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 among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 5 days in order to fully appreciate everything Colchester has to offer.

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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
AED 304
1 night at 3-star hotel
Colchester in January
Estimated hotel price
AED 304
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 60 km from Colchester. The shortest flight to Colchester from the United Arab Emirates departs from Abu Dhabi and takes around 11h 25m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Colchester to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around AED 73 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Southampton, expect to pay about AED 121 for a 1h 42m 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 Hertz and CarWiz, 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 AED 55. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about AED 33 for a journey of 217 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 Cambridge (CBG), which is located 60 km from Colchester. The shortest flight to Colchester from the United Arab Emirates departs from Abu Dhabi and takes around 11h 25m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Colchester to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around AED 73 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Southampton, expect to pay about AED 121 for a 1h 42m 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 Hertz and CarWiz, 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 AED 55. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about AED 33 for a journey of 217 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

CBGCambridge

Airlines serving Colchester

KLM
Good (1,442 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,748 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,698 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,111 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,206 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,859 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,098 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,198 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,525 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,487 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (894 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,655 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,662 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,375 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,176 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,356 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,144 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,436 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (382 reviews)
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Where to stay in Colchester

Average rates range from around AED 324 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to AED 593 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Colchester, with prices from AED 169 to AED 1,362 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)
AED 577+
View
Stoke By Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
AED 463+
View
Holiday Inn Express Colchester By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
AED 209+
View
Dragonfly Hotel Colchester
3 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
AED 264+
View
The Essex Golf & Country Club Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
AED 268+
View

Hiring a car in Colchester

Expect to pay AED 6.58 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 AED 78.88 and AED 105.18. Compact (Jeep Avenger or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Colchester, while also 52% cheaper than other types, on average.

Expect to pay AED 6.58 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 AED 78.88 and AED 105.18. Compact (Jeep Avenger or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Colchester, while also 52% cheaper than other types, on average.