Welcome
With a unique mix of fascinating displays, the latest technology and hands-on activities, there is lots for your family to explore and discover across Colchester Museums’ three sites.
- Explore the national story of Roman and Norman conquest, Boudiccan revolt and Civil War at Colchester Castle.
- Enjoy the family friendly displays in Hollytrees Museum, a Beautiful Georgian townhouse set within the stunning Castle Park.
- Find out about wildlife habitats, biodiversity and climate change at the nearby Natural History Museum.
Where will your adventure start?
From 27th January 2022, face coverings are no longer compulsory. For the safety and comfort of visitors and staff however, we recommend wearing one whilst inside our museums, unless you are exempt.
Please respect others’ personal space whilst visiting our sites, and be mindful when in ‘tighter’ spaces.
Please be mindful that our interactives are for the enjoyment of everyone, so use hand sanitiser before and after use.
Venues
Get Involved
Support Wicked Spirits?
With the help of Art Happens, we are raising funds to tell the stories of those imprisoned in the Castle accused of witchcraft.
You can support Wicked Spirits? by donating as little as £5.
As a thank you, we have a range of exclusive rewards in return, from exclusive tote bags to private tours and afternoon tea. Simply follow the link below to find out more…
Adopt An Object
Choose from twenty of our most fascinating and well-loved objects, which you can symbolically adopt or gift to the history enthusiast in your life! Your support will help us to protect millions of years of local and global history.
Become A Member
Whether you decide to become a Museum Guardian or a Castle Pass holder, your support enables us to keep preserving the town’s incredible history and offering visitors of all ages a fun-filled and memorable day.
Support the CMDF
Colchester Museums look after some of the most important historic buildings and museum collections in the country!
Colchester Museums Development Foundation support us to inspire and enrich our local community, through the preservation, exploration, and sharing of the town’s heritage in its widest sense. Discover how you can get involved…
Subscribe
Keep up to date with our latest exhibitions, events and projects by subscribing to our museum mailing list. You’ll receive regular emails with the latest news from Colchester Castle, Hollytrees Museum and the Natural History Museum.
Museum From Home
Collections Online
We hold over 200,000 records of objects, documents, artefacts and specimens: from Natural Science collections spanning millions of years, to a wide range of Social History objects.
Our online catalogue will allow you to search the collections of Colchester + Ipswich Museums!
Museum From Home
Looking for things to do? We have a wide variety of activities to educate and entertain all ages. Inspired by the collections across Colchester and Ipswich, from art to nature, archaeology to social history, let us bring the museum to you!
You can follow us on social media for new ideas or find our library below.
#MuseumFromHome
Ancient Colchester App
The Ancient Colchester App allows you to wander around Colchester Town Centre on a Heritage Trail and bring historic sites to life.
Allowing you to explore and delve deeper into the rich heritage and historic sights of Colchester, the Colchester Heritage app is a handy guide, companion and fun-filled way to enrich your visit and bring the history to life.
Including a walking trail, augmented reality, 360 degree panoramic reconstructions, a fun based camera feature and a wealth of historical information there’s pretty much something for everyone.
