The Bard's Beard

The Bard's Beard is Winchester's answer to the question nobody asked - a proper eccentric landmark that doubles as part of Boomtown Fair's rotating art installations. It's not Shakespeare's actual facial hair, obviously, but a striking sculpture that's become something of a talking point among locals and visitors passing through Hampshire.

What you're actually looking at depends on when you visit, as this isn't a static museum piece. It shifts and evolves with the festival calendar, so the experience changes season to season. That's either refreshingly unpredictable or maddening, depending on your tolerance for art that won't sit still.

Historians and theatre types will find the literary nod amusing enough, though don't expect detailed heritage plaques or a gift shop. It's more of a spot for a quick photo than a half-day activity - fifteen minutes maximum, unless you're the sort who enjoys standing about philosophizing at sculptures.

Winchester itself is walkable and full of proper Saxon charm, so this works well as a pit stop between the cathedral and the High Street rather than a destination in itself. If you're basecamp at Winchester Morn Hill Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Holden Farm just up the road, it's worth a detour on an afternoon stroll. Families with teenagers might appreciate the oddness of it; younger kids will ask why you've dragged them to see a beard and move on.