Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Essentials
GETTING THERE There are up to five Colchester-bound trains (NXEA) leaving
London's Liverpool Street, most taking less than an hour and costing about £23 one-
way. If you're driving from London, take the A12; from Cambridge take the A120 and
join the A12 north.
VISITOR INFORMATION The Tourist Information Centre is opposite Cas-
tle Park at 1 Queen St. ( &   01206/282920; www.visitcolchester.com). April to June,
it's open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm; July and August, Monday to Saturday
9:30am to 5:30pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm; and October to March Monday to
Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm.
Exploring the Area
Beth Chatto Gardens GARDEN Essex has the least rainfall in Britain, and
these famous gardens pioneered the concept of drought-tolerant planting in the U.K.
when they opened in 1960, before ecology was trendy. The result is a gravel garden
that's at its best in spring and early summer. There's also a luscious water garden,
which is every shade of green from early summer to fall. A little cafe sells locally made
cakes and ice creams.
Elmstead Market. &   01206/331292. www.bethchatto.co.uk. Admission £6, free for children 13 and
under. Mon-Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 10am-4pm.
Colchester Castle CASTLE Just off the main shopping area and within the
delightful Victorian Castle Park, you'll find Colchester's most important historical
building: the castle. The Norman keep is said to be the biggest and best preserved in
Europe, and inside you'll find hands-on displays that recount Britain's history over the
last 2,000 years. There are plenty of child-friendly activities to make family visits even
more enjoyable, regular exhibitions, and a good cafe. The park has riverside walks, a
cafe, and children's play area and boating lake.
Castle Park. &   01206/282939. www.colchestermuseums.org.uk Admission £6 adults, £3.80 children,
£16 family ticket. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm.
Colchester Zoo ZOO You can spend a full day at this award-winning zoo,
which has one of the largest collection of animals in Europe. Highlights include see-
ing the elephants and giraffes, and walking through the underwater viewing tunnel to
watch the sea lions. This is a big site, with some fairly steep paths in places.
Maldon Rd., Stanway. &   01206/331292. www.colchester-zoo.com. Admission £16-£18 adults, £13-£15
seniors, £10-£11 children 5-15. Daily 9:30am to between 4:30 and 6.30pm depending on season.
Hollytrees Museum MUSEUM This is an award-winning social-history museum
in an impressive Georgian mansion with collections of toys and decorative arts from
the last 300 years, plus domestic items from the recent past which will take you for
a walk down memory lane.
High St. &   01206/282940. www.colchestermuseums.org.uk. Free admission. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm,
Sun 11am-5pm.
Natural History Museum MUSEUM The decommissioned All Saints Church is
the unusual setting for this natural heritage museum, which looks at the Essex coun-
tryside, coast, and urban environments.
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