Abingdon is primarily a day school ages from 11-18, it's a big school with very good facilities feels to my mind a bit like Eton, very smart, everyone beautifully turned out, staff; teachers, and non teaching staff, pupils immaculate track suits etc very much a brand I thought. Academic impressive results, parents not particularly smart, but hard working MC parents who want good results combined with sporting opportunities.
Radley very male, very traditional, mainly UK pupils because of ridiculously early registration, parents believe in full boarding, they want a traditional education with traditional values and good results, plenty of sport, etc rugby is very big, they are the ones to beat on the fixture schedule.
Winchester unashamedly intellectual, surprisingly liberal, sport not big in fact largely optional, plenty of other non sporting activities to choose from instead. Not an obvious brand, it's hard to see what it's all about and they don't care, take it or leave it, if you don't like it and can't see what we're about find somewhere else, often slightly eccentric (but usually very very wealthy) parents who have chosen it because they want an intellectual education, also very hands off parenting, parents are told what to do and are expected to do as they're told, the housemasters are very paternalistic see their role is to care about your DS and solve any problems. Boys also slightly or even very eccentric. Again very good results and increasingly recruiting the super bright from abroad and sending more of to Ivies etc. Very collegiate your house is everything. Boys often seem reserved when you first meet them, they are frequently out spoken and sharp with their words and will challenge you views, they often look scruffy when not "up to books", as this is the only time they have to look smart, no proper uniform just smart jacket and trousers/suits definitely no branded matching socks boaters track suits etc. (thank God) very individual.