Bishop's Waltham

Bishop's Waltham is a compact market town in the District of Winchester, in Hampshire, England, sitting just a short drive from the city of Winchester and surrounded by rolling chalk downland. Its long high street is filled with independent shops, cafés and traditional pubs, and the local economy is a mix of small businesses, light industry and tourism drawing visitors from the nearby countryside and South Downs National Park.

The town's most striking feature is the atmospheric ruined remains of Bishop's Waltham Palace, the medieval episcopal residence that highlights its long ties to the powerful bishops of Winchester and to national history. Bishop's Waltham still feels like a close-knit community with regular local markets, heritage events and easy access to walking and cycling routes, making it a pleasant blend of history, village-scale culture and country living.