Visiting central Colchester after dark?

With theatres, galleries, restaurants, cafes and bars, late night shopping in some shops on a Wednesday, as well as clubs, Colchester's a great place to visit during the evening and at night.

Colchester Borough Council is working with the Police, the NHS, licencees and the voluntary sector to raise standards and broaden the appeal of our town centre after dark to ensure that the evening/night-time is safe and vibrant.

We want more people to come out at night, not just young people, but families with young children and older people and we realise that providing additional information here might help you plan your visit after dark.

Getting into and out of town in the evening and at night

Public transport into town is not a problem during the early evening. However, you may need to plan how your return trip by designating a driver if coming in by car or pre-booking a taxi. We would recommend that you pre-book a taxi as there are often queues in the early hours and waiting around in the cold may take the edge off an enjoyable evening. Click here to find information on taxis in Colchester.

Bus services from Colchester to outer villages and Colchester communities stop after 23.30 except Wivenhoe (23.38) and the communities en-route to Stansted Airport which are served by bus throughout the night. The average departure time from Colchester is 23.05. Click here to find bus routes in Colchester.

Train services are similar with the last trains departing Colchester for stations towards London, Norwich and branch lines to Harwich and coastal resorts between 23.02 and 23.23, except stations to Norwich which have two services after midnight, the last being 00.22. Click here to find train timetable information.

What about parking?

Colchester is well served for evening / night time parking with a range of special deals to encourage use of town centre in the evenings by a wide range of people. There are 7 car parks in the town centre with 3056 spaces. Surface car parks are open 24 hours and others close at midnight. Motorcycles can park in dedicated bays in surface car parks free of charge. Click here to find out the latest parking charges

What can I see/do?

Finding something to do in the evening in Colchester is easy - it's the choosing that's difficult!

Watch the sun go down and the world go by at a café bar or pub, perhaps with some live music. Or maybe an orchestral concert at Charter Hall or a great night of comedy at the Colchester Arts Centre, or an evening of exceptional theatre at The Mercury, Headgate or Lakeside Theatre. CMPA Live! at the Colchester Institute, hosts a professional concert series interspersed with student performances and productions within genres such as Classical, Opera, Jazz, Rock, Electronics, Musical Theatre and Comedy.

If you are looking for something a little different, why not try one of the themed walking tours and combine entertainment and mystery with a nice stroll? Afterwards, why not indulge in a night of good food, good wine and good company?

If something more energetic is more your scene then the town's many clubs and bars are for you.

This vibrant mix is all within easy walking distance around the town but travel a little further and you can chill at a waterside pub, trendy village bistro or picnic beneath the stars.

Find out what's on tonight.

Will I be safe?

CCTV: more than 120 cameras are located around the town centre with radio links to both the Police, SOS Bus and other services

Park Mark: All Council and two NCP owned car parks have Park Mark status. Park Mark accreditation is awarded to car parks vetted by the Police which has measures in place to create a safer environment for users and their vehicles.

Police ‘Night Owl': The town centre is served by the Police as well as the Royal Military Police. Night Owl is a special Police initiative which helps anyone who appears vulnerable at night in town and ensures that they are safe. The Police also ensures that they can get home safely and will contact family or friends to collect them if needed

Street Pastors are on street from 11pm-3-4am. Pastors are there to offer general help from a listening ear to offering useful information, talking to people if they are alone in town

‘SOS' Bus is the first point of contact for those whose well-being is threatened by an inability to get home due to illness, injury, emotional distress or other identified risk or vulnerability. Operating between 8.30pm and 4am on Friday and Saturday night, the bus provides a safe haven for any vulnerable person and also offers a general information service about being in Colchester during the evening and at night. It is staffed by at least 2 St John Ambulance personnel and SOS Bus volunteers who listen, help, support, communicate, respect confidentiality, have a calming influence and want to help others.

Doorstaff: Security Industry Association (SIA) approved doorstaff in most venues around Colchester which means that there are high levels of customer care and professionalism.

Taxi Marshalls: there is a taxi marshalling service to help manage queues at taxi ranks in the early hours.

Food Hygiene - Scores on the Doors is an initiative to publicise information relating to hygiene inspections of businesses that serve, prepare or sell food. Local authorities carry out inspections of food businesses and the results of these inspections can be viewed on the Council's website

Toilets: The open toilets in the evening are in Lion Walk until 9pm, the bus station until 10pm, in St John's and St Mary's car parks one toilet is open 24 hours. We strongly recommend that you use toilets before you leave any venues you're in so that you are not caught out when you get outside in the cooler air. Why not download a map and plan ahead?