Like many places, Colchester has been shaped by its history, and the city centre streets in particular are full of incredible and indelible stories - from the nation-altering to the amusing and quirky! One of the best ways to uncover these tales is to take a Guided Tour with one of our qualified city guides. We offer private and public walking tours.
The Visitor Information Centre runs weekly walking tours that depart at 11am every Saturday with occasional additional tours in the summer months, whilst a number of private guiding companies also operate throughout the year in the city centre. Before booking a tour, we recommend checking that your guide is accredited with the local tourist guide association for the best experience.
Our weekly Camulodunum to Colchester walking tour is a great starting point for history lovers, locals and day visitors hoping to learn about Colchester's history. Due to the historic nature of some of the sites, visitors with access requirements are advised to contact the Visitor Information Centre in advance to discuss the suitability of the tour - appropriate adjustments can be made to the route with advance warning to ensure you have the best experience.
While our tours are suitable for young children, we do often run special themed tours throughout the year that are designed specifically for little ones. Keep an eye out on our events page to see if there are any exciting family friendly tours coming up. If you'd like to bring the whole family, tickets are £9 per adult and children up to age 15 are free, but must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Visiting on a weekday? Fear not, you don't have to miss out! We've also got some great self-guided routes available to you. Our top recommendation is the Hidden Colchester Trail, which can be downloaded online or purchased from the Visitor Information Centre at Hollytrees Museum for £2.50 – it’s a perfect introduction to the city and all it’s history. Other options are available including guides to the Roman Walls, the Siege of Colchester, Colchester’s Concrete Murals, or a Blue Plaque trail. Alternatively, if you'd rather have the guided-tour experience, you can book a private tour through the Visitor Information Centre with one of our friendly guides - these tours cover many themes and are not restricted to weekends, meaning they offer better flexibility and a personalised experience.
If you're an educational professional, you may be interested in one of our school tours. Covering a broad range of topics - and with the possibility to be tailored to your needs or focus topic - these tours are popular amongst local and visiting schools. Our experienced guides are able to provide tours for groups both small and large, spanning a wide age range.
The Visit Colchester team have plenty of experience working with different sized groups with different needs, so we're confident that we can make your trip as stress-free as possible. For more information, you can call us at 01206 282920, email us at vic@colchester.gov.uk, or pop into the Visitor Information Centre to discuss your options.
You can book in advance by using our online booking system, calling the Visitor Information Centre on 01206 282920 or booking in person on the day. Places are limited so advance booking is recommended, particularly during the peak season.
