Winchester Discovery Centre Review

Nice library and good rooms for conferences/courses. Helpful and friendly staff.

Fun for kids, fun ways to learn and discover things.

Lovely cafe to have a slice of cake and a coffee,price is brilliant. Great staff also both in the library and cafe. Good range of books. Sometimes use the computer. Only fault is the computer keyboard need cleaning.

Great facilities, friendly staff and a community feeling.

Loved the Orla Kiely exhibit. The staff are lovely and always helpful.

Lift not working so no access to upper level of the building

A very pleasant space to browse for books, use wi-fi, have a coffee or take part in activities. There is a good selection of fiction and non-fiction, and interesting exhibitions upstairs in the gallery organised by Hampshire Cultural Trust, with local displays in City Space on the ground floor.

Went here just after it opened during pandemic. Felt light, airy and very safe. Staff helpful, plenty of choice here

Everything I wanted. It has helped me with school projects and find ding new books to immerse myself in. Everyone was kind and helpful. Very good experience

Peaceful if in need of a place to study and does reasonably priced beverages

Excellent selection of fiction and non-fiction, interesting exhibitions in the Gallery as well as downstairs, and a pleasant space to be in nicely converted from the original Corn Exchange.

The centre always brings me a new surprise. Excellent exhibition . Would recommend. I go to the library very regularly indeed and it's a fantastic community asset. There is a good selection of fiction and non-fiction. Amazingly comprehensive library, with fascinating talks and events too.

The top to study and relax in Winchester!
I prepared several lessons for the university here, a really well organized, clean, silent place.
I'll be back this summer!

Pleasant open atmosphere with good facilities.
There is a children's library though you wouldn't know it as most parents allow kids to run around shouting and rolling about on the floor
as is the parenting way these days.
In fact it's so "child friendly" so if you need to actually study and focus bring headphones.
There is free wifi, and use of internet for set periods of time,
(when the work shy junkies aren't using them that is.)
The cafe is nice with little gifts and cards for sale.
Though I wish people with PCs would go into the study area to work and not take up tables meant for those wanting to eat or have coffee.

Recently I had the opportunity to run a Valentine Night Salsa event with my partner Silvia and I am happy to say that the facilities were absolutely top notch. It was lovely to have a great wooden floor to dance on, a great sound system, and a licenced bar.

The staff were extremely helpful and the feedback we got from all participants was very positive.

Silvia and I are looking forward to running regular Beginners and Improvers Salsa Classes starting from 18th May 2009, with a Taster Session.

We held a photography event here recently and couldn't fault the venue, staff or service - would definitely use again.

Impossible to do any study as there are kids running around screaming.

Agree with others who marked this place 1*. Place is like a Mother's meeting house. Screaming brats, sing-a-long creche and out of control, hyper active, uncontrolled kids...whatever happened to libraries, where silence was observed and expected?

Friendly staff, many activities to entertain and learn,decent selection of books.

I always like coming here every once in a while. Every time I visit, this place always has a new unique exhibition for all to behold. The space inside may be limited and cramped, but the exhibits and free entry make it all worthwhile. It's also an ideal place for artists and sculptors to display their work (although most have to be part of an art club to do so).

Amazingly comprehensive library, with fascinating talks and events too.

The 'Railway Room' is worth a visit on its own: a HUGE selection of railway-related books, magazines and DVDs. An enthusiast's paradise!

The good reviews for this place seems to surround the quality of coffee and cakes. Whilst the building is splendid and must have cost the taxpayers a fortune; this is at the cost of reducing the number of books. The old library in Winchester was much better

Excellent library, well laid out in pleasing architecture with small art exhibitions.

Very disappointed to travel to Winchester especially for the Jane Austen exhibition and to find it closed for a Bank Holiday. Surely holidays are designed to give us time for such visits. I wonder how many others shared my disappointment with Winchester as a result of this.

Always tidy and peaceful, great range of things going on in their program. Cheap and cheerful coffee bar.

My personal opinion is that the WDC is a fantastic place to go. The venue itself is amazing, the staff are super helpful.

Reviews have focused on screaming kids, but honestly I think the people who moan about such things are miserable! I go to the library very regularly indeed and it's a fantastic community asset. There are children in the children's section, and activities for people with learning disabilities - and so there should be. Libraries are not merely about reading books in stoic silence, but rather about serving a wide range of community needs. And if taxpayer's money has gone into it, I think this only enhances the sense of community and mutual ownership.

The only thing I would say is that it would be nice to have more working space, because there is a bit of a rush on upstairs seating in the mornings. Other than that it's all good.

Go see Turner and the Sun before it finishes. Excellent exhibition!

Terrific Library with an inspiring show of
historical exhibits. Wonderful kids space.
Tasty refreshments. Easy access. Use it
or lose it.

The best thing in Winchester! Staff very helpful. Super exhibitions - everything you could want all under one roof!

Often come here when waiting for bus to come. Free Wi-Fi is fast and selection of books is very broad.