The 2022 Colchester Christmas Gift Guide

There are 50 days to go until the big day, so we have prepared a round up of Colchester based gift ideas & unique experiences that would make fabulous Christmas presents for locals and visitors alike.

Aqua Springs

Spoil someone special to a relaxing pamper day at Aqua Springs – vouchers are available for spa visits, beauty treatments and massages.

Beth Chatto’s

For the keen gardener in your life, Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens have a membership scheme – you could treat someone to unlimited seasonal garden entry & exclusive behind the scenes experiences.

Cants

For a ‘blooming’ good gift, head to Cants of Colchester, a well established local rose grower. They sell many varieties in every imaginable colour, with beautiful names to suit every recipient.

Christmas Markets

There will be Christmas Markets and craft fairs going in Colchester and in the surrounding areas for those of you that like to find handmade gifts to treasure, including a BIG one on 11th December on Colchester High Street. Check out the Visit Colchester Events Planner to find out what's going on and when!

Colchester Arts Centre

Why not book someone tickets to a 2023 show at Colchester Arts Centre as a nice surprise? Events are bookable now, with comedians like Stephen K Amos, Tim Key and Sofie Duker all confirmed, and music performances from The Wedding Present, Beans on Toast already announced for the year.

Colchester Castle

Not just a museum, Colchester Castle has a great gift shop with souvenirs featuring Colchester’s most iconic landmark, fine jewellery inspired by artefacts from the Museums collection, and witchy goodies relating to the current exhibition ‘Wicked Spirits?’

The Museum also has an item adoption scheme, maybe there is something on the list that would appeal to the history buff in your life?

Colchester Events Company

Charter Hall is playing host to several Christmas events in December – take a look at the Colchester Events Company website for more info. Perhaps you could treat someone to a ticket to a Christmas Drag Show, or a night with East 17?

Colchester Gift Card

For the person that already has everything – load up a Colchester Gift Card, and they can treat themselves to whatever they fancy! Pick up a card from the Visit Colchester office, pop online to add a cash amount, and the receiver can spend it in a range of Colchester’s shops and restaurants. 

East Anglian Railway Museum

Have a train enthusiast in the family? Choo Choo Choo-se the gift of a very unique day learning to drive a steam train at East Anglian Railway Museum.

Firstsite

More than just an art gallery, Firstsite has an excellent gift shop, with a range of prints, art books, toys and more to suit all budgets. They also sell jewellery handmade by local artists, perfect for those people that love to receive something really unique.

Afternoon Tea

Why not treat a friend to a voucher for a apecial afternoon tea in one of our fantastic local restaurants? Tymperleys, Milsoms, Greyfriars, and the Old Siege house, are just a few of our recommendations for a place to enjoy this quintessentially English treat. T at the George are doing a special ‘Festive Afternoon Tea' too, and the famous Wilkin & Sons of Tiptree have many tea rooms in the area, a visit to any of these would be a rea treat for any jam fan.

Camulodunum to Colchester Guided Walking Tour

An interesting and memorable Christmas gift for locals and visitors alike - Why not book a private tour of historic Colchester for you and your family? Guided walking tours are provided by Visit Colchester’s Qualified Town Guides - Bookable for any day of the week, your group can take a walk around Colchester town centre to discover 2000 years of the town’s history. Perfect for history lovers, and the guides can tailor your tour to specific areas of interest and the ages of the people within your group.

The Mercury Theatre

Treat the younger members of your family to a ticket to the Mercury Theatres’ pantomime Beauty and The Beast which is running until 26^th November – 15^th January

Visit Colchester Gift Shop

At Visit Colchester HQ we have souvenirs including mugs, tea towels, notebooks and tote bags. We stock Christmas Cards and 2022 calendars, ideal for people that love Colchester, whether they are local or just have fond memories of visiting. We also stock a range of books about the town for history buffs and a range of Wilkin & Sons ‘Tiptree’ jam and Christmas Puddings. We have a small range of locally produced ceramics and jewellery, made by Colchester based artists, and a range of traditional toys for children.

Wivenhoe House Hotel

Want to celebrate Christmas in style this year? Wivenhoe House Hotel host 3 night festive breaks for those people that want to really relax and let someone else do all of the hard work, including a 5 course luxurious lunch on Christmas Day. They are also taking bookings for their annual New Years Eve Gala.

Colchester Zoo

If you know an animal lover, they could be a keeper for a day at Colchester Zoo. The Zoo have a range of experiences that allow visitors to get up close and personal with the animals, and step into a keeper’s boots for behind the scenes access at one of Colchester’s most loved attractions.

The Zoo also has a great Gift Shop for animal lovers. They sell Colchester Zoo Top Trumps, Colchester Zoo Monopoly, stuffed toy versions of your favourite animals alongside animal adoption packages. 

Well that's just a few ideas to get you started! And don't forget to check out the Christmas market on 11th December for last minute goodies too!

There's more information about other special Christmas events over on our dedicated webpage - there's so much going on - have a wonderful festive period!