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