City or town
Things to see in Colchester (United Kingdom): 38 places and when to go
Colchester is a town in United Kingdom, and this site lists 38 places in and around it, mainly Wildlife (11), Temples (10), Nature (10). The best known are Colchester Castle, Colchester Zoo and Balkerne Gate. The best time to come is April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. In June there are 16 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 33. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- United Kingdom · 51.8787, 0.8866
- Places
- 38 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- Wildlife (11) · Temples (10) · Nature (10) · History (8) · Museums and art (5) · Food and drink (3)
- Best time
- April to September.
- Also possible
- February to March, October and December.
- Nearest airport
- STN London, Essex, 45 km as the crow flies
What to see in Colchester
The places in and around Colchester, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Colchester CastleNorman castle in Colchester, United Kingdom1.7 km
- Colchester ZooZoological garden situated in Colchester, England4.3 km
- Balkerne Gate1st-century Roman gateway in Colchester1.3 km
- Layer Marney TowerGrade I listed country house in Layer Marney, Essex, England, UK8.8 km
- St Peter ad Vincula, CoggeshallChurch in Coggeshall, Essex, England, UK13 km
- St Botolph's PrioryMedieval building in Colchester1.6 km
- All Saints Church, FordhamChurch in Fordham, Essex, England, UK7.3 km
- Grange Barn, CoggeshallGrade I listed barn in Coggeshall, Essex, England, UK14 km
- St Mary's Church, Stoke-by-NaylandChurch in Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk, England, UK12 km
- St Mary's Church, LawfordChurch in Lawford, Essex, England, UK13 km
- St Andrew's Church, Marks TeyChurch in Marks Tey, Essex, England, UK7.6 km
- Castle House, DedhamIn Dedham, Essex, England, UK11 km
- Old St Mary's Church, West BergholtGrade I listed church in West Bergholt, Colchester, Essex, England, UK5.4 km
- Cockaynes WoodEssex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve7.2 km
- East Anglian Railway MuseumIndustrial railway museum in Essex, England, United Kingdom10 km
- Fingringhoe WickEssex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve7.4 km
- Hilly Fields, ColchesterLocal nature reserve in Colchester, England1.6 km
- Hollytrees MuseumGrade I listed local museum in Colchester, Essex, England, UK1.8 km
- Jaywick Martello TowerFort in Jaywick, Essex, England, UK19 km
- Messing Maypole MillWindmill in Tiptree, Essex, England, UK12 km
- St James the Great, ColchesterChurch in Colchester, Essex, England, UK1.9 km
- Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, ColchesterChurch in Colchester, Essex, England, UK2.6 km
- Salary Brook Local Nature ReservePark in United Kingdom4.2 km
- Church of St Mary the Virgin, Layer MarneyChurch in Layer Marney, Essex, England, UK8.8 km
And the other 14, by what you come to do:
- Temples: St Mary the Virgin's Church, Little Bromley
- Museums and art: The Minories, Colchester
- History: Thorington Hall
- Nature: Tollesbury Wick, Cowdray Marsh, Cymbeline Meadows, Ferry Marsh (Colne Local Nature Reserve), Hythe Lagoons, Lexden Gathering Grounds
- Food and drink: Little Earth Project, Other Monkey Brewing, Viaduct Brewhouse
- Hiking: Stour Valley Path part 3
- With kids: Wyvernwood
When to go to Colchester
The best time to visit Colchester is April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBetter not8:02
- FebPossible9:40
- MarPossible11:31
- AprBest time13:38
- MayBest time15:25
- JunBest time16:26
- JulBest time16:01
- AugBest time14:26
- SepBest time12:23
- OctPossible10:20
- NovBetter not8:30
- DecPossible7:33
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 16 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 33. In April, 38 of the 38 places are at their best.
When to go to United Kingdom in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Colchester
The nearest main airport is London Stansted Airport (STN, London, Essex), 45 km as the crow flies. How to get around United Kingdom (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Landermere18 places21 km
- Halstead20 places25 km
- Ipswich49 places29 km
- Chelmsford27 places32 km
- Southend-on-Sea58 places38 km
- Bury St Edmunds27 places40 km
And all of United Kingdom, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Colchester?
The best known: Colchester Castle, Colchester Zoo, Balkerne Gate, Layer Marney Tower, St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall. In all, 38 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Colchester?
April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. In June there are 16 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 33.
How do you get to Colchester?
The nearest main airport is London Stansted Airport (STN), 45 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Colchester as the destination and these 38 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- United KingdomBefore travelling to United Kingdom: 7 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. Since leaving the EU, two things are needed that were not before: a passport (th…
- Wildlife2127 places for wildlife in United Kingdom, from Lake District to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: April to September. Each with its own season by altitude and day
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.