Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting 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. Colchester deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Article

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
$85
1 night at 3-star hotel
Colchester in January
Estimated hotel price
$85
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 flight to Colchester from the United States departs from New York and takes around 6h 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Colchester to Southampton takes 1h 50m and costs around $38 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Cardiff, expect to pay about $58 for a 1h 53m trip. Located 5 miles from the city center, Colchester Marks Tey is the busiest station in Colchester. Another popular train station is Colchester Town, located 1.0 mile from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Colchester is to pick up a car rental from London, which is about 51 miles from Colchester. You’ll find branches of SURPRICE CAR RENTAL and U-Save, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Colchester, including FlixBus, National Express and Megabus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Colchester takes 95 miles and will cost you around $9. From Bristol, the ticket costs about $7 for a journey of 135 miles. The most popular bus station is Colchester University of Essex, located 3 miles from downtown Colchester. Colchester Bus Station is also a commonly used station, and is 0.8 miles from the city center.

Plane

Although Colchester doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Cambridge (CBG), which is located 37 miles from Colchester. The shortest flight to Colchester from the United States departs from New York and takes around 6h 55m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Colchester, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Colchester to Southampton takes 1h 50m and costs around $38 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Cardiff, expect to pay about $58 for a 1h 53m trip. Located 5 miles from the city center, Colchester Marks Tey is the busiest station in Colchester. Another popular train station is Colchester Town, located 1.0 mile from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Colchester is to pick up a car rental from London, which is about 51 miles from Colchester. You’ll find branches of SURPRICE CAR RENTAL and U-Save, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Colchester, including FlixBus, National Express and Megabus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Colchester takes 95 miles and will cost you around $9. From Bristol, the ticket costs about $7 for a journey of 135 miles. The most popular bus station is Colchester University of Essex, located 3 miles from downtown Colchester. Colchester Bus Station is also a commonly used station, and is 0.8 miles from the city center.

Airports near Colchester

CBGCambridge

Airlines serving Colchester

Lufthansa
Good (7,044 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,836 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,588 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,935 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,790 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,698 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (780 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,243 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (346 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,069 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,967 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,851 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Colchester

Where to stay in Colchester

There are also lots of vacation rental options in Colchester, with prices from $46 to $371 per night. Colchester City Centre is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Colchester are about 68% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Colchester by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Colchester

Most booked hotels in Colchester

See all
Holiday Inn Colchester
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1900 reviews)
$99+
View
Holiday Inn Express Colchester
3 stars
Good (7.8, 2412 reviews)
$85+
View
Dragonfly Hotel Colchester
3 stars
Good (7.7, 2260 reviews)
$83+
View
The Essex Golf & Country Club Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.6, 1488 reviews)
$97+
View
Brook Red Lion Hotel
3 stars
Good (6.6, 1902 reviews)
$77+
View

Renting a car in Colchester

Renting a car in Colchester costs $37 per day, on average, or $74 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $6.59 per gallon in Colchester (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $79.04 and $105.39. The most frequently booked car type in Colchester is Full-size (Volvo XC60 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Class Economy Car or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Colchester costs $37 per day, on average, or $74 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $6.59 per gallon in Colchester (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $79.04 and $105.39. The most frequently booked car type in Colchester is Full-size (Volvo XC60 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Class Economy Car or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Find car rentals in Colchester

Colchester Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Colchester city guide for the best Colchester travel tips. To help you organize 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.