Bishop's Waltham

About

Bishop’s Waltham is a historic market town with a foot in the South Downs National Park. It was named after the brother of King Stephen, Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester. He founded Bishop’s Waltham Palace here in the 12th century. The palace was home to many of Winchester’s Bishops, and at least 13 Kings and Queens of England stayed here. It is located at the midpoint of a long-established route between Winchester and Portsmouth.

The impressive ruins of the Palace are near the heart of the town and free to visit.  Bishop’s Waltham Museum can also be found here in a 17th-century farmhouse.

Archaeological finds show that people have been living in Bishop’s Waltham since at least 5,000 BC. The town’s Saxon name (‘wald’ meaning forest and ‘ham’ meaning settlement) is important. It is one of only 12 Saxon settlements with the name and suggests Bishop’s Waltham was settled by Anglo-Saxon migrants as early as 450 to 550 AD, not long after the last Roman legions left.

The town boasts many beautiful, listed buildings and a well-preserved medieval high street that is now home to a vibrant selection of independent shops, cafés, characterful pubs and restaurants, from coffee shop Hoxton Bakehouse and Blind Pig Hidden Taproom, to traditional Stainers Bakery and The Crown Inn with its sunny beer garden.

Beyond the high street, there's Bishop's Waltham Pond and Bishop's Waltham Moors to discover, as well as the Bishop's Waltham Railway Line walk, which runs along the path of a disused railway that used to connect the town to Botley in the south. Bishop's Waltham is surrounded by miles of walking and cycling trails for longer adventures too. 

The friendliness of Bishop’s Waltham, combined with its strong sense of community, has resulted in a calendar bursting with events. It holds a summer carnival as well as vintage markets, music and arts festivals, and an annual Christmas Fayre.

You can pick up a guide to all Winchester’s market towns from the Winchester Visitor Information Centre or download it here. There is also a Bishop’s Waltham Map to help you find your way around.