ENGLAND'S historic capital will have a full range of tours this summer and a special focus will be on women's history.

Winchester will again have a full programme of daily tours by the city's tour guides this summer. This year being the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's death will be marked by a series of special tours on the theme of 'Women of Winchester'. This tour will look at the lives of women from Saxon and medieval queens to notable Victorian women. The tours will pay tribute to the role of Winchester's women both high born and low in shaping its history.

Launching Winchester’s 2017 Guided Tours from Abbey House, the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Jane Rutter said, "We are so fortunate that the story of Winchester’s history can be told so well by our wonderful city Tourist Guides. Sponsored by Winchester BID, their tours contribute greatly in encouraging visitors and residents alike to spend more time in the city and to appreciate why it is such a special place, for its heritage, culture, shops and entertainment.”

This year’s special tours also embrace a “Hidden Winchester” theme from Railways, with the ever popular Chesil Tunnel tours, to religious persecution of Catholics and Jews, waterways and often overlooked public art, as well as the historic buildings of the St John’s Charity where the tours will be followed by tea and refreshments. There will be two Civil War tours telling to story of the Battle of Cheriton and “Hidden Treasures” will finish at the recently opened Winchester College Treasury.

Then later in the year there will be Halloween walks and Christmas City Highlight tours from mid-November. Each year, the guides provide tours of the Mayor's official residence, Abbey House, the ticket price including a donation to the Mayor’s Charities.

Tickets can be purchased for all tours from the Tourist Information Centre in The Broadway or by telephoning 01962 840500. For English Tourism Week, the guides are offering two free tours 'Winchester for Locals' on Saturday March 25 and April 1 at 4pm for which places should be reserved from the Tourist Information Centre. Full details of all “Discover Winchester 2017” Guided Tours can be found in their leaflet or at the website: www.winchestertouristguides.com