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, 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
£66
1 night at 3-star hotel
Colchester in January
Estimated hotel price
£66
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Colchester

Plane

Although Colchester doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to London Stansted Airport (STN), which is located 28 miles from Colchester. The shortest domestic flight to Colchester departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Colchester to Manchester takes 2h 19m and costs around £37 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Newcastle upon Tyne, expect to pay about £28 for a 3h 26m 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 Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Colchester using National Express or FlixBus. From Bournemouth, the bus ride to Colchester takes 130 miles and will cost you around £6. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 135 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 London Stansted Airport (STN), which is located 28 miles from Colchester. The shortest domestic flight to Colchester departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Colchester to Manchester takes 2h 19m and costs around £37 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Newcastle upon Tyne, expect to pay about £28 for a 3h 26m 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 Turo and Rentacar, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Colchester using National Express or FlixBus. From Bournemouth, the bus ride to Colchester takes 130 miles and will cost you around £6. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 135 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

LHRLondon Heathrow
LTNLondon Luton
STNLondon Stansted

Airlines serving Colchester

KLM
Good (1,448 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,759 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,716 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,146 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,210 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,864 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,104 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,236 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,731 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,532 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,503 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (896 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,677 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,688 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,179 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,380 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,357 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,159 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (384 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,839 reviews)
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Where to stay in Colchester

Average rates range from around £74 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £108 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 70% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Colchester

Most booked hotels in Colchester

See all
Wivenhoe House Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£112+
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The Rose and Crown
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£83+
View
Stoke By Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£91+
View
Delta Hotels by Marriott Colchester
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£51+
View
Holiday Inn Express Colchester By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£46+
View
The George Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£69+
View

Hiring a car in Colchester

Hiring a car in Colchester costs £29 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 24% more expensive than at London Heathrow.

Expect to pay £1.34 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 £16.05 and £21.39. 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 (Citroen C1 or similar) is, on average, 63% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Colchester costs £29 per day, on average.

You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 24% more expensive than at London Heathrow.

Expect to pay £1.34 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 £16.05 and £21.39. 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 (Citroen C1 or similar) is, on average, 63% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Find car hire in Colchester