Colchester Museums General Admission Ticket Terms and Conditions
Last updated: 11 June 2026
Ticket Policy
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. They cannot be resold, altered, or defaced, as doing so will render the ticket void. Please check all dates and times carefully before completing your booking, as errors cannot be corrected after purchase.
Admission tickets are only valid for the date stated on your ticket. Once scanned, you may exit and re-enter the venue on that same day during opening hours. Tickets will not be valid for re-admission on any other day.
Timed Tickets (Hollytrees Museum)
Timed tickets may be in place at weekends, bank holidays, and during school holidays. Your ticket is valid for your allocated timeslot only, and admission will not be permitted outside of it. Please allow yourself enough time to arrive before your timeslot begins. Timed tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Joint Day Tickets
Joint Day Tickets are non‑refundable and non‑transferable and are subject to the Ticket Policy above. They allow entry to both the Castle Museum and Hollytrees Museum on the selected date only; both must be visited on that same day.
Available Monday to Saturday (Hollytrees is closed Sundays). Please check museum opening times on our website before booking.
Hollytrees may be closed to general visitors until 2pm on some Thursdays due to school visits—check timed entry availability before planning your trip.
Cannot be used with any other offer or discount.
Children and Carers
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. We reserve the right to refuse admission to unaccompanied children.
Entry to Colchester Castle is free for children under the age of 4. No online ticket is required for children aged 0–3; please advise staff at the Admissions Desk on arrival.
Any carer supporting a disabled adult or child to access the museum qualifies for free entry. Proof of carer status may be requested.
Concessions and Discounts
Reduced Rate tickets are available for registered disabled people, welfare benefit recipients, and serving military personnel. Proof of eligibility is required. Please note that the reduced rate does not apply to seniors, who must purchase an adult ticket.
Saver tickets include adult and child tickets only. A saver ticket can cover up to 2 adults and 3 children, or 1 adult and 4 children. Student and Reduced Rate tickets are not included in the saver rate.
Promotions and discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, saver, or discount.
Visitors seeking concession or student rates must bring relevant supporting documents on the day of their visit. A valid student ID with an expiry date is required; this can be physical or digital. If your student ID does not include a photo, you may be asked to provide an additional form of identification. We reserve the right to charge the standard admission rate to anyone unable to validate their entitlement.
Free Entry
The following visitors are admitted free of charge:
- Children under 4 years old
- Blue Peter badge holders (with a full-paying adult)
- Carers accompanying a disabled visitor
- CIMS volunteers, staff, and their family members
- Friends of Colchester Museums members
- UK Museums Association members
- International Council of Museums members
- National Art Fund members
- Teachers on a pre-visit for a school trip
- Coach drivers who have brought a group to the museum
- Researchers (must be pre-arranged)
- Blue and yellow badge guides
- Foster carers (accompanying children are charged)
- Home educators (1 free adult per 5 paying children; children are charged the general schools visit rate)
Reduced Entry
The following visitors qualify for a concession rate:
- Defence Discount Scheme cardholders
- Association of Roman Archaeology members
Groups
Groups of more than 12 people wishing to access a reduced entry rate should contact our Business Support Team at museums@colchester.gov.uk to discuss booking arrangements.
We reserve the right to alter advertised arrangements for events, activities, and exhibitions, and to cancel any timeslot or event without notice.
Please retain your tickets safely throughout your visit, as staff may ask to see them.
Photography
Handheld, non-professional cameras may be used for private and non-commercial purposes. Flash photography, tripods, additional lighting, and associated equipment are not permitted.
All visitors must comply with any photography restrictions set by the museum and its staff.
Requests for images of our collections for publication or commercial purposes should be emailed to museums@colchester.gov.uk.
Prohibited Items
The following items are not permitted in the museum and may be confiscated if found on your person:
- Balloons (helium or air-inflated)
- Party poppers
- Bubbles
- Candles or sparklers
- Organic material (e.g. flower arrangements, petal confetti)
Conduct and Site Rules
We reserve the right to refuse entry, prohibit future entry, or eject any visitor who:
- Is physically or verbally abusive
- Is behaving in a threatening manner
- Appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Poses a risk to the safety of staff, volunteers, or other visitors
- Disrupts or detracts from the enjoyment of others
- Fails to comply with staff requests
- Arrives outside their booked date and timeslot
Smoking and vaping are prohibited anywhere on the premises. If you wish to smoke or vape, you must leave the site; you will be permitted re-entry on your ticket.
Eating and drinking (with the exception of water) is prohibited in all areas of the Castle except for the designated lunchroom.
Unless signage indicates otherwise, visitors must not touch artworks or furniture on display.
Animals are not admitted to the museum, with the exception of assistance animals.
Please keep all personal belongings with you during your visit. We are not responsible for any loss or damage to personal possessions.
We endeavour to keep as much of the site accessible as possible; however, we may, at our discretion and without prior notice, close part or all of the site or cancel any event due to health and safety concerns, staffing capacity, adverse weather, or any other necessary circumstance.
In the event that entry is not possible due to circumstances outside our reasonable control (including but not limited to fire, flood, storm, epidemic, industrial action, terrorist threat, riot, or failure of telecommunications or power networks), we will not be responsible for any travel costs incurred.
Events
All general admission terms and conditions apply to events, along with the following:
- If an event is cancelled by Colchester Castle Museum, a full refund will be issued to all ticket holders.
- If an event is postponed, refunds or exchanges will be available within 7 days of notification of the new date.
- Event tickets are valid only for the specific event, number of attendees, and date and timeslot stated on the ticket.
- If you arrive more than 30 minutes after the event start time, we reserve the right to refuse entry without a refund.
- Where food is available at an event, allergy information must be provided at least 48 hours in advance. We cannot guarantee dietary requirements will be met without this.
- For age-restricted events, staff may request photo ID if they believe a visitor may be under the age limit.
Guided Tours
All general admission terms and conditions apply to guided tours, along with the following:
- Tours at Colchester Castle include two flights of stairs (including a spiral staircase), low arches, uneven flooring, confined spaces, and heights. Please ensure all members of your party are able to participate in all aspects of the tour before booking. Appropriate footwear is required.
- Tours are not suitable for children under 4. All children aged 4–16 must be accompanied by an adult (aged 18 or over) throughout.
- Tours last approximately 45 minutes, though this may vary slightly.
- We aim to notify you in advance if your booked tour is cancelled. In exceptional circumstances, tours may be cancelled on the day of your visit without prior notice; in this case a full refund will be given, or you will be moved to the next available tour time if space permits.
- We reserve the right to restrict access to certain areas of the tour, including due to inclement weather, maintenance works, or private events.
- Whilst free admission is available to carers supporting visitors with additional needs, all places on tours must be paid for due to limited capacity.
- Unsafe or disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated on tours. We reserve the right to ask you to leave or conclude the tour early if necessary. No refund will be given in this instance.
Museum Pass
Your Museum Pass is valid for one year from the date of purchase. The expiry date is printed on your card.
You must bring your Pass on every visit; it is the only evidence of Pass holder status we will accept.
Pass holders must be present, and proof of identity may be requested.
If you do not have your Pass with you, free entry will not be possible on that day.
If your Pass is lost or damaged, a replacement can be purchased for £4.
The Museum Pass is personal and non-transferable; it may only be used by the named holder.
Passes are not valid for school visits or for ticketed and bookable events. Standard rates apply in these cases.
Refunds are not available under any circumstances. This does not affect your statutory rights.
Please inform us of any changes to your contact details or address.
We reserve the right to cancel a Museum Pass if, in our reasonable opinion, the holder has behaved in a way that is harassing, distressing, or disruptive to other visitors or staff.
Booking Fee
The booking fee contributes to our general running costs, including website maintenance, venue upkeep, credit card processing fees, and staff costs. It helps us continue to offer the best possible experience across our venues seven days a week.
Data Protection
All personal data provided to Colchester Castle Museum will be held and processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Colchester City Council’s Privacy Policy. Your data will not be shared with other organisations without your knowledge and consent, unless required by law.
If you have opted in to receive communications from us, we may contact you with news, events, and offers from Colchester Museums. You can update your preferences at any time by contacting us. For further information, please visit colchester.gov.uk/privacy.
