-Stacey-England-1200-480.jpg "Visit Colchester Colchester Zoo - photo: Stacey England")
Colchester is a town full of child-friendly venues, and has a fantastic selection of children and family events running throughout the year. From pre-schoolers to teenagers there's always something to keep the children entertained (and plenty to do that adults can secretly enjoy as well) making it the perfect destination for a family day out - or even a longer stay.
With a zoo and a castle, you'll find plenty to spark a child's imagination. You can discover local beaches and wildlife parks, as well as a range of fantastic activities for wet weather days including a roller rink, trampoline park, and leisure pool.
Visit during the school holidays and you'll find a special programme of events put on by many of our best attractions, and there's always something available to do for free so a visit needn't break the bank.
Great Attractions For Kids
Just a selection of Colchester's child-friendly attractions...
Cudmore Grove Country Park
Cudmore Grove offers visitors a trip to the seaside with a difference at the eastern tip of Mersea Island. The park includes a sandy beach and open grassland, perfect for picnics and great views.
Jump Street Colchester
Jump Street trampoline parks offer jump sessions in Essex, suitable for both adults & children. Jump Street is based both in Colchester & in Chelmsford, also offering adult fitness classes, toddler sessions, special needs support sessions.
Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre
Centre run by the Essex Wildlife Trust in partnership with Essex & Suffolk Water, at a sight of international importance for winter wildfowl. Nature trails, bird hides, events & shop selling refreshments, gifts, optics & books.
Mighty Claws Adventure Golf
Mighty Claws Adventure Golf : A Roman Ruckus offers 18-holes of ferociously good fun for all the family. Roarsome!
Colchester Castle Museum
Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Keep in Europe. Constructed on the foundations of the Temple of Claudius. The Castle Museum today reveals many fascinating layers of history to visitors.
Natural History Museum
Discover and interesting 'hands-on' perspective on the local natural environment from the Ice Age right up to today. Explore the garden trail and stag beetle exhibition, free entry.
Firstsite
A spectacular new venue for contemporary visual arts, Firstsite offers a changing programme of exhibitions by international artists, creative events and activities for the whole family, plus talks, films, workshops and more. Entry is free.
Fingringhoe Wick Visitor Centre
Stunning 200 acre nature reserve situated on the banks of the River Colne. Visitor centre includes gift shop, tearoom, toilets and baby changing facilities.
East Anglian Railway Museum
Celebrating the changing role of railways in the Eastern Counties since they arrived in the early 19th Century, through their glory days of the early 20th Century to the disappearances of the Beeching era.
High Woods Country Park
370 acres of woodland, grassland and wetland with path network, including circular walks and easy access trail. Visitor centre and interactive displays, rangers organise a range of activities throughout the year.
Hollytrees Museum
An important part of Colchester's rich history with three centuries of fascinating toys, costume and decorative arts displayed in an attractive Georgian town house from 1718.
Leisure World Tiptree
Leisure World Tiptree provides a range of facilities and activities that is both unique and extensive for all ages and abilities. It offers a fitness centre, sports halls, aerobic workout classes, 3 generation artificial pitch.
Rollerworld
Rollerworld is Europes finest Roller Rink, with a 50m x 25m solid maple floor, fantastic new sound and light show. Everyone can have a go at skating and if you don’t fancy that we have Quasar, laser gun fun in our specially made arena.
Leisure Centre
Leisure World Colchester is one of East Anglia's largest sports, leisure, recreation and entertainment venues and offers year round fun for all the family. The leisure pool includes outside river rapids ride, water cannons and flumes.
Colchester Zoo
Colchester Zoo is home to over 260 species set in 60 acres of parkland and lakes and are proudly listed as in the top 2 zoos in the UK as part of the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Attractions.
Layer Marney Tower
Magnificent Tudor building with the tallest Gatehouse in Britain and 16th century Italianate terracotta. Climb the tower, visit the gardens, outbuildings dolls house, church and farm animals. Cafe and shop.
Gnome Magic
Gnome Magic is an unusual treat. Enjoy the delightful garden which blends into an amazing wood where the growing number of 500 gnomes and their friends live. Guaranteed to bring a little sunshine.
Castle Park
Colchester's Castle Park provides a perfect setting for a huge range of events including shows, festivals and concerts.
Our Child-Friendly picks.
Colchester Museums
You'll discover plenty of hands-on activities from the cases of toys in Hollytrees to the opportunity to ride a Roman Chariot in Colchester Castle. Be sure to check for any special events that are happening too.
Colchester Zoo
-Scott-Davey-320-213.jpg "Colchester Zoo. Photo: Scott Davey")
If you need a break from the animals the zoo also offers a fantastic outdoor adventure playground, and indoor soft play area.
Colchester United
Children under 11 are able to attend games for free, and sit in the family-friendly East Stand. The club are also happy to welcome first-timers with messages in the programme and on the big screen, as well as offering packages for Birthdays and opportunities to be a club mascot.
Family & Kids Events in Colchester
Join in with the fun with children’s events in Colchester. You will discover regular arts & craft events, film screenings, museum activities and wildlife workshops, as well as exciting festivals and shows happening during half term and school holidays.
If you can't find what you're looking for, get in touch with us at the Visitor Information Centre as there are many community activity groups in Colchester hosting regular sessions especially for children and young people that we can help put you in touch with.
Visit our What's On page for special events listings focussing on the school holidays, and follow us on Twitter for regular and up-to-date information.
Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans
Sat 17 - Thu 29 Aug 2019
New family favourite - connected to the History of Colchester!
Mersea Island Festival 2019
Sun 18 - Mon 26 Aug 2019
9 days of inclusive summer activities for children, young people and adults with and without a disability - including archery, zipwire, adventure course, art tent and band workshop . Each evening there's a band, disco or Camp Concert.
Storytelling At The Castle
Tue 20 Aug 2019
Meet characters from history, hear their stories and discover the secrets of treasure, jewellery and adventure. Why not get involved by getting your little ones to wear their favourite costume. Included in Castle Admission.
Go Live!
Wed 21 Aug 2019
About This Event Our ever-popular Go Live! events return, letting you get up close and personal with amazing nature. Which fascinating animals will you see? Session at 12pm, 1.15pm and 2.30pm (Booking required). Tickets £5 per person.
Clacton Airshow
Thu 22 - Fri 23 Aug 2019
The hugely popular airshow returns to Clacton for the 28th year.
Bat Evening - Colchester Cemetery/Bourne Valley
Fri 23 Aug 2019
Meet the ranger and join the led walk around Colchester Cemetery identifying different bats including crossing the road and taking a look at bat activity over the lake at Bourne Valley. Please bring a torch F
Day Out With Thomas
Sat 24 - Mon 26 Aug 2019
Thomas and Friends appear at the East Anglian Railway Museum
Wine & Cider Festival 2019
Sat 24 - Sun 25 Aug 2019
Family friendly wine and cider festival with live music and camping
History Comes Alive
Sat 24 - Sun 25 Aug 2019
This Summer, history invades the Castle Museum. Let the re-enactors from Historical Promotions take you back in time and bring history to life during this fun-filled weekend.
Colchester United v Northampton Town
Sat 24 Aug 2019
League 2 Football at the Weston Homes Community Stadium
The Panto Horse Derby Bank Holiday Races 2019
Mon 26 Aug 2019
Colchester High Street shuts to traffic for the annual charity panto horse race.
Outdoors and Wildlife
Exploring Colchester can be a real adventure for all the family. Stretch your legs and mind whilst discovering the area's history, heritage and wildlife.
Discover nature reserves, woodland, playgrounds, parks, gardens and sandy beaches. Embark on one of our recommended walks, or explore for yourself.
At weekends and school holidays you can find great activities for the children, or just let them run wild. Having great fun doesn't have to cost the earth.
Wet Weather Ideas
In the town centre, all the musuems and art galleries are child-friendly and within two minutes walk of each other. Most are also free entry. Perhaps you could catch a kids show at the Theatre or Arts centre too?
Colchester Zoo has a special 'duck under cover' route, keeping you dry and indoors (where many of the animals will be sheltering too)
Or if you've really been stuck indoors too long, burn off some energy at an indoor activity centre - take your pick from Leisure World, Rollerworld, Jump Street, or a Soft Play centre.
Great Venues in Bad Weather
Leisure World Colchester
Leisure World Colchester is one of East Anglia's largest sports, leisure, recreation and entertainment venues and offers year round fun for all the family. The leisure pool includes outside river rapids ride, water cannons and flumes.
Hollytrees Museum
An important part of Colchester's rich history with three centuries of fascinating toys, costume and decorative arts displayed in an attractive Georgian town house from 1718.
Natural History Museum
Discover and interesting 'hands-on' perspective on the local natural environment from the Ice Age right up to today. Explore the garden trail and stag beetle exhibition, free entry.
Colchester Arts Centre
The home of live music, comedy, theatre, poetry, dance, children's shows, clubs, farmer's markets, gigs and more.
Colchester Castle Museum
Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Keep in Europe. Constructed on the foundations of the Temple of Claudius. The Castle Museum today reveals many fascinating layers of history to visitors.
Rollerworld
Rollerworld is Europes finest Roller Rink, with a 50m x 25m solid maple floor, fantastic new sound and light show. Everyone can have a go at skating and if you don’t fancy that we have Quasar, laser gun fun in our specially made arena.
Mercury Theatre
A highly respected regional theatre, home to the critically acclaimed Mercury Theatre Company, staging a broad mix of classic plays and new writing as well as working extensively within the local community.
Jump Street Colchester
Jump Street trampoline parks offer jump sessions in Essex, suitable for both adults & children. Jump Street is based both in Colchester & in Chelmsford, also offering adult fitness classes, toddler sessions, special needs support sessions.
Firstsite
A spectacular new venue for contemporary visual arts, Firstsite offers a changing programme of exhibitions by international artists, creative events and activities for the whole family, plus talks, films, workshops and more. Entry is free.
Colchester Zoo
Colchester Zoo is home to over 260 species set in 60 acres of parkland and lakes and are proudly listed as in the top 2 zoos in the UK as part of the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Attractions.
Go Bananas
Go Bananas is one of the largest indoor adventure play centres in the South East of England with over 20 years of experience in entertaining children and Adults.
More Great Kids Activites
A Family Day Out in Colchester
Explore Colchester Museums
More Things to do in Colchester
