Introduction
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 one of the most popular cities to visit 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 February
Estimated hotel price
$150
1 night at 3-star hotel
Colchester in February
Estimated hotel price
$150
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 45 km from Colchester. The shortest flight to Colchester from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 27h 25m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Colchester to Bristol takes 1h 34m and costs around $58 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Southampton, expect to pay about $83 for a 1h 55m trip. 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 GREEN MOTION and Hertz, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Colchester using National Express or FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Colchester takes 217 km and will cost you around $10. From Gloucester, the ticket costs about $12 for a journey of 338 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 London Stansted Airport (STN), which is located 45 km from Colchester. The shortest flight to Colchester from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 27h 25m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Colchester to Bristol takes 1h 34m and costs around $58 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Southampton, expect to pay about $83 for a 1h 55m trip. 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 GREEN MOTION and Hertz, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Colchester using National Express or FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Colchester takes 217 km and will cost you around $10. From Gloucester, the ticket costs about $12 for a journey of 338 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

LHRLondon Heathrow
LTNLondon Luton
STNLondon Stansted

Airlines serving Colchester

KLM
Good (1,450 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,773 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,720 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,172 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,207 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,867 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,106 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,254 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,729 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,531 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,509 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (896 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,678 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,697 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,179 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,387 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,357 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,159 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (384 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,851 reviews)
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Where to stay in Colchester

Average rates range from around $150 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $277 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Colchester, with prices from $76 to $616 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 75% 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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Wivenhoe House Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
$248+
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Holiday Inn Express Colchester By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$105+
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The George Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$156+
View
Dragonfly Hotel Colchester
3 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
$121+
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The Essex Golf & Country Club Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
$118+
View

Hiring a car in Colchester

Expect to pay $3.05 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 $36.49 and $48.65. 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, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay $3.05 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 $36.49 and $48.65. 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, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.