Colchester Attractions
Colchester, situated not far from the East Coast about 50mi/80km northeast of London, can claim to be the oldest town in Britain, having been a Celtic capital even before the Romans came.
Balkerne Gate
Of the original six gates only the imposing Balkerne Gate, the west gate of the Roman town, still survives in part.
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Castle Museum
Located in the 11th C Castle, the Castle Museum features displays on a variety of areas, from archeological finds, to the history of the castle.
Abberton Reservoir Wildfowl Centre
The Abberton Reservoir was Essex's first SPA (Special Protection Area) for birds. It features an observation room, displays and nature trails. Birdwatchers will find the best time to visit is in winter.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | ||||||
| Close |
Always closed on:
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Beth Chatto Gardens
The Beth Chatto Gardens are located in the environs of Colchester. They were established by Beth Chatto a renowned garden writer.
Hours
January 5 to January 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
February 1 to February 28
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | Closed |
| Close | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
March 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
November 1 to December 22
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Parking
Free
Facilities
Gift shop
Bourne Mill
Just outside Colchester (1mi/2km south) stands picturesque Bourne Mill. The extravagantly ornamented gabling (1591) is typical of the style of the Dutch immigrants who built and operated the watermill, converted later to a corn mill.
Hours
June 1 to June 29
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 |
July 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 14:00 | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always opened on:
Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May )
Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, August )
Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, August )
Dutch Quarter
The district immediately north of Colchester's Town Hall is known as the "Dutch Quarter", with a number of pretty little houses with pointed gables. At the end of the 16th century Flemish refugees fleeing religious persecution made their homes here. Their cloth, particularly a special kind of flannel called "boi", quickly became renowned.
Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve
Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve overlooks the River Colne. In addition to the outstanding natural attractions, it also features a visitor center, observation room and tower, wildlife displays, and two nature trails.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | ||||||
| Close |
Always closed on:
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Flatford - Bridge Cottage
Bridge Cottage is a National Trust property in the town of Flatford. The 16th C thatched cottage is located upstream from the Flatford Mill. The cottage contains an exhibition of the paintings of John Constable, many of which depict the property.
Bridge Cottage
Flatford
East Bergholt
Colchester CO7 6OL
England
Flatford
East Bergholt
Colchester CO7 6OL
England
Hours
January 3 to January 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 15:30 | 15:30 |
February 2 to February 24
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 15:30 | 15:30 |
March 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
May 1 to September 28
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
October 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
November 1 to December 21
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Parking
Pay
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Wheelchair loan or rental
Restaurant or food service
Wheelchair loan or rental
High Street
A hundred meters or so east of the Balkerne Gate lies the western end of the broad, handsomely built High Street.
Hollytrees Museum
Near Colchester Castle, in a Georgian mansion (1718) called Hollytrees, there is a very fine collection of toys, costumes and old jewelry.
Hollytrees Museum
High Street
Colchester CO1 1UG
England
High Street
Colchester CO1 1UG
England
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Disabled
No facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Holy Trinity Social History Museum
Holy Trinity Church in Trinity Street has a Saxon tower incorporating Roman bricks. Inside there are exhibits showing town and country life in the Colchester area over the past two hundred years.
Buried within the Holy Trinity Church is William Gilbert, best known for his work in nautical science.
Buried within the Holy Trinity Church is William Gilbert, best known for his work in nautical science.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Natural History Museum
Many hands-on displays cover the natural history of the Essex area at the Colchester Natural History Museum. Habitats have been recreated to feature local wildlife and creatures from the North Sea.
Colchester Natural History Museum
All Saints Church
High Street
Colchester CO1 1DN
England
All Saints Church
High Street
Colchester CO1 1DN
England
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Roman Walls
The 20ft/6m high Roman walls, begun under Vespasian, are some 9ft/2.75m thick and enclose an area of about 1000 x 500yd/915 x 457m.
Sheregate Steps
On the way back to the High Street from Stanwell Street, the Scheregate Steps mark the line of the old Roman walls.
Siege House
Siege House, an ancient half timbered house (now a restaurant) in East Hill, still bears traces of artillery fire from the 1648 siege.
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
St Botolph's Priory
Queen Street leads to St Botolph's St and the ruins of St Botolph's Priory. St Botolph's Priory was the first Augustinian house in England (founded post 1093). The only remains are some still impressive arcading from the church, also built from Roman material.
Hollytrees Museum
High Street
Colchester CO1 1UG
England
High Street
Colchester CO1 1UG
England
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
St John's Abbey Gate
South on Colchester's Queen Street, in Stanwell Street, stands St John's Abbey Gate, the remains of a Benedictine monastery founded by Eudo in 1096 (and restored in the 15th century).
Hollytrees Museum
High Street
Colchester CO1 1UG
England
High Street
Colchester CO1 1UG
England
St Martin's Church
St Martin's Church in Colchester's West Stockwell Street dates mainly from the 14th century; the tower, now destroyed, was also constructed partly of Roman bricks.
Stoke by Nayland - Thorington Hall
Thorington Hall is a National Trust property located in Stoke by Nayland, which lies in the Stour River Valley on the Essex/ Suffolk border. The oak-framed, plastered and gabled house dates back to 1600 and is currently occupied by a tenant.
Access to the property by road and public transit is recommended from Colchester, in the neighbouring county of Essex.
The house dates back to the 16th century but was added onto in a later period. Still, its original oak frame and gabling remain in tact.
Access to the property by road and public transit is recommended from Colchester, in the neighbouring county of Essex.
The house dates back to the 16th century but was added onto in a later period. Still, its original oak frame and gabling remain in tact.
Thorington Hall
Stoke by Nayland
Colchester CO6 4SS
England
Stoke by Nayland
Colchester CO6 4SS
England
Town Hall
Colchester's Town Hall (by Sir John Belcher, 1892-1902) can be seen in the High Street. On the tower is a bronze figure of St Helen, who according to local tradition was the daughter of "Old King Cole" of Colchester. The king himself is said to be buried in a mound in the Dikes area on the outskirts of the town.
Tymperleys Clock Museum
The Tymperleys Clock Museum is housed in a restored 15th century half-timbered house featuring the Mason collection of 18th and 19th century Colchester-made clocks. The grounds have a recreated Tudor Herb garden.
Tymperleys Clock Museum
Trinity Street
Colchester CO1 1JN
England
Trinity Street
Colchester CO1 1JN
England
Hours
April 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Closed |
| Close | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | ||
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | ||
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Disabled
Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
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