Westgate Museum, Winchester: Hours, Address, Westgate Museum Reviews: 4/5
Westgate Museum
Westgate Museum
4
About
Located at the top of the High Street in the historic city of Winchester, Westgate Museum is housed inside a surviving fortified medieval city gateway. The museum tells the story of this remarkable building, and the history of Tudor and Stuart Winchester. It also offers great rooftop city views. A debtors’ prison for 150 years, this beautifully refurbished listed monument is the last of the main medieval gates into the city. Today, Westgate Museum’s displays include a famous collection of pre-imperial weights and measures and a fine painted ceiling made for Winchester College in anticipation of a visit by Mary Tudor and Philip of Spain on the occasion of their marriage in Winchester in 1554. There are plenty of hands-on activities to enjoy during your visit. Try on a replica coat of armour and Tudor costumes and pose for a photograph! Make a brass rubbing to take away and have a go at the Westgate spotter trail. Throughout the year, we run a programme of family friendly activities.
Suggested duration
< 1 hour
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4.0
126 reviews
Excellent
52
Very good
54
Average
18
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Graham P
13 contributions
Jul 2021
Visit took place during Covid restrictions prior to 19/7/21. this was a pre-booked visit along with another in the immediate locality. This is obviously an important historic structure but access via steep steps makes it unsuitable for visitors with mobility issues. The venue consists of one room with a small display and information on the history of the building. The roof can be accessed with a view down the High Street. Being such a small venue I am sure that some will baulk at an admission charge. I am inclined to agree as other local attractions do offer better value for money.
Written 5 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Amy F
High Wycombe, UK275 contributions
Dec 2020
Westgate Museum is really interesting. Staff are so friendly and helpful. The views from the roof are brilliant, too!
Written 29 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
curlykate1976
Forest Row, UK159 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Small but interesting museum with great view from tower. Staff helpful, we got the joint ticket with the city museum, so £8 each, don’t mind paying as we are supporting the museums and city in this strange times. Good visit and good COVID precautions in place.
Written 12 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Marco
1 contribution
Sep 2020
£3 for one room? Seriously??? Take note ... Everything in Winchester is now charged to get into. Ignore all reviews saying it’s free.
I had been to the Great Hall and City Museum a few years ago, when they were free, but I missed West Gate Museum because it was closed by the time I got to it.
I decided to pay the new £3 charge for this, but this really takes the biscuit. There’s really just one room, with a few bits of medieval artifacts. Anyone interested in the Middle Ages would have seen it before. And you see much more inside any English Heritage castle. If you’re going to start charging, the person stumping up the cash expects value for money. This isn’t even worth £1.
So now if you’re a tourist going to Winchester, this is what you’re up for -
Cathedral - £10
City Museum & West Gate Museum combined ticket - £6 (both used to be free)
City Museum by itself - £5
West Gate Museum by itself - £3
Great Hall - £4 (used to be free)
Add another £8 to £10 or so for parking.
Is the local council thinking they’ll cash in on tourism from “The Last Kingdom”?
Well, when footfall disappears due to your greed, I hope you come to your senses. The public aren’t made of money, and when museum attendance isn’t very high these days, even when they’re free, you’re going to have a lot of empty museums.
The City Museum isn’t worth £5, and the Great Hall definitely isn’t worth £4 (it’s just one vast room, which people would spend 10 minutes inside)!!!
I’m sick to death of being a ripped off traveller. We’re just walking wallets to be fleeced.
I had been to the Great Hall and City Museum a few years ago, when they were free, but I missed West Gate Museum because it was closed by the time I got to it.
I decided to pay the new £3 charge for this, but this really takes the biscuit. There’s really just one room, with a few bits of medieval artifacts. Anyone interested in the Middle Ages would have seen it before. And you see much more inside any English Heritage castle. If you’re going to start charging, the person stumping up the cash expects value for money. This isn’t even worth £1.
So now if you’re a tourist going to Winchester, this is what you’re up for -
Cathedral - £10
City Museum & West Gate Museum combined ticket - £6 (both used to be free)
City Museum by itself - £5
West Gate Museum by itself - £3
Great Hall - £4 (used to be free)
Add another £8 to £10 or so for parking.
Is the local council thinking they’ll cash in on tourism from “The Last Kingdom”?
Well, when footfall disappears due to your greed, I hope you come to your senses. The public aren’t made of money, and when museum attendance isn’t very high these days, even when they’re free, you’re going to have a lot of empty museums.
The City Museum isn’t worth £5, and the Great Hall definitely isn’t worth £4 (it’s just one vast room, which people would spend 10 minutes inside)!!!
I’m sick to death of being a ripped off traveller. We’re just walking wallets to be fleeced.
Written 29 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
“We’re sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy your visit to our museum. The Westgate is a unique historic monument and a surviving fortified medieval city gateway. It the only public building in Winchester offering roof top views of the city.
As an independent charity, Hampshire Cultural Trust relies on income generated from our tickets sales to protect our collections and allow as many people as possible to discover the rich culture and heritage that the county and Winchester have to offer. Our tickets allow unlimited visits to our museums for a year, providing excellent value for both local residents and visitors.”
Written 1 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
DIMITRY MIRON
Aldershot, UK133 contributions
Sep 2020
A small, but great medieval museum, very impressive roof terrace overlooking on the High Street, next to the City Hall
Written 18 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Brunixgt
London, UK174 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
It is a small but interesting museum, free admission and loads of history. You should visit on your way to the great hall. They've got a few activities that kids can do (some have a fee) also a clothes to try on.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Z D
Santiago, Chile138 contributions
Aug 2019
West Gate is a medieval city gate close to The Great Hall a, free museum where you can view the city from the top of the tower. Try on some armor, dress up as a squire. See what life in prison was like in the middle ages.
Written 8 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Sylwester S
Reading, UK183 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
A small museum in which we can see interesting exhibits and learn about the history of the region. After the observation tower, we expected to see the whole panorama of Winchester but the surrounding buildings are higher and almost nothing can be seen ....,
Written 26 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Deanobambino
midlands220 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
Was recommend to visit this place and was pleasantly surprised to find it was visit. Gives a great bit of history about how the gate came about. Worth visiting not only because it’s free but gives a great view at the top about a little bit of history as well.
Written 25 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Westgate Museum
- Westgate Museum is open:
- Sun - Sun 11:00 - 17:00
- Sat - Sat 10:00 - 17:00
- We recommend booking Westgate Museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 4 Westgate Museum tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Westgate Museum:
- (0.04 km) The Westgate
- (0.19 km) Hotel du Vin & Bistro
- (0.32 km) The Old Vine
- (0.19 km) Clifton Terrace
- (0.32 km) Winchester Royal Hotel
- Restaurants near Westgate Museum:
- (0.04 km) The Westgate
- (0.13 km) Tanoshii Fusion
- (0.09 km) Cote Brasserie - Winchester
- (0.19 km) Greens Bar & Kitchen
- (0.16 km) O'Neill's Winchester