Colchester Museums

Colchester Museums Discover history and nature at Colchester Castle, Hollytrees Museum, and the Natural History Museum.

29/05/2026

There’s something oddly satisfying about learning the proper name for the spiral bit on an ammonite and then spotting it instantly every time. For this week’s Fossil Friday, Chris gives a brilliant, close-looking comparison of two ammonites on display in Discover: Museum Wonders: Dactylioceras and Hildoceras.

It’s the kind of quick, friendly ID tip that makes the fossils feel less like “museum objects” and more like something you can properly read, once you know what you’re looking for. You can see both species at Hollytrees Museum.

Book timed tickets via the link in the comments.

28/05/2026

Have you even been to the exhibition if you haven’t stopped in the gift shop?

Step inside Colchester Castle and take part in a story like no other 🎲Our Dungeons & Dragons evening on 27 June is alrea...
27/05/2026

Step inside Colchester Castle and take part in a story like no other 🎲

Our Dungeons & Dragons evening on 27 June is already half sold out, with tickets going fast.

Gather your party, explore different areas of the Castle, and play your way through a story inspired by real local history. Costumes welcome, imagination essential.

Hot outside? Step into a medieval church instead.The Colchester Natural History Museum lives in a converted medieval bui...
26/05/2026

Hot outside? Step into a medieval church instead.

The Colchester Natural History Museum lives in a converted medieval building, which means it stays a few degrees cooler than the street and feels instantly calmer.

It’s free to visit, full of Essex wildlife, and reassuringly short on anything genuinely terrifying.

Tomorrow we’re also running Roars and Rhymes, a special family event with animal stories, sounds and hands on fun. If you need a cool, friendly plan for the day, this is it.

Spaces are free but need booking. Book now and come and cool down with the natural world tomorrow. Sunshine optional: https://colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/events/roars-and-rhymes/

If you've got little ones aged 5 and under who are into dinosaurs (and let's be honest, most of them are), Roars and Rhy...
24/05/2026

If you've got little ones aged 5 and under who are into dinosaurs (and let's be honest, most of them are), Roars and Rhymes is for them. It's a free, 45-minute session at the Natural History Museum on 27 May from 3:30–4:15pm, with dino-themed storytelling, sing-along songs, and simple games.

It's relaxed, interactive, and free to attend, but spaces do need to be booked in advance. Grab a spot at colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/events/roars-and-rhymes/

May half term has arrived. And Juliasaurus is still here. 🦖If you missed it at Easter, or if your kids have been talking...
23/05/2026

May half term has arrived. And Juliasaurus is still here. 🦖

If you missed it at Easter, or if your kids have been talking about dinosaurs non-stop since the One Show (we’ve heard that’s happening), the half-term holiday is the perfect time to visit.

Timed tickets are available now. We’d recommend booking in advance for the busiest days. Link in comments below!

22/05/2026

Ever looked at a fossil and thought, “hang on… is that an ammonite?” 👀

For this week’s Fossil Friday, Chris is showing us how to spot the difference between an ammonite and an ancient nautilus relative, and it’s one of those details you’ll notice forever once you’ve seen it.

Then we move onto belemnites: fossils that look deceptively simple at first glance, until you realise you’re looking at the hard internal structure of a squid-like animal from the Jurassic and Cretaceous.

You can see these specimens on display in Discover: Museum Wonders at Hollytrees Museum. Timed tickets are essential: book ahead.

Book timed tickets via the link in the comments.

We love this 👏Spotted on St Clare Road, this brilliantly knitted postbox topper features a miniature Colchester Castle, ...
21/05/2026

We love this 👏

Spotted on St Clare Road, this brilliantly knitted postbox topper features a miniature Colchester Castle, complete with tiny figures, gardens and even a working bridge!

A lovely bit of local creativity that’s been brightening the street for weeks. Have you seen it in person?

Help us uncover more of the stories behind our past 📷We’re looking for people to help us track down and confirm the loca...
21/05/2026

Help us uncover more of the stories behind our past 📷

We’re looking for people to help us track down and confirm the locations featured in our Throwback Thursday posts from the comfort of their own homes. If you know your way around historic Colchester, or just enjoy a bit of visual detective work, we’d love your help.

Your input will help us make sure our posts are as accurate as possible and keep sharing the history of our buildings and streets with confidence.

Interested? Send us a message or email [email protected] to get involved.

Let’s rediscover the past together.

Colchester has 2,000 years of Roman history sitting beneath its feet, and a good chunk of it is on display at Colchester...
20/05/2026

Colchester has 2,000 years of Roman history sitting beneath its feet, and a good chunk of it is on display at Colchester Castle. This half-term, the Discover Romans: Family Tour runs daily from Monday 25 to Friday 29 May at 11am, and it's a great way to get children aged 5 and up into that history in a way that actually sticks.

The tour is interactive and storytelling-led, following the lives of Roman characters who called Colchester home. It does involve uneven floors, low archways, and stairs with no lift access, so it's worth bearing that in mind if you have accessibility needs.

Tickets are £3.75 per person on top of Castle admission. Book your place at colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/events/family-tour/

Address

Castle Park
Colchester
CO11TJ

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+441206282939

Website

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