Winchester is a cathedral city located in Hampshire, England. Situated at the western end of the South Downs National Park on the River Itchen, it lies approximately 60 miles (97 km) south-west of London and 14 miles (23 km) from Southampton. The city serves as the county town of Hampshire and houses the head offices of the Hampshire County Council.
The built-up area of Winchester had a population of 48,478 according to the 2021 census. It sits at the heart of the wider City of Winchester local government district, which includes towns such as Alresford and Bishop's Waltham and recorded a total population of 127,439 in 2021.