TIC Frequently Asked Questions – Christmas 2015
Events
Ice Rink
· When is it open?
The Ice Rink is open until Monday 2 January 2017. Closed Christmas Day.
· What are the opening hours?
Ice skating sessions last 1 hour and session start times are as follows:
Mon – Fri: 10.00am, 11.00am, 12.00noon, 1.00pm, 2.15pm, 3.15pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm, 6.45pm, 7.45pm
Sat – Sun: 9.45am, 10.45am, 12.00noon, 1.00pm, 2.15pm, 3.15pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm, 6.45pm, 7.45pm
Tiny tots (age 2+) sessions: Mon – Fri (until 09 Dec) at 10.00am
· What are the prices?
Ticket Type / Price /Adult / £10.95
Child 4 – 7 / £6.50
Child 8 – 18 / £8.95
Family Ticket / £35.00
Adult Group 15+ / 10% discount applied to booking
School Group 25+ / £6 per child
Student / £8.95
Senior / £8.95
Parent and Toddler / Parents £8.95, one toddler free per adult*
· How can I buy tickets?
Tickets can be purchased online at www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk
In person at the Cathedral box office located opposite the Ice Rink
By phone on 01962 857 276
· Is it open even if it is raining?
Winchester Ice rink is open come rain or shine – there is now a roof, so your skate will be guaranteed rain free. However, please dress according to the weather, as the waiting area/viewing areas are open to the elements.
· Are skates provided/can I bring my own skates?
Skate hire is FREE. If you wish to bring your own skates please ask a member of staff to check their condition and suitability for our rink. We can accommodate all sizes up to and including adult size 15. For our youngest skaters we go down to EU size 28. Fun Skate Penguins are available to under 10’s (under 120cm height) on a first come, first served basis.
· Where can I get more information?
Please visit the Cathedral website located at
www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk
Pantomime
· Is there a pantomime on in Winchester?
The Theatre Royal on Jewry Street is showing Cinderella which runs from 6 December until Sunday 2 January 2017 inclusive. For tickets contact the box office direct on 01962 840 440 or visit www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk
King Alfred Bus Day?
· There will be a scaled down service of King Alfred Buses from around The Broadway area.
3 vehicles will be running between approximately 10am and 4pm.
For more information see www.fokab.org.uk
The main King Alfred Buses running day is now at the early May bank holiday.
Accommodation
· What accommodation is available over Christmas and New Year?
Many B&B’s do close over the Christmas period, however, those that are open are on the attached list.
· Do the hotels have any special packages?
The Winchester Royal, The Winchester Hotel, Wessex Hotel and Hotel Du Vin all offer Christmas and New Year packages.
We would advise contacting them direct for further information.
The Winchester Hotel – 01962 709 978
The Winchester Royal Hotel – 01962 840 840
The Wessex Hotel – 01962 861 611
Hotel du Vin – 01962 841 411
The Holiday Inn Winchester (at Morn Hill) does non-package accommodation over Christmas and New Year – contact (01962) 670 700.
Attractions
· What attractions are open over the Christmas period?
Many of the attractions are open every day apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Please see the list below for full details.
City Mill
Closed Christmas Day to 31st December inclusive. Normal opening times from Sunday 1st January 2017 (10am to 4pm, with last entry 30 minutes before closing).
City Museum
Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day.
Open from 10am-4pm between 27-31 December 2016.
** Museum will be closed from 1 January 2017 until spring for refurbishment.**
Great Hall
Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day, otherwise open 10am to 5pm.
Winchester College
No Tours from December 24th- January 1st 2017 inclusive.
College re-opens on Monday 2 January 2017.
See www.winchestercollege.org/guided-tours for more info.
Discovery Centre
Closed at 4pm on the 24th, closed all day 25th to 28th inclusive. Closing at 5pm until 31st, closed all day on New Years Day. Open as normal from Saturday 2nd January.
Cathedral
Open for services – see website for more details www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk
Hospital of St Cross
Closed Christmas Day and Sundays. Otherwise 10.30am-3.30pm. Please telephone to check if tea rooms will be open (01962 851375).
TIC Related Enquiries
Winchester TIC Opening Hours
When is the TIC open over Christmas?
The TIC is closed from 5pm on Friday 23rd December. The TIC re-opens on Tuesday 3rd January (10am-5pm).
If you get asked why the TIC is closed between Xmas and New Year the statement below may help in providing an answer:
The Christmas period is not traditionally a busy one for Winchester Tourist Information Centre, so we have concentrated our staff resources on the busier times of year. The official website, www.visitwinchester.co.uk, provides a comprehensive information service 24 hours a day. We will also be providing essential tourist guides at the Customer Service Centre and Winchester Guildhall which will be open as usual.
Requests for 2017 Winchester Visitor Guide
If you have requests for the 2017 visitor guide please can you take the customers name and full address and email requests through to we will ensure a guide is sent out to them in January.
Useful websites:
www.visitwinchester.co.uk Winchester Tourism Website
www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk Winchester Cathedral
www.nationalrail.co.uk Train times
www.nationalexpress.com National Express information
www.traveline.info Travel information
www.yell.com Yellow pages online directory
www.royalmail.co.uk Royal mail for post codes & addresses
Bus times over Christmas & New Year
Bluestar:
Christmas Eve Normal Saturday service
Christmas Day No Service
Boxing Day Normal Sunday service (every 30 mins) between 0910 and 2300 from Winchester Bus Station.
27th Dec Normal Sunday service
28th Dec Normal Saturday service most routes
29th Dec Normal Saturday service most routes
30th Dec Normal Saturday service most routes
New Years Eve Normal Saturday service
New Years Day Hourly service between Winchester & Southampton between 10:10am and 5:10pm
2nd Jan Normal service resumes
For further information contact Bluestar on 01202 678100 (general enquiries) or www.bluestarbus.co.uk
Stagecoach:
Christmas Eve Saturday service with last buses by 9:15pm on routes 3, 5 and Spring
Christmas Day No service
Boxing Day Sunday service
Tues 27th Dec Sunday service
Wed 28th Dec Saturday service
Thu 29th Dec Saturday service, except route 46 which will run a normal Thursday service.
Fri 30th Dec Saturday service (Friday service on routes 6A, 46 and 63)
New Years Eve Saturday service with last buses at 9:15pm on routes 3, 5 and Spring
New Years Day No service
Mon 2nd Jan Sunday service
Tue 3rd Jan Normal service resumes
For further information contact Stagecoach on 0845 121 0190 www.stagecoachbus.com
South West Train times over Christmas & New Year
Christmas Eve Revised service with an early close (Waterloo closes at 2000 hrs, no trains after 2300)
Christmas Day No service
Boxing Day No service
27th Dec Revised Saturday service subject to engineering work
28th Dec Revised Saturday servicesubject to engineering work
29th Dec Revised Saturday servicesubject to engineering work
30th Dec Saturday servicesubject to engineering work
New Years Eve Saturday servicesubject to engineering work
New Years Day Sunday service subject to engineering work (some extra trains in early hours for revellers travelling back from London)
2nd Jan Altered Saturday servicesubject to engineering work
3rd Jan Normal service resumes.
For further information contact National Rail on 08457 48 49 50 www.nationalrail.co.uk
National Express Coaches
Coaches run throughout the Christmas and New Year period. See www.nationalexpress.com for times and routes. Pre-booking advised.
Parking
Free Parking in all Winchester City Council Car Parks ALL DAY (and no charge on Sundays):
Monday 26th December
Tuesday 27th December
Monday2nd January 2017
Winchester Park and Ride service will be operating the following timetable, please note on days with no Park and Ride bus service, parking in Winchester car parks is free of charge.
Park and Ride Service
Saturday 24th December Normal Saturday Service
Christmas Day No Service
Boxing Day No Service
Tuesday 27th DecemberNo Service
Wednesday 28th December Normal SaturdayService
Thursday 29th December Normal Saturday Service
Friday 30th December Normal Saturday Service
Saturday 31st December Normal Saturday Service
New Year’s Day No Service
Monday 2nd January 2017 No Service
Snow information
The following websites may be of help if trying to find out if services are running/etc in the event of snow or severe weather:
www.southwesttrains.co.uk – Rail enquiries and details of service disruptions between London and Weymouth and Portsmouth
www.nationalexpress.com – Coach information for services to Heathrow/Bournemouth etc
www.stagecoachbus.com – Local bus information, particularly helpful as they will update what parts of the town the buses can’t reach
www.bluestarbus.com – Local bus information
www.southamptonairport.com – Flight information from Southampton
www.baa.com – Flight information for Heathrow and Stansted airports
www.gatwickairport.com – Flight information for Gatwick airport
www.bbc.co.uk/weather.co.uk – up to date weather information!
Information on Winchester is available 24 hours a day on our website located at www.visitwinchester.co.uk