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
£77
1 night at 3-star hotel
Colchester in January
Estimated hotel price
£77
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 Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

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 U-Save, among others, in London.

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 Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

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 U-Save, among others, in London.

Airports near Colchester

CBGCambridge

Airlines serving Colchester

Lufthansa
Good (8,229 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,578 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,228 reviews)
SWISS
Good (2,074 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,464 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,579 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,249 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,650 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,732 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,660 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (960 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,214 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,984 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,198 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,641 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,536 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,430 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (430 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,487 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,602 reviews)
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Where to stay in Colchester

Average rates range from around £165 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £119 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Colchester, with prices from £34 to £276 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 63% 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)
£96+
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White Hart Hotel by Greene King Inns
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£59+
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Delta Hotels by Marriott Colchester
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£63+
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Holiday Inn Express Colchester By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£59+
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Holiday Inn Colchester By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£60+
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St Nicholas Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
£53+
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Hiring a car in Colchester

Hiring a car in Colchester costs £36 per day, on average, or £73 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.66 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 £19.90 and £26.54. The most frequently booked car type in Colchester is Standard (Class Commercial Truck or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Ford Fiesta or similar) is, on average, 61% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Colchester costs £36 per day, on average, or £73 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.66 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 £19.90 and £26.54. The most frequently booked car type in Colchester is Standard (Class Commercial Truck or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Ford Fiesta or similar) is, on average, 61% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Colchester