Access At The Castle
Everybody should have the opportunity to be inspired by our museums. We are committed to supporting that, which means listening to our visitors and continually finding ways to improve.
Simply scroll down for useful access information, such as when the museum is quieter, what to expect when you arrive and what facilities we have. If you cannot find the answers you are looking for, please contact our Access Champions on 01206 282931 or email museums@colchester.gov.uk and the team will be happy to help.
Useful Information
To open our Visit England Accessibility Guide, simply follow the link below:
Getting here
Colchester Castle is situated just inside Castle Park, within Colchester’s city centre. A gravel pathway surrounds the building and takes you up to the main entrance. The road leading away from the park gates is Museum Street. It might appear like it is for pedestrians only, but cars are allowed to drive down it. Click here to see a map of Colchester.
If you are travelling by car, please use CO1 1UG for sat navs. There are 11 spaces for disabled badge holders just outside the park gates in Museum Street (100-200m from the entrance), and places slightly further away on the High Street. Further details on blue badge spaces in Colchester can be found on the Colchester City Council website.
If you are travelling by taxi, you could be dropped off on Colchester High Street or by the park gates at the end of Museum Street.
More information regarding accessible transport can be found on the Visit Colchester website.
When You Arrive
You will be greeted by uniformed staff at our welcome desk, who will run through ticket options and give you a map of the museum.
You may have to wait a short while to be served. If you are accompanied by someone who finds queuing difficult, please let us know and we will do our best to prioritise you.
If you would like to borrow one of our Sunflower lanyards while you’re in the museum, simply ask at the welcome desk.
Disabled visitors qualify for a concession and may be accompanied by a companion free of charge.
If you, or someone you care for has additional needs and it would be useful to come on a free, familiarisation visit first, please let us know.
Please note, we do not currently have space for visitors to leave buggies, scooters or other personal possessions whilst at the Castle.
Quieter times
The museum is typically quieter in the afternoons, particularly after 2.30pm on weekdays once school groups have left for the day.
The Castle is a large open space and can get busy at weekends and during school holidays. Noise from other visitors and various interactives may be too much for anyone who is sensitive to sound.
Our son et lumière projection is played several times throughout the day. It is a large animation that lasts approximately 10 minutes and fills the interior wall. Museum staff will make an announcement over the tannoy system before the start.
We have an interactive ballista on the gallery that, when activated, projects large targets onto the castle wall and produces sounds. We are unable to provide a warning when a visitor activates the ballista projection, but each animation only lasts about 30 seconds.
Getting around
The entrance to the Castle is cobbled. Once you are inside the museum, the gallery floors are carpeted and flat.
The Castle galleries are spread across two floors, with step free access. Two lifts are available, one glass lift in the centre of the museum and a second enclosed lift behind the wall on the right side of the building. The glass lift is a platform that rises inside a shaft. A safety feature means that if users touch the sides while it is moving, the lift will pause.
We recommend starting at the replica Roundhouse on the first floor, which is at the top of the stairs and the exit to our glass lift. You can then journey through the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.
Some of our displays are spot lit, while other areas like the prisons might appear quite dark.
Daily guided tours take visitors down into the vaults and up onto the roof via the Great Staircase. The nature of the building means these spaces are inaccessible for those with mobility impairments or unable to safely walk unaided.
Please note the Lucas Vault is currently closed.
Gladiators: A Day At The Roman Games
Our current exhibition is on the first floor and features digital screens with detailed photographs and additional information, as well as tactile objects such as animal skulls. Audio descriptions can be heard by scanning a QR code attached to each case. We also have a large print guide, which is available in the gallery or can be downloaded by clicking on the button below:
Further information about the exhibition can be found by visiting our Gladiators page:
Lunchroom
The ground floor lunchroom is available for visitors to use after 2.30pm on weekdays (once school groups have left) and at weekends. You can bring a picnic or find assorted light refreshments in our vending machine, including water.
If you’re looking to buy something more substantial, visitors are welcome to head into Colchester city centre and then return to the Castle – simply show your ticket to the welcome desk to re-enter.
If you have a refillable bottle, our team are happy to top it up with tap water.
Toilets
The Castle has two accessible toilets. One is located on the ground floor before the male and female facilities, and has a sliding door. The second is located further along the corridor on the left.
The second accessible toilet includes baby changing facilities.
Colchester Castle does not have a Changing Places facility. The nearest can be found at the Castle Park cafe (0.2miles/ 4 minute walk), Colchester Library (0.2miles/ 5 minute walk) and at Leisure World (0.6miles/ 13 minute walk). A full list of Changing Places Toilets is available on the Changing Places website.
Shop
Our museum shop offers a wide range of products, from activity books for children to jewellery inspired by the Fenwick Hoard, games and fancy dress to replica Roman objects.
Whether you’re looking for a memento or the perfect gift, we have something for all tastes and budgets.
Care
Assistance dogs are welcome.
We welcome breastfeeding.
If you or a member of your group require a quiet space during your visit, please speak to our Visitor Services team.
If you or a member of your group require medical attention whilst at the Castle, please alert our Visitor Services team and they will contact the emergency services.
Colchester Castle has a defibrillator onsite.
Hand sanitiser is available.
Contact Us
We want all our visitors to have the best possible experience. If you’re planning to visit Colchester Castle and have any questions or concerns, or if you would like to arrange a free familiarisation visit, our team are more than happy to help. You can contact us on:
Tel: 01206 282939
Welcoming Visitors With…
Hearing Impairment
- A hearing loop is available in the reception area and prisons. To access it, please set your hearing aid to the ‘T-coil’ setting.
- Many of our Visitor Services team are trained in basic BSL.
- Films within the galleries have subtitles and, in some cases, BSL.
- In the event of a fire, our alarm includes flashing lights.
- Our tour guides can carry a portable mic to assist visitors with a hearing impairment. Visitors can request a receiver when they purchase their tour tickets from the Welcome desk.
Autism
- Twiddlemuffs are available to borrow whilst in the museum.
- Child and adult sized ear defenders are available to borrow whilst in the museum.
- On the first Sunday of the month we have our Calm At The Castle sessions, where noisy interactives are switched off and a dedicated sensory space is available. Dates can change, so be sure to check our Events page before planning your visit.
- Our 11 minute Visual Story Film can show you just what to expect. Please note, it was made before the replica ballista was installed.
- We also have a downloadable visual story and a sensory map of Colchester Castle.
- If it would be helpful to see inside the Castle before visiting we offer free familiarisation visits, which can be booked by calling 01206 282939. Staff can provide you with an access pack and answer any questions you may have. We would recommend coming between 4 – 5pm as the Castle is typically quiet during that time.
Visual Story Film
This short film will highlight some of the key sensory features of your visit to Colchester Castle. We recommend visitors with particular sensory needs, such as people with ASD or dementia, watch this before they come. It is also useful for anyone who could benefit seeing what the venue is like before making a visit.
Please note, since the film was made, the replica ballista shown above has been added to the first floor of the Castle. It also does not include our Gladiators: A Day At The Roman Games exhibition.
For subtitles, click the link in the bottom left corner that says Watch on YouTube. Once loaded, you will need to click the icon in the bottom right corner of the video to enable Subtitles/closed captions.
Colchester Castle Sensory Map
There have been a few changes inside Colchester Castle for our current exhibition, Gladiators: A Day At The Roman Games.
Below is a floorplan of the museum, showing where visitors might encounter sensory stimuli.
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| Video or sudden moving visual | Unexpected noises | Change in light level |
