We left our comfortable accommodation in Oxford on a drizzly but mild day.
This was the view out of my bedroom window, quite pleasant really.
As we had not had a chance to explore the Cathedral in daylight, we headed there first.
Christ Church College, Oxford.
These stairs lead to the Dining Room. Two scenes of Harry Potter were filmed here. The first was when Professor McGonagall welcomes the new first-year students to Hogwarts (Philosopher's Stone) and the second was when Harry and Ron are caught returning to Hogwarts late (Chamber of Secrets).
There had been a small fire in the dining room (caused by an electrical fault in a fridge). Luckily, it happened during a dinner and everyone was evacuated safely and only a small amount of damage was done. We were not allowed inside so these photos were taken from the doorway. Also, the Dining Room was the inspiration for the Great Hall at Hogwarts.
St.Thomas
St.Catherine (holding the wheel on which she was martyred).
The depictions of St.Catherine above are among the oldest windows (14th century) in the cathedral.
The young Samuel and Eli
David and Goliath
St.John (with a very small eagle!)
I don't think I've ever seen a window for St.Timothy before - there certainly should be more of them!
Three carvings of mythical beasts
The rose window at the East end
Detail of the above
Vaulting above the Sanctuary
An angel ready to help out with the music
The first Bishop of Oxford, Robert King (died 1558). This window is from 1630 and is done by painting the window with enamel colours rather than staining the glass.
The Lectern
Well-behaved lions
Thomas Beckett about to lose his life (made in 1320).
St.Augustine
St.Cuthbert
Unusually, the quire is near the west end of the Cathedral
The quire and the organ viewed from the sanctuary.
The canons' stalls and the sanctuary
Then it was a drive to Winchester. After settling in to our accommodation, we caught the "Park and Ride" bus into the city.
The Great Hall, built in the 13th century, is the only part of Winchester Castle still surviving.
The Great Hall was used by various Law Courts as late as 1974. The judges' seat is still there.
Queen Victoria (one of only a very few statues where she is shown seated)
King Arthur's Round Table (well, not really - it was made in the 13th century and repainted during the time of Henry VIII - but still legendary and very impressive)
Evensong at the cathedral was sung by the men of the choir. All the music was by Moore and the singing was of a high standard. There were only 9 people in the congregation.
The floodlit Cathedral and its surrounds looked beautiful!