Beth Chatto Gardens
White Barn House
Elmstead Market
Essex
CO7 7DB
United Kingdom

Tel: 01206 822007

Opened in 1960 the Beth Chatto Gardens are situated to the east of Colchester in the small town of Elmstead Market. The gardens transformed a former wasteland into a pleasant and informal setting after Beth and Andrew Chatto decided to find somewhere to grow a range of plants. There is also a nursery here where visitors can buy plants of all kinds, with more than 2,000 available for this very purpose.

Colchester Castle Museum
Castle Park
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1YG
United Kingdom

Tel: 01206 282937

Colchester has been in existence as a settlement for some 2,000 years and the Colchester Castle Museum documents some of this history. Among the most famous attractions in the region the castle now lies in ruins but its displays and exhibits seek to educate visitors and locals about the town’s past. The castle was first built in the 11th century and was turned into a museum as long ago as 1860.

Colchester Zoo
Maldon Road
Colchester
Essex
CO3 0SL
United Kingdom

Tel: 01206 331292

Discover one of Europe's finest zoos with more than 200 species in award-winning natural enclosures. The zoo has won a number of East of England Tourist Board awards and there are some 260 different species amid the 60 acres of land. Fun for all the family, visitors can explore the likes of the Orang-utan Forest, watch the penguins at the penguin shores and gaze at the birds in the falconry display area for example.

firstsite
4-6 Short Wire Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1LN
United Kingdom

Tel: 01206 577067

firstsite is Colchester’s home of contemporary art and is designed to ensure art is available and accessible to all kinds of people. The gallery itself is modern in appearance and it moved into its current home in recent years, having been based at the Minories art gallery from the year 1994. Inside the new home visitors will find a sizeable auditorium, presentation space for exhibitions, places to eat, drink and shop, and areas for artists to work.

Hollytrees Museum
Castle Park
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1UG
United Kingdom

Tel: 01206 282940

The Hollytrees Museum takes up residence in a Georgian town house and dates back to the year 1718, the year in which it was built. It is designed to educate visitors about life from the time and since, with a number of displays and exhibits to enjoy.

Natural History Museum
All Saints Church
High Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1DN
United Kingdom

Tel: 01206 282941

At the Natural History Museum in Colchester visitors can learn about the history of this part of Essex, discovering its former landscapes and nature. It is found inside the All Saints Church in the town centre and has been stationed there since 1957, boasting a number of exhibits for all to enjoy and experience.

Tymperleys Clock Museum
6 Trinity Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1JN
United Kingdom

Tel: 01206 282943

At one time the Tymperleys Clock Museum was home Elizabeth I’s physician and scientist William Gilberd. The beautiful 15th-century timber-frame building also has a garden and today houses a particularly extensive collection of clocks. Situated next to Trinity Street the museum features clocks from the 17th to the 19th centuries.