Colchester Tourist Attractions

Of the original six gates only the imposing Balkerne Gate, the west gate of the Roman town, still survives in part.

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)

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.

Address

Beth Chatto Gardens
Elmstead Market
Colchester CO7 7DB
England

http://www.bethchatto.co.uk

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)

Cost

Admission Cost	4.50
Child 14 & under	FREE

All values are in local currency

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.

Address

Bourne Mill
Bourne Road
Colchester CO2 8RT
England

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-bournemill

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 )

Cost

Adult	2.50
Child	1.00

All values are in local currency

Tips

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Transit

BritRail: Colchester Town

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)

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.

Address

Bridge Cottage
Flatford
East Bergholt
Colchester CO7 6OL
England

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-flatfordbridgecottage

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)

Tips

Guide dogs only. Evening events are sometimes held in the tea-room.

Parking

Pay

Disabled

Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.

Facilities

Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Wheelchair loan or rental

Transit

BritRail: Manningtree

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.

Address

Hollytrees Museum
High Street
Colchester CO1 1UG
England

http://www.colchestermuseums.org.uk/hollytrees/holly_index.html

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

Tips

Groups should book in advance.

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.

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.

Address

Colchester Natural History Museum
All Saints Church
High Street
Colchester CO1 1DN
England

http://www.colchestermuseums.org.uk/natural/nat_index.html

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)

Tips

Book groups in advance.

Disabled

Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.

Rebel Air Museum

Of particular note at this site is Pou-du-Ciel and memorabilia of the 8th and 9th Squadrons.

Address

Rebel Air Museum
Earls Colne Airfield, Earls Colne
Halstead
England

Hours

April 1 to October 31

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	10:00	10:00
Close						18:00	18:00

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.

Address

Hollytrees Museum
High Street
Colchester CO1 1UG
England

http://www.colchestermuseums.org.uk/hollytrees/holly_index.html

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)

Transit

BritRail: Colchester Town

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).

Address

Hollytrees Museum
High Street
Colchester CO1 1UG
England

http://www.colchestermuseums.org.uk/hollytrees/holly_index.html

Tips

Open any reasonable time.

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.

Address

Thorington Hall
Stoke by Nayland
Colchester CO6 4SS
England

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-thoringtonhall/

Tips

Open only by written appointment with the tenant.

Transit

BritRail: Colchester, then a bus to the property

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.

Address

Tymperleys Clock Museum
Trinity Street
Colchester CO1 1JN
England

http://www.colchestermuseums.org.uk/tymperley/tymp_index.html

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.

Colchester Attractions