Museums & places of interest

Colchester's Castle Park is a large, scenic and well maintained Victorian park in the heart of Colchester's town centre. As well as being a perfect location for a spot of fresh air, quick walk, or picnic the park also provides a perfect setting for a huge range of events including shows, festivals and concerts.

Free to explore and fully accessible throughout, the park grounds include... Read more

Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Keep in Europe. Constructed on the foundations of the Temple of Claudius, built when Colchester was the first Roman capital of Britain, the Castle Museum today reveals many fascinating layers of history to visitors. Archaeological collections of international quality covering 2,500 years of history are beautifully showcased, including of the most important Roman... Read more

Opening Hours:

Monday 9am-5:30pm
Tuesday 9am-5:30pm
Wednesday 9am-7pm
Thursday 9am-5:30pm
Friday 9am-5:30pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 1pm-4pm

Opening Hours:

Monday 9am-5:30pm
Tuesday 9am-5:30pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 9am-5:30pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday Closed

We are an independent, volunteer run museum which aims to give visitors an authentic taste of Mersea's unique island heritage. Permanent and changing exhibitions depict the islands history and life from pre Roman times to the present.

There is particular emphasis on the maritime industries including fishing, oystering, boat building and sail making.


Facilities... Read more

Find out more about local wildlife habitats, biodiversity and climate change at this much-loved, family-friendly museum, housed in the former All Saints Church. Get up close to nature and explore the Natural History collections focussing on Britain and north-east Essex and discover the secrets of the drowned world underneath the North Sea.

Get up close to nature as you discover an interesting... Read more

Opening Hours:

Monday Closed
Tuesday 9am-7pm
Wednesday 9am-5:30pm
Thursday Closed
Friday 9am-5:30pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday Closed

The remains of the Roman theatre in the town centre can best be seen in Maidenburgh Street in the Dutch Quarter: look for the darker paving in the road showing the outline of the theatre's walls. The theatre mentioned in Tacitus' account of the Boudican attack on Colchester was probably on the same site as the later theatre excavated in Maidenburgh Street in 1981-2.

Should you wish to,... Read more

Dating from the 15th century this fine flint flushwork gatehouse just off St John's Green has a vaulted interior.

It was the entrance to St John's Abbey precinct (demolished during the 16th century Reformation).

The gatehouse is the only surviving structure above ground.

Colchester's oldest Art Gallery. A listed Georgian building, The Minories is of local importance within the historic city of Colchester.

The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation, over the years assisted by the 'Friends of The Minories' support group, have ensured the building be used to present art for the community of Colchester and visitors to the city.

The Minories is home to... Read more