A Fun Walk with Children in Winchester
Enjoy a short walk through the historic streets of Winchester, designed especially for children. The theme is “Spot the Animal” — from sculptures to street art, you’ll encounter a variety of creatures, both real and imagined.
Route: From Westgate to the Cathedral Close
Distance: About half a mile (but feel free to do as much or as little as suits your family)
Picnic tip: Great picnic spots include the Cathedral Outer Close and Dean Garnier Garden
You can download the PDF version of this walk.
Pig – The Hampshire Hog
Start point: Just west of Westgate, High Street, SO23 9AP
Across the road, outside the County Council offices, stands a life-sized sculpture of a pig, affectionately known as the Hampshire Hog. It was created by sculptor David Kemp in 1989 to celebrate the County Council’s centenary.
Why a pig?
People from Hampshire are nicknamed “Hampshire Hogs” — possibly due to the wild pigs that once roamed the New Forest.
Pig Fact:
Pigs aren’t dirty — they roll in mud to cool down because they can’t sweat.
Horse – Horse and Rider by Elisabeth Frink
Walk downhill along the High Street. On the right, you’ll see a striking statue of a horse with a naked rider. This is Horse and Rider by Elisabeth Frink. The Winchester cast (installed in 1983) is the third and final one; the first is in Old Bond Street, London.
Did you know?
Though the rider is male, it’s thought to be a self-portrait of the artist.
Horse Fact:
Horses can sleep standing up! They have special tendons that let them lock their legs so they don’t fall over.
Blue Birds – Street Art on Trafalgar Street
Keep walking down the High Street and glance up at the wall at the corner of Trafalgar Street. Look up and around — can you spot the bright blue birds? Some are perched on wires, others clutch grenades. This mysterious stencil work is by the elusive street artist known as Mrs Banksy.
Blue Bird Fact:
Blue tits love eating caterpillars — they’re a favourite snack.
Waving Cats – Anita’s Kitchen
Continue to just before the crossing. In the window of Anita’s Kitchen, spot the colourful waving cats — these are Maneki-neko, traditional Japanese symbols of good luck and fortune.
Did you know?
In Japan, this gesture isn’t a wave — it’s a beckoning motion inviting good luck in!
Cat Fact:
Red Maneki-neko figures are believed to protect children from illness.
Black Swan – Sussex Street Corner
Before you take the crossing at the corner of Sussex Street, look up to see a black swan mounted on the wall. It marks the site of the old Black Swan Hotel, featured in the Sherlock Holmes story The Adventure of the Copper Beeches.
Swan Fact:
For centuries, Europeans believed all swans were white — until black swans were discovered in Australia around 300 years ago!
To the Cathedral – and More Creatures
Now let’s head toward the Cathedral, where more animals await in peaceful surroundings.
Quieter Route Tip:
- Continue downhill, cross Southgate Street at the traffic lights and turn right. Continue for about 80m and turn left into St Clements Street.
- Continue downhill over the crossroads and down to the T junction.
- Turn right and almost immediately left down the narrow passage towards the Town Museum.
- Cross Great Minster Street and, keeping the Town Museum on your left, enter the Cathedral outer close.
- Continue past the front of the Cathedral and turn into the passage on your left through to the inner close.
- Keep left, pass the four columns, turn left through the round arched doorway, and up the steps — you’ve reached Dean Garnier Garden.
The round arched doorway leading to Dean Garnier Garden.
Sleeping Fox – A Quiet Discovery
As you walk through Dean Garnier Garden, follow the path to the right. Look closely beneath a stone bench — curled up and peaceful is a small stone fox (or is it a dog?). Either way, it’s having a quiet rest.
Fox Fact:
Foxes are nocturnal and have amazing night vision. Their eyes are specially adapted for seeing in the dark, which helps them hunt when most of us are asleep.
Shoal of Fish – Spirals in the Shade
Tucked into a bay within the yew hedging, you’ll spot a beautiful spiralling fish sculpture, made from stainless steel and Kirkstone green slate. It shimmers in the light and seems to move like real fish in water.
Did you know?
This sculpture shows a shoal of fish — a group of fish gathered together. If they’re swimming in the same direction in a coordinated way, they’re called a school. So:
All schools are shoals, but not all shoals are schools.
Fish Fun Fact:
Most fish don’t have eyelids (sharks are an exception). They don’t sleep quite like we do, but they do take restful pauses.
That’s the end of your animal adventure!
We hope you and your young explorers enjoyed discovering these hidden creatures around Winchester. Don’t forget to look out for real animals along the way — dogs out for a walk, birds overhead, maybe even a curious squirrel or two.
Winchester Walks 