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. Colchester deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

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Where to Eat in Colchester

If you’re looking for affordable options, Banquet Chinese (342 London Road) and Carluccio's - Fenwick Colchester (152 High Street) are great picks.

When to visit Colchester

Colchester in January
Estimated hotel price
£71
1 night at 3-star hotel
Colchester in January
Estimated hotel price
£71
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 60 km from Colchester. The shortest domestic flight to Colchester departs from Glasgow and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Eurostar. Located 8 km from the city centre, Colchester Marks Tey is the busiest station in Colchester. Another popular train station is Colchester Town, located 1.6 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Colchester is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 83 km from Colchester. You’ll find branches of Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Colchester, including National Express, FlixBus and Bus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Colchester takes 193 km and will cost you around £6. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £14 for a journey of 225 km. The most popular bus station is Colchester University of Essex, located 4 km from the city centre of Colchester. Colchester Bus Station is also a commonly used station, and is 1.2 km from the city centre.

Plane

Although Colchester doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Cambridge (CBG), which is located 60 km from Colchester. The shortest domestic flight to Colchester departs from Glasgow and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Eurostar. Located 8 km from the city centre, Colchester Marks Tey is the busiest station in Colchester. Another popular train station is Colchester Town, located 1.6 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Colchester is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 83 km from Colchester. You’ll find branches of Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Colchester, including National Express, FlixBus and Bus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Colchester takes 193 km and will cost you around £6. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £14 for a journey of 225 km. The most popular bus station is Colchester University of Essex, located 4 km from the city centre of Colchester. Colchester Bus Station is also a commonly used station, and is 1.2 km from the city centre.

Airports near Colchester

CBGCambridge

Airlines serving Colchester

KLM
Good (1,477 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,860 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,807 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,314 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,268 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,901 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,147 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,547 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,455 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (900 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,542 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,720 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,733 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,830 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,184 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,374 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (391 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,430 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,172 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,221 reviews)
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Where to stay in Colchester

Average rates range from around £81 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £112 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Colchester, with prices from £34 to £278 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 96% 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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Greyfriars
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£117+
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The Rose and Crown
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£95+
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White Hart Hotel by Greene King Inns
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£53+
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Holiday Inn Express Colchester By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£46+
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Holiday Inn Colchester By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£56+
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St Nicholas Hotel Colchester
3 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
£48+
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Hiring a car in Colchester

Hiring a car in Colchester costs £25 per day, on average, or £50 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.41 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 £16.82 and £22.43. The most frequently booked car type in Colchester is Full-size (Opel Vivaro or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Fiat 500 or similar) is, on average, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Colchester costs £25 per day, on average, or £50 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.41 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 £16.82 and £22.43. The most frequently booked car type in Colchester is Full-size (Opel Vivaro or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Fiat 500 or similar) is, on average, 60% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Colchester