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Discover the City of Colchester

  1. Live Music in Castle Park
    Find out what's on in Colchester

Highlights

"Artfund Museum of the Year 2021 - Winner"

Firstsite is Colchester's contemporary art gallery.

The Mercury Theatre, with Jumbo Water Tower in the background

A highly respected regional theatre, home to the critically acclaimed Mercury Theatre Company,…

Am image of the 2024 Guide with a prompt to 'request your copy now'.

The official Visitor Guide to Colchester, packed with lots of information on places to visit,…

Hidden Colchester

Take a walk through the backstreets, lanes and alleys of Colchester to discover its secrets and…

Colchester Castle

Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Keep in Europe and houses the town's main museum

Colchester Orbital

The Colchester Orbital  is a 15 mile picturesque walk and cycle route, which follows existing…

Two Reticulated Giraffe

Colchester Zoo is set within over 60 acres of beautiful parkland and lakes and is home to over 155…

Screenshot of St Botolph's Priory from teh Ancient Colchester App

The Ancient Colchester App developed by Colchester & Ipswich Museums allows you to wander around…

The Siege of Colchester - An Historic walk around Colchester reliving the English Civil War Siege

Take a walk through history, exploring key sites from the Siege of Colchester in 1648 and the scars…

Cyclists racing up East Hill

Come and cheer on the cyclists in this year's Ride London Classique as stage one finishes in…

Colchester - A Walking Tour of the Roman and Medieval Gates

'Walking the walls' is a great way to explore Colchester's history. This circular walk takes you…

Hollytrees House framed by Wisteria

The jewel in Colchester’s crown - an award-winning oasis of horticultural splendour boasting a…

The Wivenhoe trail runs beside the Colne (to the left in this image) snaking between Colchester and Wivenhoe.

TeXt reads "New! Downloadable Walking T

Follow our downloadable map along the The Wivenhoe Trail from Colchester town centre to the…

Frank Skinner

Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe and 7-nights at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West…

Walking Tours - Book Now Graphic

Take a guided walking tour around Colchester to discover its history and heritage with an expert…

Beth Chatto Gardens

World renowned gardens showcasing sustainable planting and 'the right plant for the right place'.…

Le Talbooth Restaurant on the River Stour near Dedham

Le Talbooth Restaurant on the River Stour near Dedham

Enjoy a meal at this scenic location

Medieval Wall Paintings in Copford Church

Medieval Wall Paintings in Copford Church

Copford Church

A Fresh Catch of Oysters on Mersea Island

A Fresh Catch of Oysters on Mersea Island

Oysters

Mersea Island Beach Huts

Mersea Island Beach Huts

Explore West Mersea Beach

The Colchester City Centre Skyline

The Colchester City Centre Skyline

Jumbo and The Town Hall in Silhouette

Jumbo and The Balkerne Gate in Colchester City Centre

Jumbo and The Balkerne Gate in Colchester City Centre

City Centre Shopping

Walk through 2000 years of history at the Balkerne Gate

Walk through 2000 years of history at the Balkerne Gate

The Balkerne Gate

The ruins of St Botolph's Priory

The ruins of St Botolph's Priory

Discover what remains of Britain's first Augustinian priory.

The Chappel Viaduct

The Chappel Viaduct

Explore the Beautiful Borough

Discover Constable Country

Discover Constable Country

The River Stour in The Dedham Vale

Wivenhoe Quayside

Wivenhoe Quayside

Enjoy a drink by the river

More Highlights

Painting of a man in bed

'In-between Us' seeks to examine identity and masculinities, challenging social constructs and…

Young girl holding a magnifying glass

Designed for children aged 2 1/2 to 4, along with their parents, grandparents, and carers, these…

the comedy network

Live comedy at the Mercury Theatre

Professor Brian Cox: Horizons. A 21st Century Space Odyssey

Having set two Guinness World Records with his previous sell-out World Tour, Professor Brian Cox is…

Large lizard with its tounge out

Over the past few months, you may have noticed some BIG new arrivals! This Easter, journey around…

Day Out With Thomas

Join Thomas & Friends for family fun at the East Anglian Railway Museum. Take a train ride with…

Wooden puppet and toy rocket

Embark on a nostalgic journey through the enchanting world of puppetry with our exhibition,…

Dragon with a basket of golden eggs

Join our characters on a quest to solve riddles and follow clues to help find the missing dragon…

High Woods Easter Trail

It’s the perfect time of year to get out and about in the woods and take part in our ‘Signs of…

Eggs lying on straw

Dive into the wonders of the animal kingdom this Easter with our Egg-Cellent Creatures fun…

Welcome to Salary Brook - Local Nature Reserve

Join the Ranger for a morning pond dipping at Salary Brook

Colchester First Thursdays

A free monthly event with fantastic performances, workshops and interactive experiences

2 boys looking at bugs in a container after pond dipping

Discover what bugs and creepy crawlies lie in the ponds at High Woods Country Park.

Children looking at the Sea Lions under the water

Did you know… 71% of the earth's surface is covered in water! Join us as we share the incredible…

Colchester Farmers Market

Every month we now have a wonderful line up of nearly 30 stalls joining us selling a fantastic…

A steam train

A firm favourite with families, they're a great opportunity to visit the Museum and have a ride in…

Woodland crafts

Get creative in the woods. Come and join our woodland craft session on Wednesday 10th April

Woodland crafts

Get creative at High Woods Country Park this Easter. Come and join our woodland craft session on…

Dinosaur at Colchester Zoo

Take a step back in time with our Dino Discovery Day filled with all things prehistoric, including…

Bluebells at High Woods Country Park

Pick up a map from the Visitor Centre and find the best bluebell areas in the park to explore

Folk & Bespoke Craft Fair

Handmade shopping day for gifts and crafts at Firstsite Art Gallery.

An Orangutan

Join us as we celebrate our charity, Colchester Zoological Society and the vital conservation work…

Transport Extravaganza at the East Anglian Railway Museum

Classic cars, vintage motorbikes and modern head-turners, alongside the museum exhibits and FREE…

Large Reptile

Did you know… the Aldabra Giant Tortoise can live up to 150 years! Join us as we share all things…

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