Why go
- Served by Blooms Farm Airstrip.
History
Colchester, UK is a city in United Kingdom. We do not yet hold a written history for it — the sources below are the best starting points, and this page will be expanded into a full guidebook.
Restaurants & places to go
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo 17:00-22:30; We-Sa 17:00-22:30; Su 13:00-21:30 · The Street, CO7 7LD · lionofbengal.co.uk
Restaurant · restaurant · Polstead Street, Colchester, CO6 4SA · angelinnsuffolk.co.uk
Coffee Shop, Restaurant · Former Nonconformist Chapel Features: outdoor seating · Mersea Road, CO2 8RU · starlightteachapel.com
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 00:00-24:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, CO1 1US · mcdonalds.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo 11:00-22:00; Tu-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 11:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · 2 Middleborough, Colchester, CO1 1QS · papajohns.co.uk
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · Unit 5 United Way, Colchester, CO4 5UP · slimchickens.co.uk
Noodle, Fast Food · Features: takeaway, step-free access · 25 Culver Street West, Colchester, CO1 1JG · chopstixnoodles.co.uk
Sandwich, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Petrolea Close, Colchester, CO4 5TU · restaurants.subway.com
Steak, Restaurant · Steak restaurant · London Road, Stanway, CO3 8LT · millerandcarter.co.uk
British, Restaurant · British restaurant · Culver Street East, Colchester, CO1 1LF · thelounges.co.uk
Barbecue, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 16:30-22:00 · 45 North Station Road, Colchester, CO1 1RQ · bbqhouseonline.co.uk
Chinese, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Sa 17:30-22:30; Su 12:00-21:30; Mo 17:30-22:30 Features: takeaway, delivery · 24 Osborne Street, Colchester, CO2 7DA · chinatowncolchester.co.uk
Turkish, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-23:00 · 26 North Hill, Colchester, CO1 1EG · dogarestaurant.co.uk
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-22:00 · 56a St Christopher Road, Colchester, CO4 0NB · fishnchickn.co.uk
Asian, Korean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Su 11:30-21:00 Features: delivery · 2a Queen Street, Colchester, CO1 2PJ · xyangk.wixsite.com
Breakfast, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:30-16:00 · East Road, East Mersea, CO5 8TQ · merseabarns.com
Steak House, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00 · 19-20 North Hill, Colchester, CO1 1DZ · middletons-shg.co.uk
English, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Sa 12:00-16:00,18:00-23:00; Su 12:00-24:00 Features: outdoor seating · The Green, Great Bentley, CO7 8PJ · restaurant43.co.uk
Pub, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Tu 15:00-22:30; We-Th 12:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-00:00; Su 12:00-22:00 · Nayland Road, Colchester, CO6 4ET · thehalfbutt.co.uk
Italian, Restaurant · Features: vegan options · 16 North Hill, Colchester, CO1 1DZ · askitalian.co.uk
Kebab, Fast Food · Features: takeaway, delivery · 50 High Street, Colchester, CO1 1DH · gdk.com
Tex-Mex, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 12 Head Street, Colchester, CO1 1NY · locations.tacobell.co.uk
American, Restaurant · American restaurant · London Road, Colchester, CO3 8NZ · harvester.co.uk
Grill, Burger, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:30-22:00; Sa-Su 12:00-22:00 Features: vegan options · Valley Road, Colchester, CO4 3WA · essex.ac.uk
Vietnamese, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating · 95 Quayside Drive, Colchester, CO2 8GN · bamburestaurant.co.uk
African, Restaurant · African restaurant · 10 St Botolphs Street, Colchester, CO2 7DU · 90minuteslounge.co.uk
Japanese, Sushi, Restaurant · Japanese/Sushi restaurant · 19 Short Wyre Street, Colchester, CO1 1LN · aburi.co.uk
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant · 7 Museum Street, Colchester, CO1 1TN · codofthecastle.co.uk
Sushi, Restaurant · Sushi restaurant · Unit 9 United Way, Colchester, CO4 5UP · joyato.co.uk
Thai, Restaurant · Thai restaurant · Haven Road, Colchester, CO2 8HT · nakathai.com
French, Restaurant · French restaurant · 11-13 High Street, CO7 9BE · trinitypatisserie.co.uk
Bubble Tea, Cafe · Features: takeaway · 30 Sir Isaac's Walk, Colchester, CO1 1JJ
Cafe · Opening hours: Mar Su[-1]-Oct Su[-1] -1 day: Mo-Su,PH 09:00-17:00; Oct Su[-1]-Mar Su[-1] -1 day: Mo-Su,PH 09:00-16:30 · High Street, Colchester, CO7 6DE · tiptree.com
Cantonese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 17:00-23:30 · 1 Greenstead Road, Colchester, CO1 2SZ
Crepes, Waffle, Ice Cream, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:30 · 91 Crouch Street, Colchester, CO3 3EZ
Nepalese, Indian, Restaurant · Features: vegan options · 14 Magdalen Street, Colchester, CO1 2JT · royalgurkhalounge.co.uk
Caribbean, Restaurant · Caribbean restaurant · Colchester, CO1 2JT · degroverestaurant.com
Greek, Kebab, Fast Food · Features: takeaway, delivery · 40 St Botolphs Street, Colchester, CO2 7EA
Arab, Fast Food · Features: takeaway, delivery, halal · 11 St Botolphs Street, Colchester, CO2 7DU
Mediterranean, Restaurant · Mediterranean restaurant · 52-53 High Street, Colchester, CO1 1DH
Fish, Restaurant · Fish restaurant · 129 Coast Road
Fast Food · Features: takeaway · britsgrill.co.uk
Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 17:30-22:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · 31 North Station Road, Colchester, CO1 1RQ · kismettakeaway.com
Restaurant · restaurant · 22 Trinity Street, Colchester, CO1 1JN · timbers-restaurant.co.uk
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00 Features: takeaway · Petrolea Close, Colchester, CO4 5TU · storelocator.asda.com
241 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
London Southend Airport (SEN) 24 mi to the centre
Essex, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6YF, UK — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 2 airlines (easyJet, Aer Lingus) · direct flights to 14 destinations incl. Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 14 direct destinations
- easyJet U2 (A319) · 13 routes: Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Edinburgh, Faro, Geneva, Ibiza, Jersey, Krakow, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Venice
- Aer Lingus EI (AT4, ATR 72) · 1 route: Dublin*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Earls Colne Airfield 9.4 mi to the centre
Colchester, Essex, ENG, GB
West Bergholt Airstrip 2.6 mi to the centre
Colchester, Essex, ENG, GB
Wormingford Glider Field 5.9 mi to the centre
Colchester, Essex, ENG, GB
Getting there by ferry
Brightlingsea/ Point Clear/ East Mersea Foot Ferry
Ferry terminal · 7.9 mi from the centre
Wivenhoe Fingringhoe Rowhedge Ferry
Ferry route
Brightlingsea Foot Ferry
Ferry route · Brightlingsea Harbour
Where to stay
28 St Botolph's St, Colchester CO2 7EA, United Kingdom · booking.com
46 Long Wyre St, Colchester CO1 1LJ, United Kingdom · staylux.co.uk
62 W Stockwell St, Colchester CO1 1HE, United Kingdom · bayehouse.com
Wivenhoe Park, Park Rd, Colchester CO4 3FA, United Kingdom · wivenhoehouse.co.uk
4 St Botolph's Circus, Colchester CO2 7EF, United Kingdom · booking.com
Ipswich Rd, Ardleigh, Colchester CO4 9WP, United Kingdom · premierinn.com
St Peter's St, Colchester CO1 1EW, United Kingdom · premierinn.com
4-6 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1DZ, United Kingdom · colchesterboutiquehotel.co.uk
172 Bergholt Rd, Colchester CO4 5AJ, United Kingdom · therailwaysleeper.com
East St, Colchester CO1 2TZ, United Kingdom · roseandcrowncolchester.co.uk
Birchwood Road Off, A12 (Southbound Shell Garage, Ipswich Rd, Colchester CO7 6HS, United Kingdom · ihg.com
Abbotts Ln, Eight Ash Green, Colchester CO6 3QL, United Kingdom · ihg.com
46 Lenz Cl, Colchester CO1 2FP, United Kingdom · ocean-homestay.co.uk
43 High St, Colchester CO1 1DJ, United Kingdom · brook-hotels.co.uk
6 Harwich Rd, Colchester CO4 3BN, United Kingdom · eastgateinn.co.uk
71 N Station Rd, Colchester CO1 1RQ, United Kingdom · globehotelcolchester.co.uk
Unit 12, Northern Gateway Leisure Park, United Way, Colchester CO4 5UP, United Kingdom · travelodge.co.uk
High St, Colchester CO1 1UG, United Kingdom · greyfriarscolchester.co.uk
51 North Hill, Colchester CO1 1PY, United Kingdom · oyorooms.com
116 High St, Colchester CO1 1TD, United Kingdom · suryahotels.co.uk
A12, Ardleigh, Colchester CO7 7QY, United Kingdom · suryahotels.co.uk
Unit 2, St Nicholas House, High St, Colchester CO1 1DN, United Kingdom · suryahotels.co.uk
16, Imperial Court, Clarendon Way, Colchester CO1 1AU, United Kingdom
2 N Station Rd, Colchester CO1 1RB, United Kingdom · colchesterhotel.co.uk
The Mill Apartments, Colchester CO1 2QT, United Kingdom
27 Magdalen St, Colchester CO1 2ZT, United Kingdom
Indoor
Indoor
Indoor
Lauriston, School Hill, Birch, Colchester CO2 0NA, United Kingdom · lauristonstay.uk
1 Middleborough, Colchester CO1 1QS, United Kingdom · catchpolestays.co.uk
Ladbrook Dr, Colchester CO2 8RW, United Kingdom
Indoor
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Blooms Farm Airstrip; 14 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 1 ferry terminal within 12 mi (nearest: Brightlingsea/ Point Clear/ East Mersea Foot Ferry, 7.9 mi); routes include Wivenhoe Fingringhoe Rowhedge Ferry, Brightlingsea Foot Ferry.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Colchester, UK. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach