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
£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 Cambridge (CBG), which is located 37 miles from Colchester. The shortest domestic flight to Colchester departs from Belfast and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Colchester to Oxford takes 0h 50m and costs around £31 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Birmingham, expect to pay about £26 for a 1h 49m 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 CarWiz, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Colchester, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Birmingham, the bus ride to Colchester takes 135 miles and will cost you around £5. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 155 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 Belfast and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Colchester to Oxford takes 0h 50m and costs around £31 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Birmingham, expect to pay about £26 for a 1h 49m 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 CarWiz, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Colchester, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Birmingham, the bus ride to Colchester takes 135 miles and will cost you around £5. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 155 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

KLM
Good (1,405 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,518 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,982 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,468 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,772 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,023 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,997 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,994 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,477 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,383 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,657 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (863 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,349 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,537 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,282 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,134 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,161 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,333 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,038 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,387 reviews)
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Where to stay in Colchester

Average rates range from around £84 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 £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 73% 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)
£103+
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Holiday Inn Colchester By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£64+
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Holiday Inn Express Colchester By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£52+
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Dragonfly Hotel Colchester
3 stars
Good (7.7, Good reviews)
£58+
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St Nicholas Hotel Colchester
3 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
£55+
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The Essex Golf & Country Club Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
£56+
View

Hiring a car in Colchester

Hiring a car in Colchester costs £40 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.35 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 £16.18 and £21.57. The most frequently booked car type in Colchester is Compact (Nissan Juke or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Citroen C1 or similar) is, on average, 69% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Colchester costs £40 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.35 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 £16.18 and £21.57. The most frequently booked car type in Colchester is Compact (Nissan Juke or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Citroen C1 or similar) is, on average, 69% 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.