The best cycling routes around Crawley

As well as good selection of filled jacket potatoes and sandwiches, lunch also includes specials each day. Very dog friendly, they have an area of tables by the bar that is hard floor where dogs are welcome, bowls of water bought to the tables. The beer was good too

The remains of the Roman city walls in Winchester, anciently known as Venta Belgarum, are primarily buried, as the medieval city was built directly upon and adapted the original defensive circuit; however, the single most visible fragment of the original Roman stone wall, built in the third century AD, can be found encased in a small grotto on The Weirs, near the River Itchen and the Bishop on the Bridge pub. While much of the stone was dismantled over time, especially in the 18th century to accommodate traffic, the subsequent Anglo-Saxon and medieval city walls largely followed the original Roman line, meaning the general boundary of the Roman town still influences the layout of Winchester today, with the remaining medieval gates, Kingsgate and Westgate, standing in the tradition of their Roman predecessors.

The striking bronze statue of King Alfred the Great is one of Winchester's most recognizable landmarks, dominating The Broadway at the eastern end of the High Street near the River Itchen. Sculpted by Sir Hamo Thornycroft, the colossal, 15-foot-tall figure was erected in 1901 to commemorate the millennium of the king's death—a pivotal figure who made Winchester his capital and is credited with being "The Founder of the Kingdom and Nation," as inscribed on its granite base. Depicting a heroic, bearded Alfred in a regal stance with a downward-pointing sword hilt forming a cross, the statue celebrates his dual role as a military champion against the Vikings and an early Christian leader, all while standing proudly in the city he helped define.

The Sword: Alfred is shown grasping a large, cross-hilted sword with the point facing downwards. This posture is symbolic, representing not just his prowess as a warrior who defended his kingdom against the Vikings, but also his role as a Christian leader, with the hilt forming the shape of a cross. The Pedestal: The statue rests on a large pedestal of Cornish granite, which is inscribed with just one word: AELFRED. Historical Portrayal: Thornycroft's depiction is a romanticized, heroic one—showing Alfred with a long, flowing beard—even though contemporary coins suggest the King was clean-shaven. The monument represents the Victorian-era idea of Alfred as a perfect warrior, statesman, and philosopher king.

The statue depicts Alfred the Great (847–899 AD), who was the King of the West Saxons and is traditionally regarded as the first King of the Anglo-Saxons and the founder of the Kingdom of England. Winchester was his capital. Sculptor: Sir Hamo Thornycroft, a highly-regarded Royal Academician. Completion: It was completed in 1901, although it was commissioned to mark the millennium of King Alfred's death (which was in 899 AD). Size: The bronze statue is monumental, standing at 15 feet (4.57 m) high and weighing about five tons. The total height with its granite pedestal is around 40 feet. Location: It stands prominently at the eastern end of The Broadway, near the junction with Bridge Street and Eastgate Street, with the High Street extending behind it toward the city centre.

The Roman walls at "The Weirs" in Winchester are a rare and important visible fragment of the city's ancient defenses. Location: The visible fragment of the Roman wall is located in the area known as The Weirs, specifically near the River Itchen and close to the Bishop on the Bridge pub. Appearance: It is typically housed within a small, often gated or railed grotto-like enclosure, standing below the current ground level (demonstrating how much the ground has risen over the centuries). Significance: It is believed to be the only remaining visible section of the original Roman city wall of Venta Belgarum.

Ancient Origins: The earliest surviving structure of the gate is of Anglo-Saxon character, though it was rebuilt in the 12th century and later modified in the 13th and 14th centuries. ​Military Features: The 14th-century modifications included a portcullis in the western façade and two inverted-keyhole gunports (for hand-held cannon), which are considered some of the earliest in the country. Today, the structure houses the Westgate Museum, which is operated by the Hampshire Cultural Trust.

The Westgate in Winchester is one of the city's most significant and iconic historical landmarks. It is a fortified medieval gateway that stands prominently at the upper end of the High Street, close to the Great Hall of Winchester Castle. Key Facts and History ​Surviving Gate: It is one of only two fortified medieval gateways that survive in Winchester (the other being Kingsgate), the rest having been demolished in the 18th century.