Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Colchester travel guide

Colchester Tourism | Colchester Guide

You're Going to Love Colchester

With a population of 109,414, Colchester is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Colchester to see all of its attractions.

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Where to Eat in Colchester

If you’re looking for affordable options, Middletons Steakhouse & Grill - Colchester (19-20 North Hill) and The Crown Inn - Stoke-by-Nayland (Stoke By Nayland Park Street) are great picks. For delicious green meals, The Greyhound Inn (The Street) and Green Room Restaurant (North Hill Hotel 51 North Hill) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Colchester.

When to visit Colchester

Colchester in January
Estimated hotel price
£65
1 night at 3-star hotel
Colchester in January
Estimated hotel price
£65
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Colchester

Plane

Although Colchester doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Cambridge (CBG), which is located 37 miles from Colchester. The shortest domestic flight to Colchester departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Colchester to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around £16 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £27 for a 1h 34m trip. Located 5 miles from the city centre, Colchester Marks Tey is the busiest station in Colchester. Another popular train station is Colchester Town, located 1.0 mile from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Colchester is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 51 miles from Colchester. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Colchester, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Colchester takes 135 miles and will cost you around £4. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £7 for a journey of 170 miles. The most popular bus station is Colchester University of Essex, located 3 miles from the city centre of Colchester. Colchester Bus Station is also a commonly used station, and is 0.8 miles from the city centre.

Plane

Although Colchester doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Cambridge (CBG), which is located 37 miles from Colchester. The shortest domestic flight to Colchester departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Colchester to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around £16 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £27 for a 1h 34m trip. Located 5 miles from the city centre, Colchester Marks Tey is the busiest station in Colchester. Another popular train station is Colchester Town, located 1.0 mile from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Colchester is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 51 miles from Colchester. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Colchester, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Colchester takes 135 miles and will cost you around £4. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £7 for a journey of 170 miles. The most popular bus station is Colchester University of Essex, located 3 miles from the city centre of Colchester. Colchester Bus Station is also a commonly used station, and is 0.8 miles from the city centre.

Airports near Colchester

CBGCambridge

Airlines serving Colchester

Lufthansa
Good (7,207 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,366 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,091 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,982 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,654 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,894 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,819 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,861 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,472 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (809 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,286 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,594 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,679 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,416 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,092 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (352 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,351 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,306 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,224 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,912 reviews)
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Where to stay in Colchester

Average rates range from around £98 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £107 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Colchester, with prices from £34 to £271 per night. Colchester City Centre is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Colchester are about 62% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Colchester

Most booked hotels in Colchester

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The Rose and Crown
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£107+
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Holiday Inn Colchester
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£88+
View
Holiday Inn Express Colchester
3 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
£73+
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Dragonfly Hotel Colchester
3 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
£71+
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St Nicholas Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
£64+
View
The Essex Golf & Country Club Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
£73+
View

Hiring a car in Colchester

Hiring a car in Colchester costs £35 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.32 per litre in Colchester (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.80 and £21.06. The most frequently booked car type in Colchester is Full-size (Ford Galaxy or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Colchester costs £35 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.32 per litre in Colchester (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.80 and £21.06. The most frequently booked car type in Colchester is Full-size (Ford Galaxy or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Colchester

Colchester Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Colchester city guide for the best Colchester travel tips. To help you organise your Colchester trip ideas, this Colchester visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.