What to do in Colchester

Activities, attractions and tours

Visit Colchester

Types of activities

Colchester travel guide

Colchester featuring markets and signage as well as a large group of people

Layer Marney Tower which includes château or palace, heritage architecture and heritage elements

Beth Chatto Garden which includes forest scenes and a garden

Colchester featuring interior views, an administrative building and heritage architecture

Colchester Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Colchester has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Colchester is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Colchester to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Colchester Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Colchester.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Colchester attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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Top places to visit

1. Colchester Zoo

Colchester Zoo is sure to delight families. Watch the Patagonian sea lions play above your head as you wander through an underwater tunnel. Take a ride on the Madagascar Road train through the lemur enclosure and don’t miss out on the daily animal feeding sessions and impressive falconry displays.

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Colchester Zoo featuring animals and zoo animals

2. Colchester Castle Park

Find yourself a spot on the grass, spread out your picnic rug and enjoy the views across Colchester Castle Park down towards the River Colne. In the background stands the impressive form of Colchester Castle, which is what the park was named after. An ancient Roman wall divides this Victorian-style park in to Lower and Upper areas. Come to the park to relax or play, enjoy walking around colorful gardens or be entertained by one of the many special events held here.

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Colchester Castle Park featuring heritage architecture and château or palace

3. Colchester Town Hall

Take a look at Colchester Town Hall’s ornate exterior and then enter the impressive building to see beautifully decorated rooms. There’s the council chambers with ceiling paintings and stained-glass windows, as well as the first library in Colchester. The Moot Hall is home to a large organ still used today.

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Colchester showing heritage architecture

4. Layer Marney Tower

Climb to the top of the Layer Marney Tower and look out across the Essex countryside and the River Blackwater. Learn about the building’s 500-year-old history and view historical artifacts. On a sunny day, enjoy a stroll around the gardens or take the Wildlife Walk to see cattle and birds. End your afternoon with a cup of tea in the quaint room overlooking the Blackwater Estuary.

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Layer Marney Tower showing heritage elements, a garden and château or palace

5. Beth Chatto Garden

See how years of dedication has turned the Beth Chatto Gardens into a place of wonderment. Take in the contrasting displays of the dry Gravel Garden and the lush Water Garden. Don’t miss the explosion of color in the Woodland Garden during the spring or autumn and prepare to be amazed by the Scree Garden. Shop in the nursery or relax with a hot drink in the tearoom.

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Beth Chatto Garden which includes flowers, a park and wild flowers

6. Mercury Theatre

Book in for a night of music, comedy, theater or dance at Mercury Theatre. Come to this cultural center to see a national or international touring show or take in one of the performances by the excellent “Made in Colchester” theater group. The events program runs throughout the year. You’ll find more local talent on display in the Digby Gallery within the same building.

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Colchester showing theatre scenes and interior views

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With kids

What to do in Colchester

Discover the most popular places to visit in Colchester

Colchester Zoo

Feed elephants and giraffes, watch a falconry display and meet the fearsome Komodo dragons at one of the U.K.’s best zoos.

Colchester Castle Park

4.5/5(3 reviews)

Ride a pedalo on the boating lake, enjoy a game of mini golf or simply spend an afternoon relaxing in Colchester’s most popular public park.

Flatford Mill

Find out about the history of Colchester when you spend time at Flatford Mill. Check out the spas and top-notch restaurants in this relaxing area.

Colchester Town Hall

4/5(3 reviews)

Colchester’s Baroque town hall, a heritage-listed building with Victorian tower and antique organ, has been the focus of civil duties for over 800 years.

Layer Marney Tower

Spend an afternoon at the tallest Tudor gatehouse in England to find a knot garden, a farm, a Wildlife Walk and five centuries’ worth of history.

Beth Chatto Garden

Learn which plants can thrive in a range of habitats in these stunning gardens designed by master gardener Beth Chatto.

Colchester Castle Museum

You can study the exhibits at Colchester Castle Museum, a museum with a storied past, during your travels to Colchester. Savor the lively bars and top-notch restaurants while in town.

Mercury Theatre

Enjoy a play, a musical performance or some hilarious comedy at Colchester’s premier performing arts venue, which also has a children’s program.

Colchester which includes a cemetery, heritage architecture and a castle

Colchester Arts Centre

Come and see an event at Colchester’s most diverse entertainment venue, housed in a 13th-century church.

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