a weekend in the Winchester area in a couple of weeks. Plan is to visit the Christmas Market on the Saturday morning and we have plans for Sunday.

Are there any other seasonal things in the area that are worth a visit (for adults and DC)? Also, are there any nice restaurants that you can recommend, am thinking cosy family pub type places, rather than he usual chains? We are heading towards Romsey on Saturday night, as we are visiting Paultons Park on Sunday.

My go-to pub is the Black Boy on Wharf Hill. It's a nice walk round the back of the cathedral and Winchester College to the pub, then you can walk along the river/weirs back into town. Wykeham Arms is also lovely and I recall their sausage and mash is delicious.

Stockbridge and Alresford are pretty little villages to visit. Toucan do Stockbridge on the way to Romsey if you don't mind the scenic route.

I'm not sure what the deal is with under-18s in those pubs, so check first.

Thanks, I will looks at those pubs.

Stockbridge is lovely for a wander and you can spot the trout in the streams along the high street. Drive to Longstock for a gorgeous garden nursery with a great cafe.

Agree that Alresford is lovely to visit and it’s looking very festive right now. The Plough in Itchen Abbas is a friendly pub with good food, they’re child friendly.

The Watercress line (steam railway) or the Marwell Christmas event is really lovely.

Winchester science centre and planetarium is great and will be doing Christmas activities, but you would probably need a whole day for that I think.