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Winchester Christmas Market Knitting or Crochet Retreat
6 days from £1,439pp
Your Tour Includes
- 3 half-day workshops and your kit
- 5 nights bed and breakfast accommodation
- 1 lunch and 2 dinners
- Excursions and visits as described in the itinerary
- Services of an experienced Tour Manager
Experts
Holiday Overview
Celebrate the magic of the festive season on this delightful retreat. Enjoy a perfect blend of creativity, Christmas cheer, fascinating heritage and inspiring excursions, all in the company of Frederica Patmore. Designed for crafters who love to learn, create and explore, this holiday combines hands-on workshops with opportunities to discover one of England's most beautiful cathedral cities during its most enchanting time of year.
Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Winchester's historic centre, the much-loved Christmas market is one of the highlights of the festive season. In your free time, browse the beautifully decorated wooden chalets filled with handcrafted gifts, seasonal treats and unique products from independent traders, while twinkling lights and the aroma of warming food and drink create a truly magical atmosphere.
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Itinerary
Please choose your preferred 6 day itinerary
Workshop Information: The project is available in either knitting or crochet. You will make your choice of a festive colourwork cowl or hat covering multiple techniques. A perfect gift for a loved one this festive season or equally a cheeky treat to keep you cosy this winter.
Techniques Covered: working in the round, textured stitches, stranded colourwork, beading, reading charts and managing tension, blocking and finishing and weaving in ends neatly.
Check in to the Winchester Royal Hotel from 3pm. Meet Frederica Patmore, your Tour Manager and fellow guests for dinner in the hotel this evening.
Included Meals
- Dinner
Discover Winchester’s rich history on a fascinating walking tour through the city’s historic streets, riverside and medieval landmarks. Along the way, explore stories of royalty, religion, education and the city’s remarkable past, taking in historic buildings, and iconic sites before finishing near the heart of Winchester’s historic centre.
This afternoon we’ll enjoy our first workshop with Frederica in a meeting room at the hotel. Refreshments provided.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
Highlights
- Workshop
- Winchester Guided Walking Tour
This morning, continue working on your project with Frederica in a meeting room at the hotel. Refreshments provided.
This afternoon is free for you to discover Winchester at your own pace! Browse for festive treasures at the Christmas Market, wander through the city’s charming historic streets, or simply soak up the magical festive atmosphere.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
Highlights
- Workshop
- Winchester
This morning, continue working on your project with Frederica in a meeting room at the hotel. Refreshments provided.
Free afternoon to discover Winchester at your own pace! browse for festive treasures at the Christmas Market, wander through the city’s charming historic streets, or simply soak up the magical festive atmosphere.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
Highlights
- Winchester
- Workshop
Dating from 1815, Whitchurch Silk Mill began life as a water-powered industrial mill before being converted for silk production in 1819. Over the following two centuries, it survived changing fashions, economic challenges and shifts in ownership, becoming an important part of Whitchurch’s industrial heritage. Today, the Grade II listed mill continues to preserve the traditional craft of silk weaving and remains a remarkable link to Hampshire’s working past. During our guided visit we’ll learn about its history, visit the refurbished waterwheel and see the Victorian machinery used to produce the silk today. There will also be a chance to purchase items made from the mill’s exclusive silks in the shop. A light lunch is included today.
Discover the world of gin at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery, set within a beautifully restored historic mill beside the River Test. Enjoy an immersive journey through the art and heritage of gin-making, discover the distinctive botanicals that give Bombay Sapphire its character, and see how traditional craftsmanship meets modern distilling techniques.
Join Frederica Patmore your Tour Manager and fellow guests for dinner in the hotel this evening.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Highlights
- Bombay Sapphire Distillery
- Whitchurch Silk Mill
The holiday concludes after breakfast.
Included Meals
- Breakfast
Tour Notes: You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness to get the most out of this holiday. The Winchester Royal Hotel is an historic building. Access from the street is via 5 steps. Your bedroom and our workshop room will be located on the ground floor of the hotel, however, expect a few stairs within the interior of the hotel as you move around the different areas. No lift or chair lift is available. The tour of Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery involves some walking, stairs and high platforms. Winchester is hilly city and the city walking tour may include some steps.
Accommodation
You will stay for five nights at the 4-star Winchester Royal Hotel.
Winchester Royal Hotel
The charming and historic 4-star Winchester Royal Hotel is located in the heart of Winchester, offering a distinctive blend of traditional character and modern comfort. Set within a beautifully preserved 16th-century property, the hotel provides an elegant and relaxing base for exploring one of England’s most historic cities. Many of the 81 stylish bedrooms combine classic architectural details with contemporary furnishings and amenities. The hotel’s beautiful walled garden provides a peaceful retreat in the centre of the city, while the Garden Restaurant offers a welcoming setting for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
Hotel Facilities
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Vegetarian Meals
- Disabled Rooms Available
- Room Service Available
- 24 Hour Front Desk
- Train / Tram Nearby
- Laundry Service
- Vegan Menu
- Chargeable Car Parking
Room Facilities
- TV
- Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
- Hairdryer
- Shower or Bath
- Telephone
- Free Wifi
- Iron or Trouser Press
Single Supplement from £485.00
