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Getting here

Hollytrees Museum is situated just inside Castle Park, within Colchester’s city centre. The nearest set of park gates are those by the cenotaph. Pavement surrounds the building and you can approach the main entrance via steps or a gentle slope. Alternatively you can enter Castle Park via gates behind Hollytrees, where the end of Colchester High Street meets East Hill. Please note there are a few steps as you walk around to the front of the museum. 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 (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 by the cenotaph, on Colchester High Street or by the park gates at the end of Museum Street. 

More information regarding accessible transport and parking options in Colchester can be found on the Visit Colchester website.

Please note, we are closed on Sundays.

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When You Arrive

Automatic glass doors will bring you to an area full of leaflets and brochures advertising different local attractions. Just beyond that is the reception and shop. You will be greeted by uniformed staff at the welcome desk. The Colchester Visitor Information Centre team look after the museum and know a lot about the city.

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.

The museum is free to visit and you do not need to book.

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Quieter times

The museum is typically quieter in the afternoons, particularly after 2.30pm on weekdays once any school groups have left for the day.

As the display are spreads across rooms on different floors, sounds do not tend to carry from one room to another.

Some spaces are quite small or narrow, such as the Childhood Gallery or the stairs, so if other visitors are already in those areas, the museum may seem busy. 

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Getting around

The entrance to Hollytrees Museum is cobbled and the Upper Ground Floor hall is tiled. The rest of the museum floors are carpeted and flat. 

The museum is spread across several floors and the displays can be viewed in any order:

• Ground Floor – the shop, Visitor Information Centre and exit
• Upper Ground Floor – the Garden Room, leading to the hall and the Bernard Mason Clock Gallery
• First Floor – Running the Home Gallery
• Upper First Floor – the Childhood Gallery and Portrait Gallery
• Second Floor – the Education Room (typically roped off as it is used by schools and for events)

All the rooms are accessible via stairs or a lift.

The lift has two doors at right angles to each other. Entering from the ground floor and exiting on the Upper Ground floor for example involves a 90-degree turn to the left. The inside of the lift is quite small so this is not easily done and may not be possible with larger wheelchairs, mobility or double buggies.

The walkway from reception into the Upper Ground Floor hall is quiet narrow and there are a few steps.

Some of our displays are spot lit, while other areas, such as the crawl through tunnel inside the Childhood Gallery, might appear quite dark.

Toilets

Hollytrees Museum has two unisex toilets. One can be accessed through the Running the Home Gallery on the first floor, the other through the Education Room on the second floor or via the lift. Please note, the doors are a little heavy.

The toilets are quite small spaces and with heavy doors. The nearest accessible toilet is a public facility just to the left as you exit the museum.

The nearest baby changing facilities can be found at the Natural History Museum over the road.

Hollytrees Museum does not have a Changing Places facility. The nearest can be found at the Castle Park cafe (0.1 miles/ 3 minute walk), Colchester Library (0.3 miles/ 6 minute walk) and at Leisure World (0.6 miles/ 13 minute walk). A full list of Changing Places Toilets is available on the Changing Places website.

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Care

Assistance dogs are welcome.

The museum does not have a cafe and food is not permitted. If you have a refillable bottle, our team are happy to top it up with tap water.

We welcome breastfeeding.

If you or a member of your group require a quiet space during your visit, please speak to the Visitor Information Centre team. 

If you or a member of your group require medical attention whilst at Hollytrees Museum, please alert staff and they will contact the emergency services.

The nearest defibrillator is at Colchester Castle.

Hand sanitiser is available.

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Contact Us

We want all our visitors to have the best possible experience. If you’re planning to visit Hollytrees Museum and have any questions or concerns, our team are more than happy to help. You can contact us on:

Tel: 01206 282920 

e: museums@colchester.gov.uk