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Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm

Visit Colchester

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Visit Colchester

Official Tourism Service for the Colchester City Council area.
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Contact us for the best advice on where to go, things to do, where to watch, listen, join in, eat, drink, stay and enjoy in and around Colchester

The centre offers hands on advice and information resource.
- Access to wheelchair users and people with disabilities as well as pushchairs.
- A large retail area for local souvenirs, gifts and treats.
- A range of gifts, souvenirs and treats made by l

ocal companies, artists and craftspeople under the 'Colchester Collection' name - unique to the information centre.
- New electronic information services.
- Ideas on things to do and places to visit locally.
- Tickets for local events.
- Bookings for guided tours.
- Help with your travel plans.

16/11/2024

The next installment of Antiques Roadshow in Colchester is coming this Sunday! Tune in in to BBC One at 8pm to catch Fiona Bruce at Firstsite Colchester!

15/11/2024

What's your favourite historical fact? Is it that we have the largest Norman keep in Europe 🏰? Or perhaps that the keep in question is built on the site of a Roman Temple 🏛? Maybe you like the way that the striking medieval St Botolphs Priory is built with Roman brick 🔨 or that Colchester is the home of Twinkle Twinkle little star and its authors? 🌟

There is no doubt that Colchester has an abundance of interesting historical information at every turn! You can learn all about this on our weekly historical walking tour which runs every Saturday at 11am. Details below 👇

📆 Saturday 16th November
🕰️ Start time 11am
📍Meet at Colchester Visitor Information (Hollytrees Museum)
🏷️ £8 per adult, children under 16 FREE!

Book at Colchester Visitor Information Centre or online (link below)

https://www.visitcolchester.com/event/guided-walking-tour%3a-from-camulodunum-to-colchester/123138101/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGjAb5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfzbn5M0A_oZf_RhPzxnSAWnlhuFNtmvDlQb0_tPaCjFykjbB1950fkDVw_aem_OyPSHbKZMVEeFrJ6-FVBdQ
https://www.visitcolchester.com/event/guided-walking-tour%3a-from-camulodunum-to-colchester/123138101/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGjAb5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfzbn5M0A_oZf_RhPzxnSAWnlhuFNtmvDlQb0_tPaCjFykjbB1950fkDVw_aem_OyPSHbKZMVEeFrJ6-FVBdQ

14/11/2024

The Wivenhoe Art Trail is fast approaching, running this weekend! This bi-annual event has become a favourite in the Colchester calendar 📅 giving the opportunity to peruse local artist studios 🎨 and maybe even pick up a one-of-a-kind, locally produced gift or two for loved ones (or yourself! We won't judge 😉)

Combine your mooch around Wivenhoe's with lunch at one of the local eateries or cosy pubs - there's plenty to choose from! From the middle eastern delights of the The Olive Branch, the traditional pub The Greyhound Pub 🍽 to the food and drinks with the river views at Rose&Crown Wivenhoe 🍻🌊

Start or finish your trip with an Autumnal walk or cycle ride along the River Colne on the Wivenhoe Trail 🍂and you have yourself the perfect day out with step count, food and culture all covered 👌

Don't forget to pick up your handy Wivenhoe Art Trail leaflet from our Visitor Information Centre based at Hollytrees Museum! Complete with map and a list of artists taking part, it's a handy addition to your weekend.

Image credits: Roger Tamblyn for Visit Colchester, the_wivenhoe_art_trail , Jane Watson Art collage of Wivenhoe Bookshop

14/11/2024

We were treated to a spectacular display of lanterns, light displays 🌟 and even a giant turtle 🐢 at the Christmas Light Switch On on Colchester High Street last night! was filled with Chistmas cheer to kick off the festive season this year 🎅

Of course, the fun travelled all over the city with a fantastic market in Culver Square and an epic light switch (with snow!!) at Lion Walk Shopping Centre with Colchester Olympian Lewis Richardson - Team GB Boxer switching on Lion Walks Christmas lights!🥊

In Colchester Culver Square Colchester Zoo

13/11/2024

🗣📣Christmas cards are here!
Pop by the Visitor Information Shop (in our HQ, Hollytrees!) to pick up some festive cards ready for the Winter season. Spot your favourite Colchester landmarks with a beautiful dusting of snow ☺️❄
Wisdom Art Prints

12/11/2024

You don't need to hop on a plane to enjoy the Christmas Markets - we've got our own here in Colchester!✈❌

Say 'auf wiedersehen' to Germany and 'Hello!' to Colchester, as our own Christmas Market is coming to the High Street on Sunday 8th December.

Colchester Christmas Market will feature a pedestrianised High Street, live music and entertainment, mulled wine 🍷, street food🥨, gifts 🎁, Santa and a funfair 🎠

This market is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Colchester's festive market offerings! We have a whole host of local Christmas markets for you to peruse and we've compiled them in a handy blog below...

https://www.visitcolchester.com/blog/post/christmas-markets-for-the-festive-season/

Visit Essex In Colchester Colchester Market

09/11/2024

Wowee! We've had purchases from our to travel all over the world this week! From Mexico 🇲🇽, USA 🇺🇸, New Zealand 🇳🇿 and Canada 🇨🇦!
The last international mail postage date before Christmas is 5th December 📅 Now's the time to get any packages ready to post 📩 to your loved ones across the world 🌏
Do pop in and see us! We have a whole host of slim post-able presents🎁 We have our Colchester Collection Calendar with picture perfect paintings of Colchester throughout the year ✨, a selection of Wisdom Art Prints from all corners of our beautiful borough, Colchester Castle tea towels 🏰😀 and themed prints and cards from Dutch Quarter Industries 🌟

08/11/2024

What a building! Hip hip hooray, Colchester's first public lending library is 130 years old this year 🥳

Take time while passing by to enjoy the incredible detailing on the neo Jacobean frontage. The impressive wooden carvings and the huge oriel window reflect the civic pride and importance of this building at the time 🤩!

Discover this magnificent building and other architectural gems on our Camulodunum to Colchester walking tour tomorrow, Saturday!

📆 Saturday 9th November
🕰️ Start time 11am
📍Meet at Colchester Visitor Information (Hollytrees Museum)
🏷️ £8 per adult, children under 16 FREE!

See the link below for details:

https://www.visitcolchester.com/event/guided-walking-tour%3a-from-camulodunum-to-colchester/123138101/

Meanwhile on the 15th of November The Old Library plays host to an Essex Book Festival & Red Lion Books event celebrating a new biography of Ronald Blythe. Author of and renowned chronicler of rural England, Blythe worked as a librarian in this building for 10 years during which time he founded the Colchester Literary Society 📖

06/11/2024

Is it too early to talk about Christmas...?

Pack up the cobwebs and shake off those spooky vibes, as it's time to start thinking about Christmas in Colchester! Even though we've still got a few weeks, Colchester is getting ready for the most wonderful time of the year 🎁❄️

Key Dates for Your Diary:

🎄 Christmas Light Switch On - 13th November, City Centre
🎄 The New Adventures of Peter Pan at Mercury Theatre Colchester - 23rd November through to January
🎄 Late Night Shopping - starting Wednesday 4th December, City Centre
🎄 Christmas at Colchester Zoo - various events starting 23rd November, Colchester Zoo
🎄 Enlightened at Castle Park - 6th - 24th December, Castle Park

And this is just the beginning - oh, yes it is! - of all the festive happenings in the city this Christmas season. You can learn more about these events and more on our 'Christmas in Colchester' page: https://www.visitcolchester.com/whats-on/christmas-in-colchester/ 🔔⛄

These events are bound to be popular, so start planning in advance to avoid disappointment!🔴

Lion Walk Shopping Centre In Colchester Colchester Zoo Colchester Events Enlightened Trails

Visit Essex Colchester Events

05/11/2024

Circle 13th November in the calendar 📅 because The Festive Light Parade and Christmas Light Switch On are due to make a fantastic return this year and we cannot wait!🌟
These are events that blows away the chill of Winter with bedazzling lights, Christmas cheer and glowing lanterns parading through the city centre and a festive lights💛
As well as the parade along the Colchester High Street, Lion Walk Shopping Centre will be a-buzz with festivities and it's Christmas Light Switch On at 7:30pm! Expect live music, the touring cast of 'Elf - The Musical', some of the infamous Mercury Theatre Colchester's Panto cast, Snow White from Headgate Theatre, jolly Saint Nick 🎅 himself as well a special appearance from Colchester Olympic medalist Lewis Richardson - Team GB Boxer 🏅🥊
For further information have a look on our website below! 👇👇👇

Colchester Events In Colchester

https://www.visitcolchester.com/event/big-festive-switch-on-2024/223417101/

04/11/2024

For over a century the people of Colchester have gathered at Cowdray Crescent with serving soldiers from our garrison to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in war 🕊

On Sunday 10th November troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade will parade through the High Street before a Remembrance Service and wreath laying ceremony at Colchester War Memorial at 10:45. A 105mm Light Gun from 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery will mark the start and end of the two-minute silence at 11 am.
After the service, a parade led by 7 Para RHA’s guns will proceed along High Street, where the Mayor will take the salute at the Town Hall.

Important: High Street will be closed to traffic from 8 am to 1 pm with diversions in place.

On Armistice Day, Monday the 11th of November there will be a two-minute silence at 11am on the steps of Colchester Town Hall.

For more information on these events see the Colchester City Council feed and website.

Many thanks to the Colchester Museums Collections Team for this historic image of Armistice Day in Colchester. Object number COLEM:2002.128.116

British Army

03/11/2024

Surely there’s got to be some consolation for the nights drawing in and the change in weather 🤔 There is! The Great British roast 🍽 Roast season is well and truly upon us with National Roast Dinner Day just around the corner on 4th November☺️Crispy roast potatoes, fluffy Yorkshire puds, dreamy gravy and of course the all important dessert🥧…

We could go on BUT rather than wax lyrical about our love of roast dinners, we wanted to signpost you to our handy blog (linked below 👇) written to help you navigate your way around some of the fine Sunday lunches offerings in Colchester and it’s surrounds!

https://www.visitcolchester.com/blog/post/the-best-sunday-lunch-in-colchester/

📸 credits: The Greyhound, Wivenhoe (left) The Swan, Chappel (top right) The Three Horseshoes, Fordham (bottom left) and Church Street Tavern, Colchester (bottom right)

01/11/2024

🌠🌟❄️GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED - THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED DIRECTLY FROM OUR PAGE❄️🌟🌠
With just a few weeks until Castle Park is lit up for the spectacular Enlightened light trail courtesy of Colchester Events and meanwhile we have a competition to dazzle🤩! To be in with a chance of winning a family ticket (2 x adults and 2 x children) comment below with your favourite part of Christmas! Is it Christmas films? Roast turkey? Christmas games? Panto? Like our post and type your answer into the comments section below to be in with a chance of winning!

‼️Competition closes Friday 8th November!

***We will NEVER ask you for any sort of payment, or reply to your comments with a link or request personal information via a link. Do NOT click on any links in any replies to your comment, they won't be from us and could be fraudulent***

📸 credits: Visit Colchester and Enlightened Colchester

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween - and where better to celebrate than in Colchester!🎃👻

Whether you're enjoying the spooktacular, family-friendly daytime activities during Shriek Week at the award-winning Colchester Zoo, taking a Haunted History Family Tour at Colchester Castle, being terrified at Beware the Scare at the Town Hall or wandering around some of the city's local shops, we hope you have a wonderful day🧡

If you haven't got your Halloween fix yet, there are still some spine-tingling events over the next few days that you may enjoy. Be sure to check out our events calendar for more information on these spooky happenings: https://www.visitcolchester.com/whats-on/ 👻

📸Photo Credits: Colchester City Council, Colchester Zoo

Colchester Museums

30/10/2024

Our weekly walking tour continues this Saturday with our experienced tour guide taking the group through 2000 years of history! 🏛 Soak up the beautiful Autumn scenery in Colchester whilst also learning of its epic past!

This week the tour will finish at Colchester Farmers Market outside Mercury Theatre Colchester. The market is perfect for perusing locally produced goods and for getting a head start on some all important early Christmas shopping 🛍! You can also enjoy a great weekend of performing arts🎭 with the Colchester Fringe in full swing with performances at Mercury Theatre and many other venues across Colchester until 3rd November!

To book on our historical walking tour...

💻Visit our website or follow the link in the comments section 👇
🙋‍♀️turn up and pay on the day
☎️give us a call on 01206 282920

📆 Saturday 2nd November
🕰️ Start time 11am
📍Meet at Colchester Visitor Information
🏷️ £8 per adult, children under 16 FREE!

Suffolk Market Events

29/10/2024

It's National Cat Day, and there's never been a more purrfect opportunity to celebrate your feline friends in Colchester!🐈🎉

Here are THREE fun ways to celebrate National Cat Day this half term:

📍 Visit Meow Cat Cafe to meet some lovely cats. This spot gets especially busy over school holidays, so book in advance to avoid disappointment 🐾☕
📍 Peek through the fence at King Coel's Kittens Statue - while The Wetzler Garden is currently inaccessible, you can still peek through the fence to see Tim Holding's bronze water fountain, which was commissioned in 2012 by the King Coel's Kittens charity 💦🐈
📍 See the Resident House Cats at Hollytrees Museum: we have a few cats dotted throughout our headquarters but don't worry, they won't bother you while you explore this historic house! You may also meet a few furry friends in and around Castle Park🔎🐱

For more info on how to celebrate National Cat Day in Colchester, you can visit our blog: https://www.visitcolchester.com/blog/post/celebrate-national-cat-day-in-colchester-cat-cafe-museums-and-sculptures/

📸Photo Credits: Meow Cat Cafe

Colchester Castle Park Fireworks Display MEOW Cat Cafe Colchester Museums

28/10/2024

Visiting Colchester this half term and looking for FREE things to do? Or live local and LOVE our city's unique heritage? Then our Family Heritage Treasure Trail is for you. And it even comes with a PRIZE for anyone under 12 who completes it! 😍

Pop into the Visit Colchester Information Centre on the ground floor of Hollytrees and pick up a trail. Bring your completed trails back to the VIC afterwards and small people can pick a history themed prize from our basket of goodies!

Address

Hollytrees Museum, High Street
Colchester
CO12

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441206282920

Website

http://www.visitcolchester.com/

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We have some fabulous themed guides walking tours running this year! Have a look and see if any of them tickle your fancy! They make a great gift for a loved one or a fun activity with friends and family ☺️ To book: ☎️ Call 01206 282920 💻 Click on the link in comments below 👇 🙋‍♀️Visit us at Colchester Visitor Information Centre to book your place! #VisitColchester #WalkColchester #Colchester #Essex

🗣️Last chance to visit the nostalgia hit that is Thunderbirds & Co: The Joy of Puppetry! This fantastic showcase into the world of puppetry will be finishing tomorrow, Sunday 30th June. Pop by to see these TV favourites up close and in real life for one last chance at Colchester Castle tomorrow! Colchester Museums #Colchester #ColchesterCastle #ThunderbirdsAreGo #classictv #Essex #DoctorWho #VisitColchester #museumsunday

Put the kettle on 🫖 It’s National Cream Tea Day! Here at Visit Colchester we have all jam and conserve options well and truly covered with a fine spread of Wilkin & Sons Ltd Tiptree jam goodies. Want traditional? We have Strawberry🍓and Raspberry. Looking to impress? We have Victoria Plum or Morello Cherry 🍒 Feeling crazy? We have Wild Blueberry! There really is something for every occasion here, lots of which you won’t see on your local supermarket shelf. Don’t let the fun stop at cream teas! To complement the weather, we also have a selection of condiments, perfect for a summer barbecue! Our shop is open Monday - Saturday 10-5pm so pop in to buy this quality, locally produced addition to your scones and cream! #Colchester #tiptreejam #wilkinandsons #nationalcreamteaday #ShopLocal #EssexProduce #creambeforejamalways

Siege of Colchester Walking Trail

Over the cold wet summer of 1648 Colchester found itself besieged as Parliamentarian forces under Fairfax surrounded the town and trapped both Royalist troops and the townsfolk inside for 11 long weeks. If you missed our special themed tour about the Siege the last weekend never fear! Our self guided walking trail will help you discover the dramatic events surrounding the Siege, and the scars this event left on buildings around the town which are still visible today. Available from the Visitor Centre for just £1 or download here: https://www.visitcolchester.com/listing/the-siege-of-colchester-walking-trail/137232101/

The Colchester Food and Drink Festival returns to Castle Park this summer on the 29th and 30th of June and advance price tickets for this hugely popular event are available now. For a taster (see what we did) here's our film of last year's Festival in full swing. Just the (gin) and tonic for a grey wet February evening 😉. https://www.foodanddrinkfestivalsuk.co.uk/buy-tickets/colchesterfoodanddrinkfestival/

Happy New Year!!! As we look forward to a 2024 full of exciting events, let's take a look back at some of the highlights from 2023, Colchester's first full year as a city. Which was your favourite? #YearofCelebration #TheCityOfColchester

Colchester's Roman Walls are older than Christmas.

☃️✨ It's the first day of Winter! ☃️✨ A perfect season for visiting Colchester! (Aren't they all?) We can't promise snow, but we can promise incredible history, fantastic coast and countryside, a handful of world-class attractions, and plenty of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Stay for a day, or make a long weekend of it. We're here all year round! www.visitcolchester.com

This popped up on the Visit Colchester phone this morning! A little splash of colour on a Tuesday morning. 🌈

Big news this morning! The Ford RideLondon Classique is set to return to Colchester in May 2024 after an amazing event earlier this year as part of our #YearOfCelebration! 🎉 It's just been announced Stage 1 of this world-class cycling event will once again conclude right here in Colchester! 🚴‍♂️💨 For more details: 👉 https://www.ridelondon.co.uk/news-and-media/latest-news/essex-two-stages

🔴🟠🟢🏁 Footage just in from September's amazing Soapbox Rally down the High Street! 🏎 One of our favourite events from Colchester's #YearofCelebration, marking the recent gift of city status. Thanks for organising In Colchester! #TheCityofColchester

🍂Colchester has some amazing coast, countryside and parks that are perfect to explore this Autumn! Discover heritage landscapes, natural beauty, and wildlife havens across the city area, from Mersea Island to Constable Country via the historic city centre.

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Welcome to Visit Colchester

Visit Colchester is the official tourism site for Colchester providing up-to-date information on attractions, accomodation, events and more for the Borough of Colchester. Follow us on Facebook and other social media channels for daily updates on things to do and see in Colchester, visit our website at www.visitcolchester.com for a more comprehensive guide, or pop into our HQ in Hollytrees Museum to visit us in person.