Access At The Natural History Museum
Everyone should have the chance to be inspired by our museums. We listen to our visitors and keep looking for ways to improve. As part of our Natural History Museum redevelopment, we’d love to hear your views on future access so we can create a community-focused museum that celebrates North East Essex’s habitats and ensures everyone feels welcome.
Scroll down for access information, including quieter times, what to expect on arrival, and available facilities. If you can’t find what you need, contact our Access Champions on 01206 282931 or museums@colchester.gov.uk.
Useful Information
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Getting here
The Natural History Museum is situated in an church at the end of Colchester’s High Street. Outside the museum is a dropped pavement, but the road itself is a bus lane. 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 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 Mondays.
When You Arrive
When the Natural History Museum is open to the public, the church doors are held open and the Museum entrance doors are typically left closed to keep the heat in. One side or both of these can be opened. Currently the Museum is undergoing repairs and the outside is surrounded by scaffolding, which you will need to walk under.
Inside, you will be greeted by uniformed staff who can answer any questions you have about 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.
The museum is free to visit and you do not need to book.
Quieter times
The museum is typically quieter in the afternoons, particularly after 2.30pm on weekdays.
As the museum is in an old church, which has an open plan layout, the noise of other visitors may echo. Nature sounds such as bird calls are also played in the background.
Some spaces are quite small or narrow, such as the Climate Change Gallery or the crawl through tunnel, so if other visitors are already in those areas, the museum may seem busy.
Getting around
The Natural History Museum is all on one floor, which has step free access throughout.
At present, the exit is via the glass doors that lead out onto Colchester High Street.
The displays can be viewed in any order.
Some of our displays are spot lit, while other areas, such as the crawl through tunnel might appear quite dark.
Toilets
The Natural History Museum has two unisex toilets and an accessible toilet, which are located to the left of the reception desk.
Baby changing facilities can be found in the accessible toilet.
The Natural History 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.
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 a member of our Visitor Services team.
If you or a member of your group require medical attention whilst at the Natural History Museum, please alert staff and they will contact the emergency services.
The nearest defibrillator is at Colchester Castle.
Hand sanitiser is available.
Contact Us
We want all our visitors to have the best possible experience. If you’re planning to visit the Natural History Museum and have any questions or concerns, our team are more than happy to help. You can contact us on:
Tel: 01206 282941
Welcoming Visitors With…
Deaf, deafened and hard of hearing
- Some of our Visitor Services team are trained in basic BSL.
- In the event of a fire, our alarm includes flashing lights.
Autism
- Twiddlemuffs are available to borrow whilst in the museum.
- There are interactive and sensory resources available.
- We have tree stump cushions for visitors to use.
- We also have a downloadable visual story and a sensory map of the Natural History Museum.
- Please be aware the museum contains taxidermy dioramas and displays including animal skeletons, which some people may find distressing.
Natural History Museum Sensory Map
Below is a floorplan of the museum, showing where visitors might encounter sensory stimuli.
Please note, once you enter the museum, some recorded nature sounds can be heard throughout the building.
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| Video or sudden moving visual | Unexpected noises | Change in light level |
