WHERE TO VISIT

Visitor Centre, Church Road,

Layer-de-la-Haye, Colchester,

Essex, CO2 0EU 01206 738172 essexwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/abberton

Conservation centre run by the Essex Wildlife Trust, at a site of international importance for winter wildfowl. Nesting cormorants, common terns and nightingales. Bird hides and nature trails including the Brambly Hedge Sculpture Trail. Shop selling gifts, optics and wildlife books.

Abberton Reservoir

AQUA SPRINGS

Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex,

CO1 1YH 01206 282010 aqua-springs.co.uk

The ultimate health spa experience. Providing you with a complete environment of rest and relaxation, to soothe, revitalise and transform. Try the range of beauty and relaxation treatments.

BETH CHATTO GARDENS

Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex, CO7 7DB 01206 822007 bethchatto.co.uk

7.5 acres of Gravel, Water, Woodland, Reservoir and Scree Gardens. A large modern tea room, plant nursery and gift shop. visitcolchester.com

Bourne Mill, Bourne Road, Colchester,

Essex, CO2 8RT 01206 549799 nationaltrust.org.uk/bourne-mill

A National Trust property, the mill was originally built as a fishing lodge in 1591 and features stepped ‘Dutch’ gables. Set in tranquil grounds with plenty of wildlife and a walking trail, the mill also features a working waterwheel.

BOXTED AIRFIELD MUSEUM

Langham Lane, Langham,

Essex, CO4 5NW 07503 952354 boxted-airfield.com

Discover how a WW2 airfield and 3000 military personnel affected a small village. Visit the Royal Observer Corps exhibit, uniform collection and Marauder cockpit exhibit. Private visits available on request.

CASTLE PARK

High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1TJ 01206 282962 colchester.gov.uk/castle-park

The jewel in Colchester’s crown – an award-winning oasis of horticultural splendour boasting a children’s play area, boating lake, cafe and adventure golf.

15 Colchester Road, Chappel,

Essex, CO6 2DE 01206 240326 chappelgalleries.co.uk

Set in the picturesque Colne Valley, Chappel Galleries overlooks the 32 arch Victorian Chappel Viaduct. The Gallery displays and sells work by professional artists who are either from or have a connection with the region.

CHARTER HALL

Colchester Leisure World, Cowdray Avenue,

Colchester, CO1 1YH 01206 573948 colchester-events.co.uk

A multipurpose events venue in the heart of Colchester, featuring live music, comedy, sports and special events.

COGGESHALL GRANGE BARN

The National Trust, Grange Hill,

Coggeshall, Essex, CO6 1RE 01376 562226 nationaltrust.org.uk/grange-barn/

Grange Barn stands as a reminder of the once powerful Coggeshall Abbey. Built sometime after 1240, the pillars soar to a cathedral-like roof.

Church Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1NF 01206 500900 colchesterartscentre.com

The home of live music, comedy, theatre, poetry, dance, children’s shows, clubs, gigs and more.

COLCHESTER CASTLE MUSEUM

Castle Park, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1TJ 01206 282939 colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/visit/ colchester-castle/

Colchester Castle is Europe’s largest Norman Keep and is one of the region’s leading heritage attractions. With a unique mix of fascinating displays and the latest technology, there is lots for your family to explore and discover.

COLCHESTER SPORTS PARK

Northern Gateway, Cuckoo Farm,

Colchester, Essex, CO4 5YX 01206 282000 colchestersportspark.co.uk

A 76 acre site providing indoor and outdoor sports and leisure facilities. Perfect for individuals, groups and schools. Facilities include a multi-use sports centre, 1 mile floodlit cycle track, all-weather and grass pitches, fitness suite and archery range. On site Paddy & Scotts cafe.

COLCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

JobServe Community Stadium, United Way,

Colchester, Essex, CO4 5UP 01206 755100 cu-fc.com

Colchester United Football Club was formed in 1937. They currently play in League 2. The stadium hosts numerous events and is home to the official Colchester United shop.

COLCHESTER ZOO

Maldon Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex,

CO3 0SL 01206 331292 colchester-zoo.com

One of Europe’s finest zoos with over 180 species, set in 60 acres of parkland and lakes. Visit habitats and animals from around the world.

Colchester Zoo

COLNE VALLEY RAILWAY

Yeldham Road, Castle Hedingham,

Halstead, Essex, CO9 3DZ 01787 461174 colnevalleyrailway.co.uk

One-mile length of line with re-located buildings and a large collection of heritage rolling stock, steam and diesel locomotives, miniature and model railways. Special events including Steam with Santa and Driving Experiences.

CUDMORE GROVE COUNTRY PARK

Bromans Lane, East Mersea, Colchester,

Essex, CO5 8UE 0345 6037624 explore-essex.com

A nature reserve with over 102 acres of unique coastal landscape, habitat and heritage on Mersea Island. The park includes a coastalthemed play area. Perfect for picnics and great views.

CURZON CINEMA

Roman House, 19 Queen Street,

Colchester, Essex, CO1 2PH 01233 555644 curzon.com

Curzon Colchester is an independent arthouse cinema with three screens, showing the best of quality mainstream including family films, independent gems and events. Two café bars and a roof terrace.

DEDHAM ART AND CRAFT CENTRE

High Street, Dedham,

Essex, CO7 6AD 01206 322666 dedhamartandcraftcentre.co.uk

This beautifully converted church showcases the work of over 60 creative artisans and the inspired buying skills of specialist retailers. Tea room offering favourite tea room fayre.

Flatford

EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAY MUSEUM

Chappel Station, Wakes Colne,

Essex, CO6 2DS 01206 242524 earm.co.uk

A living museum situated in the beautiful Colne Valley. Explore the wide collection of steam trains, diesel locomotives and vintage carriages, as well as the Victorian buildings and working signal boxes.

FINGRINGHOE WICK VISITOR CENTRE

South Green Road, Fingringhoe, Colchester,

Essex, CO5 7DN 01206 729678 essexwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/ fingringhoe

Nature reserve with over 200 acres of mixed habitat on the Colne Estuary. Nature trails, wheelchair access, bird hides, gift shop and visitor centre. Friendly atmosphere. Café and refreshments available.

FIRSTSITE

Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester,

Essex, CO1 1JH 01206 713700 firstsite.uk

A unique gallery in the heart of Colchester, offering a constantly changing programme of exhibitions, film screenings, performances, activities and events for young and old.

Flatford, East Bergholt, Suffolk, CO7 6UL 01206 298260 nationaltrust.org.uk/flatford

Walk in John Constable’s footsteps to discover the pretty hamlet of Flatford including Bridge Cottage and Flatford Mill. Visit the Constable exhibition then sit by the river and enjoy a freshly baked cake at the National Trust tea room and find a gift in the shop.

FOSSIL FALLS CRAZY GOLF

Bakers Lane, Colchester,

Essex, CO3 4AU 01206 843333 lexdenwoodgolf.club/golf/crazy-golf/

Magical landscapes, life-sized dinosaurs and super challenging golf on our family crazy golf course at Lexden Wood. Packed with waterfalls and caves, it’s great fun for all the family. Restaurant with pizza oven. Kids party packages available.

GO BANANAS!

9 & 10 Mason Road, Cowdray Centre,

Cowdray Ave, Colchester,

Essex, CO1 1BX 01206 761762 go-bananas.co.uk

Go Bananas play centre has over 20 years of experience in keeping the kids entertained! Tiny Town is for those 4 years and under. For 5–12 year olds there is a three level Aztec Adventure frame. Go Bananas offers a wide variety of inclusive children’s parties, workshops, Autism and SEN sessions and parties for adults too!

GOSBECKS ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

Gosbecks Rd, Colchester,

Essex, CO3 4RN 01206 282920

The Archaeological Park is one of the most significant Iron Age and Roman sites in the country. Enjoy a walk and discover the highlights of the site with the interpretation boards around the Park.

Park Road, Ardleigh, Colchester,

Essex, CO7 7SP 01206 230455 greenislandgardens.co.uk

20 acres of professionally designed gardens within woodland destroyed by the 1987 hurricane. Now a plantsman’s paradise full of unusual plants for all-year round colour.

HEADGATE THEATRE

14 Chapel Street North, Colchester,

Essex, CO2 7AT 01206 366000 headgatetheatre.co.uk

The home of amateur theatre in Colchester. Hosting a variety of productions throughout the year, from classic and modern drama to musical theatre and stand-up comedy nights.

HIGH WOODS COUNTRY PARK

Visitor Centre, Turner Road, Colchester,

Essex, CO4 5JR 01206 853588 colchester.gov.uk/countrypark

370 acres of woodland, grassland and wetland with path network, including circular walks and easy access trail. Visitor Centre and three play areas for children of all ages.

Castle Park, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UG 01206 282940 cimuseums.org.uk/hollytrees

Three centuries of fascinating toys, domestic items and clocks displayed in an attractive Georgian town house set in Castle Park. Free entry. Home to the VisitColchester Information Centre, the place to buy gifts and souvenirs.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

Trinity Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1JN

Colchester’s only surviving Saxon building featuring an arrowhead (triangle arches) doorway in the tower and re-used Roman bricks. The churchyard contains the burial place of William Gilberd, discoverer of electromagnetism and Physician to Queen Elizabeth I.

JUMBO WATER TOWER

Balkerne Passage, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PT

Grade II listed Victorian Water Tower soaring over 40m in the air. Named after London Zoo’s Jumbo elephant, this much-loved landmark is topped with an elephant shaped weathervane.

High Woods Country Park Jumbo

21 Mason Road, Cowdray Centre,

Cowdray Ave, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1BX 01206 911035 jumpstreet.co.uk

Colchester’s first sole-purpose trampoline park. Over 100 interconnecting trampolines create a 20,000 square foot bounce space which includes free-bounce areas, basketball nets, foam pit, dodgeball court and the first wall trampoline in the U.K

LAKESIDE THEATRE

University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park,

Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ 01206 873261 lakesidetheatre.org.uk

Lakeside Theatre is a hidden gem offering live theatre, children’s shows, contemporary music, live comedy, open mic nights and much more. Enjoy refreshments at the on-site café.

LAYER MARNEY TOWER

Layer Marney, Colchester, Essex, CO5 9US 01206 330784 layermarneytower.co.uk

Magnificent Tudor building with the tallest Gatehouse in Britain and 16th-century Italianate terracotta. Climb the tower, visit the gardens, outbuildings, dolls house, church and farm animals. Café and shop.

LEISURE WORLD COLCHESTER

Cowdray Avenue, Colchester,

Essex, CO1 1YH 01206 282000 colchesterleisureworld.co.uk

Leisure World Colchester is one of East Anglia’s largest sports, leisure, recreation and entertainment venues and offers year round fun for all the family. The leisure pool includes outside river rapids ride, water cannons and flumes.

MARKS HALL ESTATE

Marks Hall, Coggeshall,

Essex CO6 1TG 01376 563796 markshall.org.uk

Discover trees from across the globe in this world-class arboretum. Relax in the walled garden or explore the ancient woodland on one of the many walks through the historic landscape.

MERCURY THEATRE

Balkerne Gate, Colchester,

Essex, CO1 1PT 01206 573948 mercurytheatre.co.uk

A highly respected regional theatre, presenting a broad mix of classic plays and new writing, as well as working extensively within the local community. Café Bar with large outdoor piazza.

Layer Marney Tower

MERSEA BOATING LAKE

Rewsalls Lane, East Mersea, Essex, CO5 8SX 07904 196238 merseaboatinglake.com

A 6 acre man made salt water lake, located by the sea with private beach access. A family friendly lake offering water sports activities for all ages and abilities, including paddle boarding, kayaking and sailing.

MERSEA ISLAND MUSEUM

12 High Street, West Mersea, Colchester,

Essex, CO5 8QD 01206 385191 merseamuseum.org.uk

Exhibits of Mersea’s social history, natural history, archaeology and fishing industry, including a fisherman’s cottage display. Special exhibitions and gift shop.

MERSEA ISLAND VINEYARD

Rewsalls Lane, East Mersea, Colchester,

Essex, CO5 8SX 01206 384698 merseaislandvineyard.co.uk

Enjoy wine tasting on the Island or just relax with a glass of wine or coffee and cake at the Vineyard Café. Also home to Mersea Island Brewery.

THE MUNNINGS ART MUSEUM

Castle Hill, Dedham, Colchester,

Essex, CO7 6AZ 01206 322127 munningsmuseum.org.uk

Explore the home and studios of Sir Alfred Munnings, PPRA and enjoy over 200 paintings, drawings and sculptures from his collection which are displayed throughout his house. visitcolchester.com

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

High Street, Colchester, CO1 1DN 01206 282941 cimuseums.org.uk/naturalhistory

Housed in the former All Saints Church, discover more about local wildlife habitats, biodiversity and climate change at this family friendly museum. Free entry.

THE NOTTAGE MUSEUM

Nottage Maritime Institute,

The Quay, Wivenhoe, Colchester,

Essex, CO7 9BX 01206 824142 nottage.org.uk

One of the country’s oldest institutions teaching yachting skills, it is also a repository for documents, pictures and artefacts, with a fine library, relating to the Maritime History of the River Colne and Wivenhoe in particular. Open to the public at weekends during the summer months and at other times by appointment. For details see website.

ODEON CINEMA

Head Street, Colchester, CO1 1NH odeon.co.uk

The ODEON Colchester is a fully digital eight screen cinema showing RealD 3D. Treat yourself at the Costa Coffee shop or a Ben and Jerry’s at the ice-cream parlour.

25 West Street, Coggeshall, Essex, CO6 1NS 01376 561305 nationaltrust.org.uk/paycockes-houseand-garden

Built in the 16th century, this attractive halftimbered merchant house is a grand example of wealth generated by the cloth trade.

PUTT IN THE PARK

St Peter’s Street, Lower Castle Park,

Colchester, Essex, CO1 1HL 01206 579499 puttinthepark.com

Adventure golf course and clubhouse café, set in the beautiful and historic surroundings of Castle Park.

ROMAN CHURCH

Southway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3BU 01206 282920

Dating from the 4th century, these foundations are thought to be those of the earliest known Christian church in Britain.

ROMAN CIRCUS VISITOR CENTRE

Roman Circus Walk, Colchester,

Essex, CO2 7GZ 01206 501785 romancircus.co.uk

Discovered in 2005, this former chariot racing track dates from around 2000AD and is the only know Roman chariot racing track in Britain. Spectacular in nature, it would have provided seating for 8000 spectators.

Maidenburgh Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1TT 01206 282920

The remains of the Roman theatre in the city centre are best seen in Maidenburgh Street in the Dutch Quarter. Look for the darker paving in the road showing the outline of the theatre’s walls.

ROMAN WALL/BALKERNE GATE

Balkerne Passage, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3AA 01206 282920

Colchester’s Roman Wall is the oldest and longest surviving city wall in Britain. It was built to defend Colchester after the Boudican rebellion in AD60 and includes Balkerne Gate, the original main entrance to the city.

ST BOTOLPH’S PRIORY

Priory Street, Colchester, Essex CO2 7EE 01206 282920 english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/ colchester-st-botolphs-priory

The first English Augustinian priory founded at the end of the 11th century. Substantial and picturesque ruined remains survive today under the care of English Heritage.

ST JOHN’S ABBEY GATE

St John’s Green, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7EZ 01206 282920 english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stjohns-abbey-gate/

This elaborate pinnacled 15th-century gatehouse in East Anglian flushwork, is the sole survivor of the Benedictine abbey of St John. It was stormed by Parliamentarian soldiers during the Civil War siege of 1648.

Roman Circus Visitor Centre St John's Abbey Gate

ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS CHURCH, COPFORD

Off Aldcar Road, Copford Green,

Colchester, Essex, CO6 1DG 01206 211494 copfordchurch.org.uk

Celebrated 12th-century apsidal church with magnificent medieval wall frescoes cleaned and restored in the 20th century. The paintings show a strong Byzantine influence in content and design and were uncovered from behind a coating of 16th-century whitewash. Guided tours by pre-arrangement.

THE SENTINEL GALLERY

Chapel Road, Wivenhoe, Colchester,

Essex, CO7 9DX 07769 945793 thesentinelgallery.co.uk

An art gallery located in the heart of Wivenhoe, hosting regularly changing exhibitions of local artists. The gallery is available for hire to local artists and art groups.

Wyvernwood Wilkin and Sons Ltd

WILKIN AND SONS LTD TIPTREE

Wilkins Jam Factory, Factory Hill,

Tiptree, Colchester, Essex, CO5 0RF 01621 815407 tiptree.com

Tiptree is the home of the Wilkin family, where from 1885 the first Tiptree jam was made. Delightful museum, tea room and gift shop.

WYVERNWOOD

St Osyth Road, Alresford, Colchester,

Essex, CO7 8ES 01206 700675 wyvernwood.co.uk

Discover the Enchanted Lost Kingdom of Wyvernwood. Step through to another world and explore the adventure park inhibited by fabulous fairies, fierce dragons and wise wizards. Sand play, tunnels, jumping pillow, karts and castle climbing frame are all part of the fun.