Reviews of Colchester Castle. (Museum) in Colchester (Essex).

Colchester Castle

0 Reviews

390 Comments

Museum

Museum

Colchester CO1 1TJ, United Kingdom

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Information of Colchester Castle, Museum in Colchester (Essex)

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Reviews of Colchester Castle

T. B.

What a great experience. We done the tour or the vaults too. Staff were great. Loved hearing the history. The castle is great for all the family. They have a small glass lift for wheelchair and prams. Thank you to them all

J. T.

An incredible example of how to curate a museum. Very nice and enriching experience. Even on my own I felt like I did not miss on any important histories as the entire layout of the museum is incredibly comprehensive. I loved the interactive bits and they definitely engage an interesting approach to learning history, accessible to all ages! A small museum in a small town but an incredible history translated into an amazing visiting experience, well worth a visit! I also absolutely adored the miniature of the castle as it would’ve been in the medieval times, it’s one of the better examples of such miniatures I’ve seen ever!

A. T.

Attractive castle containing an excellent museum. Price of entry seemed good value given the large array of exhibits, ranging from ancient times to the present day, covering the history of the castle and Colchester itself. The reconstructed mosaic was particularly interesting, and cabinets around the castle contained many more historic artefacts, accompanied by clear and informative descriptions. The surrounding gardens were beautiful when I visited in July and well worth a visit alongside the castle.

P. V. c.

A bit smaller than I expected but still good. The visit was easily done in less than an hour so the price was a little on the high price to be honest. There's also a little souvenir shop. Apparently you can do events on the second floor. There was a wedding going on which was a little annoying, especially when all the guests crowded the museum. (Should have said, I was a guest).

R. B.

Lovely morning visiting. Lots of really interesting exhibits & interactive areas for the children too. We particularly liked the current witchcraft exhibition.

P. P.

What a fantastic landmark covering Iron age to Modern times. The staff were very friendly, happy and helpful which added to the experience. The small shop had plenty to offer and the guidebook is well written and packed with information and those pictures that bring back your memories of the castle. Located at one of the entrances to castle park it draws you in and is equally spectacular from the outside as it is from within. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this iconic building and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

J. L.

Lots to see and do fantastic prices and definitely worth the extra £3/£2 on top for the 45 guided tour to the vaults in the foundations and up on the roof itself these areas are only accessible to the public on the tour stranded tickets just have access to castle ground and 1st floor exhibits. And the kids seem to love the virtual roman chariot race and firing the virtual ballister. And castle grounds parkland boat lake are fantastic for yjr kids to run around and play and access to castle park and grounds is free

S. R.

A lovely castle with 3 floors of interesting information and artifacts. I thought that the entrance price was very reasonable and the staff are lovely. Great for kids too!

A. N.

Not an extensive museum, but excellent on the Roman history of Colchester. There are a host of artefacts, clearly displayed and labelled, and some interactive exhibits too - such as chariot driving! Tours for the dungeons and battlements are available at an extra cost, but we were short of time, so we didn't do that.

T. M.

It was a day outing from London. Took the 10.02am train from Liverpool Street station and reached there in under an hour. Visited the castle museum, vaults, remains of the monastry and the Long Wyre Street. We had a guided tour which was interesting and informative. It was all very enjoyable and done at a relaxed pace. Couldn't help but notice the vast number of barber shops. The Long Wyre Street has numerous small independent shops and cafes. Worth venturing out for a day.

Z. A.

Beautiful castle, with such beautiful history. You can also get a ticket for a year at the same price for single one-off ticket.

C. M. W.

A Norman French castle built on the foundations of a Roman temple. The museum has a generous selection of Roman artefacts, along with iron age displays and some items from more recent history. We opted for the guided tour, which includes entry to the lower vaults and also the rooftop battlements, which afford a spectacular view across the city. Our guide, Claire, was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Overall, I thought it decent value fir money.

M. B.

Went with a school trip. The museum was excellent and beautifully laid out with plenty of interest for young and old alike. I'd like to go back and have a better look. Only took one photo sorry!!

S. E.

A beautiful and lively place to visit. Great history. You need long time and patience to learn .

K. B.

Good outdoor space and the castle is interesting and lots of interactive things for children to do.

l.

Fantastic site, a few time periods on one site, the signs of Roman occupation built into the later castle is everywhere 😀

D. B.

Honest David's reviews I have been coming here since I was a child... Yes that's a long time! It's still worth a visit from time to time for locals. But if you are visiting from abroad then it's a must. This is what people think a castle should look like (but if I remember right.. this is a keep) . But it still looks the part and it's full of interesting stuff, mostly about Colchester, the Romans and Boudicca.... With coins, weapons, potty and so much more... Pros... Good history, lovely gardens for walking around, especially in the summer, full disable Access. Cons... Stupid col Hester borough council parking means you will be a long way away. Get a grip council .. you are killing Colchester. Go and see for yourself... Much better than the ones I have seen in Europe. A great 4 **** from me

S.

Loads of historical information about the rise and fall of the Roman empire, and the beginning of Colchester as the first city in England. Really great to see some original artifacts and how it is still surrounded by the original gardens and old Roman walls.

I. M.

Good local museum. Plenty to see with some interactive exhibits.

S. B.

Great place to go for a day out. The Holly tree museum and Natural history museum are very close to the castle, too

P. H.

What a lovely place to just go have a Picnic or lunch with such a historical castle as your background. The park has so much to offer too. From squirrels and kids park. To memorials to all regiments and heroes of the past conflicts. Has a pond full of fish and a sensory garden for relaxing the mind. Your kids can unwind in this beautiful place just on our doorstep and best of all apart from castle entry etc it's all totally free.

P. C.

Great experience, well priced, a must do pay 3.50 pounds extra for vault tours great historic sites

V. S.

A great way to spend a couple of hours - even just to shelter from the rain. It was very informative and accessible for all ages. Some fascinating treasures and artifacts on display and the interactive display and guide were great. Especially considering COVID restrictions. The Gaoler was lovely and gave some great bits of information too. A great way to spend an Autumnal afternoon.

J. B.

Meant to be good tour inside I didn’t have time lovely castle tho some interesting characters knocking about in the park too.

K. S.

I do like the castle and I often accompany a variety of students there however, over the last 8 years the exhibits have hardly ever worked or randomly work. It would also benefit from a one page guide around the museum laying out the time periods for example

C. K.

A lovely place to go with kids and adults alike. Interactive and wall thought and laid out. The grounds are beautiful and well manicured. Easy to find and access. Lots of school kids using the park as places to sit during their lunch break but all well behaved and could happily sit along side them. Quite a few benches too. Definitely worth a trip here

A. L.

Possibly one of the best castles I've been to (so far). Very informative for both children and adults as it has games and interactive activities for kids as well of projected videos on the walls. Children can hold replica shields and swords, as well as control a Roman scorpion and ride chariot racing. The price wasn't expensive only around a tenner per adult. You can explore both inside and walk around the outside. Lots of stories to tell about the history of the city from prehistory, to Roman, all the way to now. Would revisit.

L. S.

Great , very unique castle. Anyone who likes history will love it. Romans , Norman's and British tribes all in one place. Park around the castle is also really nice. Lovely place 👍

H. H.

A great experience with lots of interesting things to see inside.

M. T.

Excellent information, with lots of interactive activities. Discounts on entry for disabled people and carers and everything is accessible. Lovely and helpful staff too. Will definitely go for another visit! Added bonus of the wonderful surrounding park and wildlife!

J. E.

Loved what they have done with the castle, creating a fantastic museum. The grounds were amazing too

J. F.

We visited here on 3rd July 2022. It was a lovely experience, plenty of interactive objects to entertain the kids. Nice and cool. The prison and cells were really good, as was using the hired tablet (£1 per hire) showing images of how the rooms would look like in medieval times. The weight of the chainlink top was eye opening, as were the helmets and shields. The VERY BEST part of our visit was our chat with Martin, one of the volunteers, who was extremely knowledgeable about everything, and he entertained us with his collection of weapons, glass and pottery objects. If you visit and he is there, be certain to chat, he is a delightful person and a great addition to the castle team.

D. E.

Awesome Colchester Castle Fantastic Park & Facilities Awesome Views Colchester Castle 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Highly recommend

L. B.

Great place to visit. If with children purchase the interactive tablet as this makes it more interesting and it's only £1. Good playground around the back of the castle.

r.

Great historical location with really interesting displays. It was great to see so many children getting excited about the artefacts and displays. Brilliant to travel back in time to the Roman era.

K. H.

Great day spent in Colchester, love the museum!☺️

M. B.

A great place to visit. Wheelchair friendly. Great for tourists and kids. You can visit the dungeons! Has a gift shop too and set inside the beautiful castle park

C. B.

Lovely little museum, I went thinking I wouldn't be there for long so didn't end up booking the tour, but because I do love reading every ounce of information i ended up being there for over an hour and could have booked it after all. I would definitely check before to see what times the guided tours are at you help plan your trip better. It looks like there are lots of extra fun things scattered about for kids to interact with, or if you're easily amused then adults too. Staff were helpful and nice, the surrounding area is really pretty and the souvenir shop had lots of lovely finds.

N. H.

Nice history but during Covid it's a bit clunky using the virtual reality handheld tablets. They don't have the usual handheld phone type guides, perhaps because of Covid, and I felt like this was missing. The arrows to direct traffic inside were somewhat helpful but were counterintuitive in a few areas. We went down into the prison area and whilst there used the toilets because they're right there but apparently we weren't supposed to approach them from the prison, but to walk all the way back up and down again to access them from the same floor. There was no sign that said not to enter the toilets area. Apparently we also held others up that wanted to come down to the prison, so we felt somewhat rushed. I think it will be a lot better outside of lockdown rules. At least we got to go and there are some good historical items contained inside. I did feel that some descriptions were not descriptively enough, and I was left curious and wanting further information that perhaps the handheld telephone guides would provide. The outside is lovely and the gardens and park are beautiful. Staff was polite and did a great job all things considered. I would love to go again outside of lockdown.

P. C.

Absolutely great place to visit with my child. As a Colchester resident I will be returning.

I. S.

Colchester castle was first William the Conqueror royal castle which was built in stone. Construction began in 1076 on the ruins of a Roman temple to the Emperor Claudius. The temple foundations, with impressive vaults, can still be seen today below the current castle. By the middle of the 14th century, the castle dungeons were made into prison cells. The castle served as the county gaol until 1668 and as a prison until 1835. In 1645 the castle was the location for investigation into suspected witches instigated by the self-styled 'Witchfinder General', Matthew Hopkins, who used the castle for his rather unpleasant witch interrogations. During the Civil War the castle was held by Royalist supporters under the leadership of Sir George Lisle and Sir Charles Lucas. When in 1648 Parliamentary troops attacked the town, and forced the castle garrison to surrender, the Royalist leaders were executed behind the castle. You can find memorial where that execution happen, in the form of an obelisk which stands near the execution spot, at the back of the castle. Since 1920, the castle owned by Colchester Borough Council. Opening times from Monday to Saturday: from 10 am to 5 pm. On Sunday from 11am to 5 pm. Last entry at 4 pm. Parking is available in the nearby Priory Street and Britannia car parks. An impressive well kept building with beautiful garden, where we enjoyed spending time and would definitely recommend to visit it.

P. P.

Beautiful grounds to explore with lovely garden area to relax and admire the castle structure

K. A.

I was pleasantly surprised by the whole experience to be honest. At 1st glance it just looked like a wonderful castle, but once entered you will be very happy with a great museum and very affordable bottled water lol Just £1 a bottle :D

R. H.

Small, but jammed full of fantastic history. Great way to spend 1-2 hours. The grounds surrounding the area were lovely as well. Only downside were the toilets. Unclean and very very tired.

R. K.

Excellent venue for historical visit for both children and adults. We paid a little extra for tablets for the children but after the first few exhibits they were not used, preferring instead to view the exhibits directly. We were not too keen on the witchcraft special exhibition that seemed to dominate the displays, it may have appealed more to adults and older children. The toilet facilities were poor with a door fallen off in the gents which meant a young grandson had to use the disabled toilet of which there was but one.

J. Y.

Colchester Castle well worth a visit as it has many interesting exhibits. To follow the time line start on the upper floor and work your way down. The castle gardens are very pretty as well at this time of year

L. R.

A very worthwhile day out to see a castle with a vast history, it is the largest Norman keep intact in Europe, built on top of the Roman Temple of Claudius that was destroyed by boudicca and her army when they burned it to the ground in AD 60, Edward The Elder son of Alfred the Great recaptured Colchester from Danish vikings in 917. I've visited before and find you learn something interesting and new every time, the Staff are very helpful and informative, their knowledge of the history enhances your visit and tour of the castle. Picturesque gardens surround the castle with a park for children and miniature golf too, overall well worth a visit for a day out there is something for everyone.

A. L.

Visited here today with my son and absolutely loved it. So much fascinating history to absorb and artefacts to see and discover. Although we knew quite a bit about the history already it is always great to learn something new and we especially loved learning about the Chariot racing around the area and my son really enjoyed using the interactive display to experience this! People in the castle maintained social distancing and there were plenty of hand gels dotted about so you felt very safe too which was excellent.

B. d. A.

Not too far from the high street, the castle is set in a nice park which deserves a detour in its own right. Go for a vigorous and refreshing walk through Lower Castle Park or take the kids watch the fish in the lovely little pond next to the castle.

G. B.

Interesting history. But local council could do more regarding disabled parking. Difficult to get close to. Once in the castle staff are helpful and step free access.

J. M.

I haven't been to Colchester castle since 2008 when I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. With that in mind I was disappointed when my sister and me visited recently. Although the recent refurbishment had installed a well needed lift the actual displays left a lot to be desired. There was more room to walk around, but nothing in the displays struck you. However, they did have some fun interactive displays for children. On the whole disappointed preferred the displays in 2008

R. F.

A wonderful and well preserved castle in a wonderful park.

J. D.

Ok to look round and interesting displays. But definitely not worth £11.25 admission when no tour, and no access to roof and dungeons.

P. A.

Really amazing and interesting. Also got the yearly pass for my fiance and I for the same price as two adult tickets.

R. G.

Very interesting visit, the museum is packed (so much so that we didn't have time to properly see them all) with exhibits and interactive displays; great for children.

R. M.

Perfect for a picnic 🧺, short walk, jogging, or just to spend alone. Has a kids playing area & plenty of seats around. There is a lake with swans and ducks and further down a canal.

J. H.

Expensive (£11.25pp), considering the British museum is free. Good collection of artefacts. Unfortunately couldn't see some clearly as the museum had at least 2 large school parties in. Expected more.

M. C.

Not your usual big castle, yet it tells you a story of the Roman's. Rent the tab for a pound and you are in for a surprise..

V. B.

Not visited here for many years - love the new layout of the inside - easy to her round and see the exhibits. We went especially to see the Witchcraft exhibition especially the bits about the local witchcraft trials.

E. D.

Me and my partner suffer with anxiety when it comes to crowds and people. We decided to visit here after a dentist appointment on a Saturday. Going into the grounds it looked stunning. The park was kept so tidy, even when there were people dotted about eating lunch. We had an ice cream and then decided to go in as it wasn't very expensive. We were given a receipt and the lady said we can come and go all day. For £10.95 each I thought this was a pretty good offer. We walked round slowly reading each bit and we noticed a while after just before going upstairs that there was a wedding present. Didn't think to much of it and I constantly checked if my partner was OK as he suffers with panic attacks if there's to many people. The wedding party seemed to go off in one direction so we were fine for the moment. In the last upstairs room we wandered through and started to look round there. It got very loud suddenly with people shouting and clapping. My partner started to shake slowly as he was thinking about all the people making an exit and people around him. We moved into another room and slowly went downstairs to where it was quiet. We enjoyed looking around the rest and took a look in the shop before going. The castle was amazing. But we would have preferred it if the staff had let us know there was a wedding on as the main public had to move around the wedding party and it made it a little awkward. My partner had a full blown panic attack and I had to calm him down. In no way am I being down on a wedding. It looked absolutely amazing and they must hsve spent a ton on it. Just some guests like us do worry and it ended up making the moment a little unnerving. Even so, the day was amazing and the castle was kept so clean and tidy. We will definitely visit again.

A. Y. K.

Good collection as a museum with many pieces from the Roman period, however I missed being able to visit more spaces from the castle itself, which had just a few rooms open

K. R.

Park is great, big play area for kids. The castle museum was interesting. Worth a visit.

N. R.

Went with My Daughter and her family for the afternoon. Enjoyed the History of the Castle and the surrounds. Well worth a visit.

B. K.

Little expensive and not very big. But we spent very good time inside

T. V.

I do like a visit to a castle. Colchester Castle is a very nice example. There are lots of artifacts on display showing the history of the life of the castle. One small negative for me. I like to see the inside construction of a castle as well the outside. Unfortunately there are so many displays inside against walls that it's very hard to see this. Still worth a visit though.

C. J.

A great local museum putting together the long and complicated history of this town

J. C.

Despite growing up in the UK (I have been in Canada for 40 years) I had no idea of the history of Colchester (Britain's First City!) and was fascinated by the Castle and the surrounding grounds. The guided tour sounded interesting but we just had time for the self-guided visit. The displays are well done and give a great introduction into Colchester and its history - now I get the reference to Elephants! The layers of history reminded me of Jerusalem - without the religious history. And we were lucky enough to have a wondering guide, in period costume, who added colour to reading the display signs. Well done, Colchester. My only negative is that the Castle does not give more profile to the others sites around the city - ESPECIALLY the Roman Circus, which was the highlight of our visit. (If you visit Colchester, definitely go the Roman Circus - chariot-racing!)

W. B.

Brilliantly done. Museums can sometimes be a bit dry and dull, but the exhibitions are engaging and the castle itself is great

H. M.

Fabulous, informative guide who showed us round the roman crypts and up to the roof .The breadth of history within these castle walls and foundations is quite extraordinary.

A. G.

Lovely park surrounding the castle! However I visited this place when I was young and from then to now the inside so mo modern! Looks old outside but nothing like a castle inside! Such a shame really! It's got old bits behind the glass for sure, the building though is where you visit and that disappointing! If you not fussed about that then sure it's alright! Got a lot of history in Colchester and the castle is one of them for sure!

P. P.

Very informative visit. Impressed by the exhibits you were invited to touch eg helmets, chainmail, shields and many more. Staff very helpful and considerate.

V.

Nice museum with a lot of rooms and things to explore and see. Castle Park is also a fantastic place for a walk after or before visiting the museum.

D. W.

A beautiful setting in the Castle Park and great revamped museum with so much history. Very friendly and helpful informative staff onsite.

A. C.

Lovely castle! We paid a little extra and had the vaults/rooftop tour. Well worth it!

C. F.

Loved Colchester Castle, very interesting Roman artifacts. Bursting with history and information a really lovely time we had in the Castle.

S. R.

We booked an escape room experience. It was good fun and our guide was helpful and very pleasant We were tested, but just made it within the time limit!

P. O.

After two years living in a Colchester suburb we finally got to visit Colchester Castle. Even though I am in my 70's I learnt so much. The displays are modern but contain artefacts going back to approx AD 40. Of emotional interest are the actual prison cells where the so called witches were interrogated by the Witchfinder General and starved to death in their cells or sent to Chelmsford to be executed or burnt to death during the Civil War. The castle is at the end of the High Street and on the end of Castle Park. I would suggest the Museum is not suitable for children under 5 despite there being a childrens area and a room to eat your food. No discount for senior citizens which is strange but otherwise well worth the £11 admission fee.

s. m.

Free to view from the out side but a bit pricey for a museum if you add on the extra cost of the vaults and roof tour. When I went the roof was being repaired so could not see it all but there was no mention of this before I paid. Still a great place to visit.

J. C.

Plenty to do inside. Well organised and interesting

B. C.

Fantastic place to visit. My kids learnt a lot during our visit and my son particularly is looking forward to showing his school class some of the photos of the roman artifacts we saw. The interactive exhibits were fun yet informative and interesting. Staff we brilliant and very helpful with any questions we had. Beautiful grounds surround the castle and a fantastic looking kids playground (although as it was raining we didnt have opportunity to make the most of this). Great place to learn and have fun would definitely recommend a visit.

P. A.

It's quite a good museum, but avoid if you want a castle experience.

V. M.

Very nice visit. There was a temporarily exposition about the prosecution of wiches that was very interesting. This made it worthwhile.

A. C.

This is a nice museum, but each time I visit I don't always feel like I'm in a castle (does that even make sense?!) There are lots of exhibits and a few hands on areas for the smaller people. Admission price is about going rate for a museum (other than the free ones...!) £10 for an adult, £5.95 for a child. If your local then you can get a year pass for the price of admission... If its a nice day then make bit more of your trip and wonder round the park and possibly into hollytrees opposite.

Y. S.

Fantastic display of artifacts. Easy to a access and walk round. Worth a visit.

L. J.

Thought it was a bit costly. Shame we couldn't see the whole thing. Drawn in by the witches exhibition which was quite small. Think the guided tour should be in with the price so you can see more!

e. s.

Born and lived 19 years in Colchester was lovely to go back and visit such a lovely place seeing it through an adults eyes, guided tour well worth the extra £3. Gorgeous flowers, 2 play areas great for kids, cafe reasonable priced with great ice creams. I will be recommending to friends and will be a regular visitor.

D. H.

A fantastic museum, very well presented, with some fascinating artefacts. The lost star is mainly a reflection of the number of exhibits and interactive displays that are now out of action due to covid, but that is understandable. The interactive tablet is great, really adds to the experience. Hope it is added to, as there are many other fascinating artefacts that could be brought to life. The Roman tombstones and chapel being colourised and brought to life were highlights.

N. S.

This please is amazing! Beautiful Garden which definitively took a lot of Time to take Care of and i admire the person who is doing all this great work. A lot of History there. The atmosphere is ideal for everyone! Weather you are going to visit with a partner or family or even on yor own. I recommend to visit this place and you will have nothing to regret. The views are amazing and people are very kind i will definitively come back.

T. p. B.

Bit expensive to get in as is the gift shop. Kids loved it but they got round it in less than half an hour. The park next door is free and kids enjoyed it much more. Parking nearby is very restricted.

A.

Excellent experience in this Colchester Castel converted into Museum. Exhibits are leary marked and labeled, and housed in glass displays. Colchester Castle is surrounded by a small park where you can sit down an benches and relax for a bit.

L. G. B. G.

Absolutely loved it inside... Its not big but its so interesting, enough fun for kids inside. Good family prices. You can touch a lot of stuff, it actually ask you to touch stuff. Very nice. Interesting story too.

S. G.

Really great museum about the castle and its inhabitants! Informative and fun, this interactive museum would be perfect for kids. The gift shop has a variety of things on offer, and the staff are wonderful throughout. The castle park is lovely, and perfect to relax on a sunny day!

G. L.

If you want to deepen your history of Roman & Norman Britain, make the Castle Museum your first call. The museum and tour is absolutely fantastic, you could spend all day here as the displays and guides are so knowledgeable.

C. P.

It is a must!! amazing museum. Please go without a second thought.It may cost 10 pounds and looks small but it is so full with interesting exhibits and stories!!!

U. U.

Great place to visit for both adults and children. The castle is not very big but the museum is quite well-thought-out and everything is presented in a way that everyone can find interesting and easy to understand. Lots of things for children to do as well, like dressing up etc. My 8-year-old son particularly liked the roundhouse area where he spent ages.

A. S.

Amazing historic building, set in some lovely grounds in the centre of Colchester. Admission charged for the castle itself and I didn't have sufficient time to justify, so I'd suggest allowing at least a couple of hours to do the interior and surroundings justice.

P. W.

For a visit with children - took the grandkids here and we had a good time. probably better for older kids say 8+ as there was more to do for older kids. The building has an old feel and gives a flavour of what it must have been like to l I've in it long ago.

D. L.

For a family outing is is fantastic. We decided to take a guided tour by Alan, he made it informative, funny with facts and details which we were unaware of. Plugged for an annual ticket which worked out quite reasonable and allows you to take your time and completely absorb the whole of the museum at your own pace.

m. c.

Nice displays..... Like a lot of museums, the information was quite dull (except the bit about the witches) and didn't really put anything into context. It was very friendly though and the grounds are lovely.

L. B.

Amazing how much they've managed to fit into a relatively small space. Lots of interactive educational displays for kids (of all ages) and photo ops. We rushed around a bit with a toddler, but there was enough to see that we'd come back again. I definitely wish we had taken the tour of the vault and roof - didn't see this widely publicised.

S. R.

Definitely take the guided tour at additional cost, the tour of the Roman temple vaults and roof views along with the expert guide are well worth it. Unfortunately I believe there are restrictions for the less mobile for this extra tour due to the sometimes difficult access to the vaults and stairs. The castle itself is a magnificent example of a Norman Keep built on the foundations of a Roman temple sacked by Queen Boudicca's tribes when Colchester was overrun. It is 1.5 times larger than the Tower of London with a well presented Museum running from the bronze age through Roman empire and the English civil war to its use as an 18th century prison. There are interactive exhibits to entertain and educate children. If you are a Colchester resident and bring I/D, you can get free admission for those who qualify for a year from the date of your visit. This does not apply to the separate guided tour. Well worth a visit.

D. D. P.

Nice castle & grounds. But be warned....the squirrels in the park are very tame & hungry. As you can see....One even went for my nuts!

S. N.

Great tour of the Roman remains. Not great for people with mobility problems though. A lot of steps. I missed out half of tour because of the steps. If you were just visiting the castle, there is not a lot to see. Just two floors of exhibits, all open plan.

R. M.

A well maintained bit of history! A fair price for admission and lots of interesting things to have a look at. The interactive stuff was cool :)

L. P.

Small but lots to learn about colchester history and the Romans

Z. Z.

Every year, during the Christmas, the Castle Museum will open for free! The kids will sing in the castle, and many other funny activities. The castle park is a good place for skiing during snow season and a nice place for walking dogs all the year.

C. M.

Wonderful experience so much to learn and see about Colchester and it's history.

M. S.

This museum is well worth a visit, chronicling the history of Colchester from the Iron Age to the end of the Roman occupation. It is quite small but still very interesting.

A. B.

Amazing! Today was one of the Heritage open days so free entrance for our big family of 7 is really appreciated. Lots to see and learn. Beautiful roses garden! Highly recommend to visit.

C. J.

Fantastic museum with a great array of objects and displays and a deep history. The staff I interacted with were friendly and knowledgeable. All in all, a great place to visit. Highly recommend.

H. L.

Beautiful castle with a beautiful green space around

C. G.

A fantastic historical museum with real artifacts rather than replicas.

L. B.

It's a nice little museum. Some very cool stuff and a spooky jail cell, also some nice projected videos. Well done for a small museum.

M. S.

A comprehensive collection of artefacts in the museum. Very busy with school parties on the day we visited. They seemed to be having fun.

D. M.

Lots of local history and stories and a few interactive displays.

M. H.

The guided tour was very interesting with some humorous moments

l. s.

Amazing building in such good condition for its age. Very well stocked with so many genuine interesting artefacts from Roman times onwards. Take the guided tour extra information and extremely interesting from the basement and dungeons to the rooftop. Take time to walk around the Gardens and grounds as well the flower beds are beautifully laid out and well stocked a credit to the gardeners. Will certainly revisit on my next holiday in that area.

L. A.

I was initially a bit shocked it was £11 each but it must take a lot of up keep.. I found it very interesting and informative actually was best thing I've don't in Colchester

E.

An interesting castle museum.

L. M.

Nice museum with a lovely garden to walk around. Covid rules are well set out and easy to follow.

K.

Walked round twice only took 45 minutes definitely think it's more child oriented, not worth the entry price should be half.

F. w. K.

Worth visit to get into 11th century..A castle which related to big history is beautifully maintained. Park around it is also good place to have a clam and quiet walk.

E. w.

We did the tour round the basement of the castle. Plenty of facts that continue to amaze us to this day. Family live by the roman fields so it’s awesome to see artifacts found by the family home. Staff always friendly and open to help.

J. C. C. R.

It's a gorgeous place for a picnic either with friends or family in a nice weather day like today. Missing another food point, like they have in Promenade Park in Maldon, where you can buy burgers, fish and chips, etc.

M. L.

A must see!! A lot of roman artefacts in really good state! And the castle itself a marvellous wonder.

S. C.

It was a really hot day! Cool in the castle and so many interactive things to do

L. E.

Got married here so I kind of like it 😊

D. S.

An excellent experience. Staff and guides are very friendly and helpful. Learned a lot about the castle and the history of Colchester. 🙂

T. H.

A brilliant day out for families with an excellent park that has more than enough to keep everyone occupied on a sunny day!!

C. H.

Great place to visit just the right amount of artefacts to look at and friendly helpful staff. Amazing building and beautiful gardens, when the roses bloom they will look gorgeous.

S.

Super fun little day trip. The castle was so unique and its history was very interesting. All measure with hand sanitizer, spacing, and mask. Highly recommend to visit :) (call for reservation time) i bought some amazing rings in the shop too! Loved it!

R. M.

It was nice to revisit somewhere I last visited when on a school trip back in the 70s. There was lots to see and entry was a reasonably price.

T. O. T. D. Y.

Lots of School parties nd no tours available due to sraff shortages. Still a nice visit.

C. S.

Really enjoyed it. Looked great from the outside and filled with lots of interesting artifacts. Could have been more on Boudica but the £3 guided trip around the basement and the roof of the castle is well worth it!

W. d. B.

£11 is too much for what the museum has to offer!

c. p.

Wonderful Roman museum inside castle and beautiful park and gardens outside.

D. D. Z.

Great castle with interesting history

S. A.

Absolutely beautiful gardens. The focus is often on the castle itself and the museum inside but the gardens are great and absolutely full of colour at the right time of year.

A. M.

Nice place to visit, not overly big for the price but O certainly you paid you can come and go as much as you like, really well looked after park around the surroundings

L. M.

Went on the guided tour to the basement and up to the roof. Specifically went to visit the Witchcraft display and were not disappointed.

P. o.

Truly wonderful. We had the good fortune to have a guided tour with just us two; Clare was remarkable.. Her enthusiasm and knowledge did transform us to a place lost in time. Romans in Britain.. The essence of what we are. Thank you Clare and the wonderful castle exhibition.. Inspiring and educational. Going from place to place around this unique country, seeing and feeling the way history weaves into the fabric of what we are, gives pause for hope in troubled times... We have been here before!!

S. W.

Accompanied my daughter's school. First visit to the castle and was really impressed. The guide we had was engaging, funny and extremely knowledgeable. There were plenty of hands-on exhibits for the kids to get involved with and there was so much to learn about the history of Colchester

C. S.

Kids were a little too young at 3 & 5 so their attention wanes after half an hour. Adults enjoyed it - very well maintained, interesting and the staff were fantastic

e. w. o. R.

Wasn't quite what I expected. The grounds themselves are quite pleasant, nicely kept with some lovely features but the castle itself is a little boring. Firstly it doesn't really look like a castle...well not how I would imagine one. Also a lot of the castles features aren't really present as the inside has been changed to accommodate a museum. There are some interesting exhibitions of old roman swords and artefacts but a lot of it is a bit dull. There are endless old coins and ancient pots on display. Some of the displays are excellent but you could finish looking around in 10 minutes. The old staircase and vaults at the entrance aren't accessible for some reason. £10 each for an adult. Not too expensive but probably not value for money.

C. L.

Nice museum in castle, worth going on tour

J. W.

Interesting castle with much history. Worth a visit!

K. b.

Interesting Musium and a beautiful park to walk around. Musium entrance fee was a bit steep for what is in it

Y. B.

Everyone have to enjoy a piece of History!!! Amazing facts never knew about. Recommend!!!

J. B.

Wow! Spectacular setting. 2000 years old Roman architecture at its finest

S. M.

Fantastic displays, really laid out well, fully accessible for wheelchairs and most disabilities.. The light show on the wall is great.. The staff are very knowledgeable and incredibly helpful, plus they do a LOCAL CITIZEN ticket for people who live in the Borough of Colchester which is a brilliant scheme as it lasts for year.. This allows local people to visit as many times as they want in a year... Great initiative...

D. W.

Full of local history. Very interesting. all the items are well displayed with lots of information. The grounds and park are lovely and well maintained. Well worth a visit

P. V.

Excellent presentation of 2000+years of history in a delightful setting.

B. W.

Some nice parts of history but very small and can be done in 15 minutes

F.

Brilliant trip. Loads to see and easy to follow museum.

J. W.

Excellent artefacts but not logically displayed. Not enough about the castle. Unfortunately visit was spoilt by out of control school children.

J. T.

Cool place to visit and see the history

S. K.

Amazing Castle & museum, perfect for a day out in town - fascinating exhibits and lovely helpful staff. Would highly recommend the tours!

R. L.

Well set out museum, really enjoyed my walk round

A. W.

Nice well kept castle..full of stuff and well set out.

C. D.

Great place to visit, our son enjoyed every minute of it, from the amazing interactive sections to the private tour we as a family found it all a wonderful day out for the whole family 🙂

A. A.

Been only outside. But the park surrounded is amaizng

S. T. T.

We had an excellent tour of the castle, visiting the vaults under castle and then going on top of the castle to see the wedding chapel and a walk across the roof.

M. B.

Such an important piece of our history. The AR app on the tablets is well worth it

D. M.

Beautiful unusual venue for weddings. But nice place to visit

H. A.

Amazing place had a really wonderful day here. The ladies and reception are so friendly and helpful! Reccomend the tour very informative learnt so much.

L. G.

Not much as a castle. Quite an interesting museum (but hardly worth the cost)

J. B.

Tremendous museum, with a wealth of artifacts and a very knowledgeable guide. Well recommended.

C. K.

Interesting building, well preserved.

D. T. M. M.

This is one of the best regional museums I've visited. Its collection of Roman artifacts is extraordinary.

K. W.

Beautiful n well maintained Castle , history always fascinates us

l. B.

My daughter got married here in the chapel wonderful experience and not overly expensive

D. L.

Went here for a wedding reception. It was great to be able to walk around the exhibits during the celebration. The staff are very friendly and helpful.

S. A. B.

The best think to do in a sunny autumn Sunday. Really enjoyed the 30 minutes of guided tour.

p. g.

Good displays and very well done.

B. B.

This visit was very informative as had the opportunity to touch and see a few artifacts that was displayed on trolley by museum staff who shared good information.

S. L.

Well designed museum displaying historical information and artifacts while saving an important building in beautiful grounds. Well worth visiting.

B. A.

Lovely place to visit. Very good playground for the kids.

I. C.

Wonderful displays and well worded descriptions, Fun and interactive, huge range of history unique to this Castle, lovely staff, modern toilets and full disabled access, really faultless

M. C.

Beautiful gardens in the park, and amazing things to see and do in the castle!! Loved hearing the stories and seeing and listening to the gaoler, though got worried when members of my group accused me of being a witch!! Thoroughly enjoyed my visit!! Can easily spend a day in the castle and a while other day for the gardens!!

N. B.

The Castle is well worth a visit, although I would recommend booking a slot in advance you can turn up and see when the next available time is. Currently some of the more interactive displays are not available due to Covid-19 restrictions and the dungeons and main staircase were also closed. The gaoler tour was good but some of the films are now well out of date. Recommended but not for younger than 10.

J. M.

Great staff, the tour of the roof and vault was good and lots of interactive things to try and learn about!

I. H.

Walked around the exhibits then took the guided tour,was quite an adventure ducking under the Roman foundations and seeing hidden parts of the castle including the tree on the roof. The park outside is amazing with an excellent children's playground. 👍

M. F.

Modern inside. Quite small. Family ticket was £25.

W. D.

Brilliant, the castle is the museum! Excellent displays and easy to follow informative and often interactive, historical facts about the founding and development of Colchester, from the bronze and iron ages to the 21 century. Beautiful grounds too. Well worth a visit

V. W.

Exhibits are engaging and the park around is lovely with an excellent playground. Our 3 1/2 year old had a lovely day.

K. B.

A great visit and excellent tour off the Roman foundations and roof of the castle.

C. F.

Small, but interesting and packed full of articles. Had a number of well designed interactive displays. Can be comfortably completed within 2 hours which makes it perfect to include in a quick trip to the city centre.

P. C.

It's good especially if you do the tour

D. L.

Underwhelming. Wanted to charge more for roof access, 10.50pp I felt was a little too much for what is essentially museum pieces

A. W.

Very well presented, interesting and interactive. As a teacher I could definitely see this as a potential school trip visit!

T. V.

Pay £2 extra to get an interactive tablet. Kids will love the extra challenges. The castle is a great museum to learn about Colchester life in Roman times and beyond. Lots of artefacts. Interactive too. Sadly price is a little steep when compared to similar and there's no free parking.

P. T.

Everyone should visit this place! Make sure you pay a bit extra for the the dungeons & battlements tours too. This is a significant Roman monument in their first British town. Great historic exhibition with thousands of excavated artefacts, beautifully presented. Compact but well stocked gift shop, but no cafe/restaurant (loads nearby). Good for the whole family, with interactive things for children too.

C. R.

Glad it was free as too expensive for what you get. There is a museum in it that has some great items in it. Very unimpressed that items not identified. 2 gold and a silver coin described as just that! No effort by our curators of our treasure!

P. H.

All things Roman and Saxon !

P. O.

Very impressive castle with a lot of great history.

T.

Brilliant little town full of character, history and sex shops. Castle is magnificent. I have no idea who the lady in the photo is!!!

S. E.

Great place with nice ancient artifacts

B. G.

Nice restoration and excellent staff. Also great exhibits. Not as interactive as many museums!

p. y.

Highly recommend doing the vault and roof tour. Lots to see and do also starting to see more interactive activities available

J. R.

Love Colchester Castle... Great place to visit with lovely gardens. Must visit if coming to Colchester.

P. S.

The place is really historically interesting. It has some fun activities like finding and solving riddles. Also it has this interactive tablet which gives you brain filling facts. My only unfortunate complaint is that there is no parking space. Overall, this castle is a fantastic heritage spot to visit.

K. F.

Very friendly welcome

W. P.

Alright, play ground outside is great.

L. C. (.

A short tour as the castle is fairly small. Largely a museum with different relics and artifacts, rather than a castle. Really enjoyable if you like history

E.

Fantastic for any history lover, kid freindly with lots of interactive elements while having more than enough to keep adults entertained too! I've visited a few times over the years and have yet to be disappointed!

C. H.

This museum is made for kids. Every detail is put to educate kids and get as much involved in it. This includes medieval costumes, cooking bowls, interactive screen, touchable exhibitions. The place provides as well video explanations and great dungeons. It is great as well for parents to enjoy. It has a lovely souvenir shop with many items for little princesses and knights and cafe. It has as well lift which is great option if you travel with pram.

R. S.

This museum is made for kids. Every detail is put to educate kids and get as much involved in it. This includes medieval costumes, cooking bowls, interactive screen, touchable exhibitions. The place provides as well video explanations and great dungeons. It is great as well for parents to enjoy. It has a lovely souvenir shop with many items for little princesses and knights and cafe. It has as well lift which is great option if you travel with pram.

M. L.

Quite expensive to get in and not as much to see as I thought there would be. A little disappointed to be honest. Wouldn't pay to go again.

A. H.

Interesting and well presented, but a little 'school trippy' and quite disconnected from the incredible history of Colchester and the Castle itself. It's a nod to Roman history generally. I would like to have seen more about the actual Castle and the town I live in - local sites and sights and how they connect today to the castle and Roman Camulodunum. If it was there, it was easily missed. The interactive tablets were good, but multiple reference numbers made it over-complicated (suggestion: one system or QR codes would be better!). Our 8yo son got bored quickly as (due to straggling covid restrictions) there were no interactive features, just lots of reading. And we didn't get told about the underground/rooftop tour until we were leaving! Still worth a visit but you may feel a little underwhelmed. The gardens and park, however, are beautiful.

S. H. (.

Lovely interactive displays. Loved it although we got there half an hour before closing time.

J. L.

Welcoming, lots of ancient relics from the Romans and other time periods. Has actual vases and bones of deceased Romans. Great exhibition and a few interactive parts as well. The shop is very small and extremely overpriced, but that has become the norm in these sorts of places. Very enjoyable overall.

J. H.

Museum based inside the castle walls. Expensive, especially as it's extra for the tour of the roman vaults and view from the top of modern day Colchester.

D. H.

A great place to whileaway the afternoon learning about colchester's rich history. It was a shame that the modern history section wasn't as big as usual due to a father christmas Visit, but another reason for a repeat Visit.

s. s.

Brilliant 👏 full of information. Guided tour was well worth doing..thank you Barbara. Only slight criticism (not castle's fault) was the 2 school children's classes teachers did not wear face masts...very poor examples to others.

P. M.

Absolutely beautiful park. The squirrels are adorable.

R. J.

Lovely, well kept grounds and the Castle Museum itself is wonderful. A bit pricey for entry however, it is a great day out. Especially if you have a little picnic and ice-cream on the grounds. A great experience.

C. M.

A brilliant experience. The roof tour and underground experience very interesting. Gentleman that took ours yesterday was brilliant. Castle exceptional and surrounding park tranquil and surrounded by squirrels

A. L.

Helpful staff & interesting exhibits. Some of the interactive ones are not easy, we crashed the chariot a lot . . . No cafe at the moment, just coffee and snack machines

S. S.

We were greeted by a nice receptionist however we weren't well informed before we start our tour. Bought an ipad tour guide and i think that was completely useless. Maybe we didnt make good use of it but everyone who had it around us also seemed struggling...Maybe if guests are informed in a slightly better way these can be helpful. There were a lot of glass cabinets full of imteresting items but we were suprised to see a lot of replicas. The entrance fee is on the high side and we feel it could be slightly lowered.

B. C.

Nice preserved castle, very interesting

G. B.

Historic and well presented visitor attraction. Families of all ages will enjoy the many varied exhibitions.

J. w.

Another great asset for colchester , from emperor claudius to the Norman's this place has the lot. I highly recommend a visit.

M. S.

Visited Colchester Castle for the first time in yonks and it was as brilliant as I remember. Material culture on display is well worth the price of admission. Would well recommend any locals to pick up a years membership, and would particularly stress getting on the guided tour. The tour is well structured, brimming with facts about the less overt parts of the castle's history and is accessable to all backgrounds and ages.

A. G.

Nice place to visit full of ancient history with good presentation. Many kids following routes and a tablet is available for enhanced information. Town good to visit for shops, drinks and snacks. We sat in castle gardens and ate a picnic.

H. L.

Amazing museum, well worth the interactive pass and tablet. 6 year old loved it, and the dungeons tour guide was brilliant.

C. W.

Such a lovely family, as a couple or even on your own to go place to go. Very interesting to see everything inside the castle and beautiful grounds its kept on. There are so many beautiful places in and around Colchester to go for days out.

C. C.

It was worth the Visit particularly Boudica and Roman Funerals rooms.And the Mosaics.

M. B.

Fab experience!! We all enjoyed our journey through the history of Colchester. The Roman displays we're a particular highlight. The interactive tour brought lots to life and the hands on exhibits kept the kids happy. Definitely recommend you go here.

M. C.

Huge place to visit and calm your soul

I. M.

Really interesting place where you can learn about the romans in England. I recommend the guided tour too.

a. m.

Good place to visit with family.It has got a huge park and play area next to it with local cafe nearby.

A. A.

Been going here for over 40 years. I had school trips as a child and enjoy even more as an adult. We took the tour through the Roman vaults and rooftop and it was amazing. The guide was great and the history incredible. Highly recommended!

L. W.

A museum I have wanted to visit for a while and I was not disappointed. Amazing very important collections - maybe a greater fuss should be made about them generally across the country but particularly in Colchester. I am sure that the interactive activities and dressing up are very popular in normal times.

D. M.

My daughter is a history buff and loved our walk round. Would recommend the castle to all ages, easy access and very helpful knowledgeable staff.

a. h.

Many interesting artifacts. Well laid out and informative

H. G. J.

Well worth a visit to the Castle. The displays are up to date and informative. The guided tour is a must if your are going as the guides are funny, intuitive and help bring the history of Colchester to life. The facilities are clean and the inside is well laid out.

L. F.

Went as part of a school trip and the interactive session and story telling session were brilliant. The children stayed engaged all day (4 hrs) and the museum displays had load for them to think about. The eating area was perfect and the day was timed to perfection by the museum staff as they had at least 5 classes during the day. I'll be back to read more in my own time (& when not watching children) as there was lots of interesting things I didn't get a chance to get to. Thanks

S. M.

I love the castle lots to see inside and the grounds are nice

M. D.

Castle museum is brilliant. Took our 3 year old and baby in a pram. Even with the pram we could navigate the whole site. My son found the interactive sections really interesting and personally I really enjoyed it and learnt a lot. Huge bonus is if you are a Colchester council tax payer you can pay for a day's admission and get 12 months free which for my family was around £20 and we get the year to return as much as we like. The castle grounds are also great with a huge park to keep the kids busy and a shop to get the obligatory ice cream. Happy days

L. J.

Interesting and definitely worth paying the extra £3.50 for the tour and access to the other areas.

N. S.

Good museum to take the kids I think. Lots of interesting historical exhibits. I particularly liked the Roman history as it was all new to me.

T.

If you are interested in history then this is a fantastic outing. Officially the oldest recorded town in England. So there are some unbelievable artifacts. Also it's part of the castle itself. So once you have seen the museum you can have a tour of the castle.

J. B.

So much history and real artifacts. All staff are really helpful and polite. Some exhibits could have been lit a little better.

R. w.

Great place for all the family, superbly laid out inside showing the history of the Castle, real nice touch is the ipads to show how the castle looked back in time interactively, well worth a visit

L. C.

I went around the venue today and found it a little to dark for me as did my wife an Son. Despite this I managed to get all the way round using my wheelchair. The staff were very helpful as well

H. K.

Nice museum with loads of interesting history to learn about. Covers everything from the iron age to modern Colchester. Lots of period clothes to try on and things to interact with, so it's good fun. It's not very big, just two floors available without a tour guide, but it was just long enough that I didn't get fed up. Concession prices for students too!

D. B.

A great place to visit, good value for money with plenty of modern interactive displays and activities for children and pleasant ,knowledgeable staff on hand for adults with a desire to discuss history more in depth.The castle gardens are also lovely ,well tended and house other free museums and children's areas.

J. B.

Very interesting and well set out information and exhibition. Knowledgeable staff around to assist with queries and impart what they know.

F. B.

Guided tour well worth the extra cost for access to parts you cannot go yourself together with the informative commentary from knowledgeable, friendly guide. Museum interesting with "hands on" items for kids (and big kids!!). Great afternoon out and park lovely for a stroll.

G. D.

Fabulous castle to visit! We had a tour and the staff were really helpful and informative. Lots of interactive educational activities to keep little eyes and hands busy. We had a great time and will return!

J. S.

Ok whilst I think £10 is still too much to pay for entrance and there’s no way you should have to pay extra for a tour (I declined), I found enough interesting information over two floors to satisfy me (sans kids). There’s interesting artifacts and lots of placards to read. I spent a little over an hour inside.

D. W.

Well worth a visit. The Castle Park grounds are extensive, attractive and well kept. Plus large play area for kids with swings etc.

S. T.

Excellent museum of Colchester's rich history. Good value for local residents who can have a year's free pass after paying once.

C. F.

Spent just over three hours here looking at all the exhibits. If you go, definitely do the tour of the roof and vaults, it's interesting to hear about the history of the building, and for us it really made the whole experience something special.

C. C.

Lovely place for all the family and history, you can chill out around the grounds has well go into the Colchester Castle to learn about the place its self and the people back then, like Boadicea and her fight with the Romans.

D. F.

Loved it. Went for Decoding the Romans exhibition specifically but the whole Castle is fascinating

d. c.

This place is epic. Love the surround park. But the castle has some of the best displays of treasure and artifact I've seen, all local as well. Such a rich history and be felt through the walls. And a tingling deep water well to see. During covid times you have to book and follow a one way system around the inside. Sanitizer everywhere. Everyone paying attention and it doesn't get busy. The staff are very friendly polite. And for a family ticket I paid £28 which is a steal for the history lesson in there. Take it all in. Enjoy. Read everything. It's all local and all means something. Great visit.

J. R.

Cool museum inside ...£10

N. H.

A surprisingly good museum and soo much history in one place. I was impressed with what fantastic artefacts they had in a regional museum, particularly if you're into the Iron Age (and Romans, of course). A great use for the castle as well, which is a very interesting building in itself. A little expensive for an adult at £10 though, family ticket £28. Covid measures very sensible and well thought out

J. M.

Just a nice place for a couple of hours

O. M.

I didn't go inside the castle, I can only review the outside, but the grounds are just lovely.

N. H.

It's a nice place to visit, lots of exhibits to see and learn about history. There's a small cafe and gift shop.

H. B.

Lots of interesting information and artefacts. The augmented reality content is very good and entertaining. Don't miss the prison. The area around the castle very nice for walk and time with kids, as there is one of the best playgrounds I've ever seen. My son loved it. There are also very friendly squirrels taking snacks from hand and being stroked.

E. V.

Colchester Castle Park , with the castle established in the 2nd half of 11th century is a pleasant place to visit in Essex , as it is surrounded with a serene ambience in the oldest town in UK and has a bit history to talk about .

B. S.

Beautiful castle but was disgusted to witness 3drunken lads using the bushes in the grounds as a toilet leaving their feaces for someone to clean up

D. E.

This museum has really matured over the years. The setting is fantastic and the museum is educational but fun for children as well. Lovers of ancient history as well as local history will enjoy a day out here. I've been coming for many years now and will continue to do so.

D. C.

Expensive admission, but I always come out feeling it was good value. There's a huge amount of artefacts to see and lots of activities for the kids to do inside. If yours is a first-time visit, I strongly recommend you take the guided tour, for a small additional payment, which includes the foundations and the roof (not suitable for disabled people).

D. B.

Nice park went for hospice event in grounds

K. R.

Excellent museum detailing the history from the early settlements a the way to modern life. Didn't get a chance to go to the tower as that's only available as part of a tour, so plan your trip and book ahead!

N. S.

Great day out do the tour

H. B.

Paid a bit extra for a tour of the foundations and roof. Well worth it, absolutely great place, looking forward to going back.

M. G.

Been there twice so far, once on my own ond once with kids. I must say a lot depends on the guide - if you go to dungeons and listen to his stories... The first gentleman was more entertaining. Exhibitions absolutely addictive and the stunning fact, that it's all real, only 1900 or a bit less years old.

M. P.

Wonderfully presented artefacts from the area with a well-planned layout. Well worth seeing!

J. A.

Go back in time, lots of items to view in each time period, interaction for children, people dressed in authentic clothing and also paid to go into the Roman cellars and roof top. From there you have the town park, shops and a good day out.

L. B.

It is a great fun activity to do for around 1-2 hours. It is interesting but in a fun way. You can hire ipads to show you what it would look like back then. I would go there again and definitely recommend it to everyone!

R. B.

Interactive, great for all ages! Good facilities, easily accessible for wheelchairs/prams. Will be visiting again in the summer so we can explore the park around the Castle.

B. M.

Lovely meseum, one of the oldest town

T. C.

Brilliant day out, do take the £3 guide tour, worth every penny, you will see parts of the castle not open to visitors not taken by the tour guide. Our guide made it really enjoyable, thanks, I think it was Sharon. parking near by expensive in the NCP £10.50 For over 3 hours.

D. A.

A compact but detailed museum exploring the history of Colchester from Iron age through to modern day. The museum is oriented towards children and the castle itself is more of a setting than the subject of most of the exhibits. For the older historians among you the highlights are the exhibits themselves with exceptional iron age and roman finds on display. Allow an hour to visit, more if you want to explore the lovely surrounding gardens.

M.

A beautiful and well preserved building offering opportunity for lovely photos around it. Inside it brings its history back to us with many artefacts founded in or around it. The labels, videos and sound effect offer you the opportunity to learn and engage with the building and it's history. It definitely worth the visit.

B.

I do enjoy castles, and this is a well preserved one. It has plenty of history to see and read about and lots for kids to enjoy inside. It really has been transformed into a museum, so if you're looking for a barren ruin jutting out of a mist covered mountain, you'll be disappointed. It's also a surprisingly good venue for a wedding!

K. S.

Fantastic museum packed with loads of locally found items. The highlight though was paying just £3 extra and getting a guided tour from Barbara. Informative and enthusiastic throughout. Plus access to the basement and roof.

R. S.

Very nice place to visit,big beautiful park and a nice castle with quite a few interesting exhibits

r.

Very entertaining and informative nice layout

A. C.

I took my Year 3 class for a school trip. They had a great day in the museum. The staff are brilliant. We went to the park after lunch. It is a great park. Great place for a day out with kids.

N. M.

Hubby and I just popped in here to kill some time and was so impressed with what we found. The information and displays were excellent. So much more to look at than we thought there was going to be. We were approached by a volunteer guide who was very knowledgeable and interesting. There is a very good children's area. A little pricey to get in but then these places do take a lot of money to run. Great place to go on a rainy day.

I. L. M.

Really interesting and beautiful place to visit. An interactive visit that will take you through the history of the castle in a way that you will enjoy and learn. The castle is not big, but it has an incredible history. I didn't try the guided visit, but it's an option to consider.

J. S.

Great museum, surrounding area behind the castle is really pretty

A. A.

We came specially for the exhibition Decoding the Roman Dead, which is superb: very thought-provoking. The Roman galleries here are excellent.

G. L.

Lots of interactive displays - recommend takong the £2 extra charge for the tablet as it has additional interactive experience (360 degree views of rooms) and additional history at marked points.

P. M.

Contains material and objects dating back to the Iron Age that relates to the history of Colchester. Worth a visit.

s.

Interesting place, well laid out, however: On leaving I was asked to complete a questionnaire. When I commented that I found some of the propaganda about transgenderism in the kids notices unnecessary, I was told they wouldn't submit that feedback. It's all very well for woke warriors to signal their virtue all over the place but they also need to accept that for many, these are fringe views. Refusing to take this feedback in person is problematic.

U. N.

Absolutely brilliant if you are into your history and castles, lots of very interesting exhibitions and a few interactive ones for the kids. Definetly worth the admission price.

A. J.

Really good to visit, lots of information about history of castle and things to see and interact with.

R. M.

Enjoyed a visit with my 2 young children. It doesn't take long to get around. The most interesting part is going under the castle which is additional funds. Great play park behind the castle for children.

J. W.

Excellent visit - not been for ages but there's so much to do / see here now. We were able to register for 1 year ticket (as residents) but our friends from away thought it was worth the entrance fee for just the one day. Will definitely be back.

F. L.

Really good castle to experience. Tour and lots of information. Great to see how these old structures can be preserved for future generations.

B. P.

Lovely Castle and park to visit if you're visiting the town. Well maintained and large play area for the kids including sand pit!

D. P.

Really interesting exhibits, displayed well. Staff were helpful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Well worth the visit.

E. C.

Lovely castle, great for kids too. Loved the interactive tablet that you are given, which gives you extra information and look into the past.

A. B.

Worth a visit. Disappointing that interior is a museum without bringing the castle alive

P. L.

You'll be able to see it in a couple of hours. But they've put a lot of work into the place. Plenty of interactive elements. Have a walk round the park too. Take a picnic and you can spend all day here. The kids play area is impressive too.

K. G.

Awesome place. Lots of cool stuff to see. I loved the old stone coffin and the very kind gentleman who volunteers there told me all about the history of it. The grounds are pretty. I also liked to witches jail it was very.

D. M.

Colchester Castle is again, much like the park, a monumental piece of our history and local culture. There are some great exhibits inside, and I must say I learned an awful lot on my visit there, although I do struggle to understand the reason for the large entry fee and maybe there should be a little more for the youngest of kids. It was a real struggle keeping my 5 year old girls from getting bored and trying to pick up everything. I give this a 4*, purely because of the above mentioned. Slightly lower ticket prices and more involving exhibits for the kids.

T. F.

Very interesting good couple of hours.

T. F.

A really interesting museum with lots of interesting artefacts. We really appreciated the hands on exhibits as well because they make it far more toddler friendly. It's not a huge museum, but this again is fine with a toddler. The price is not to be either considering the interesting exhibits.

N. S.

Definitely book the guided tour - you go into the Roman foundations and on to the roof. Other than that, there are plenty of bits and pieces to look at inside the museum. I would suggest parking at Greyfriars Hotel & Restaurant car park a short walk away. Parking charges are reasonable on Sundays.

P. M.

Tadge expensive but very interesting collections we'll displayed.

C. B.

It's was OK, but felt they could do a bit more for the admission price.

K. N.

We had family staying with us so took them to see the sights of Colchester. We visited the castle and we all really enjoyed it. Lots to see we were approached by a guy in costume who had masses to tell us about the castle we were taken by the story of Boudicca and he had so much knowledge to share on the subject. Really brings the history to life. I particularly liked the gaol where cells were brought to life with animation that was simple but v clever. Amazing place really worth a visit.

S. R.

Children thought it was ok, only stayed an hour as they were bored. I think we all expected it to be a bit more of a castle rather than just a museum. Had we of read up about it we would have known that, just saw sign posts and thought we would try it.

M. P.

Amazing historical artefacts, displayed nicely, children friendly, all housed in a place which has a rich history of its own and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Well worth a visit.

T. V.

It's a castle. A proper castle. Even though it's small there's a lot of history there and it's a nice thing to see if you need to keep buys for a few hours.

J. W.

Brilliant museum highlighting the importance of Colchester especially during Roman occupation of Britain. I've been 3 times as a local and can't recommend it enough if you're in the area. Do the tour of the underground Roman ruins and castle rooftop; definitely worth £3!

G. S.

Amazing experience! Its a beautiful place with fantastic objects. I really recommend the visit.

A. S. :. A.

Absolute gem. Their website makes it sound boring. Do not be fooled. Even with covid restrictions a great place to spend hours viewing some of the best artifacts in the country and the world.

P. N. A. G.

Endearing such a wonderous escapism for all your family needs. With sight seeing, park, picnic area and playing field. Bundles of things to do.

P. L. (.

Really nice place. Take the tour, the guide is fantastic and a bargain at £3.50

s. d.

Booked a slot for our visit over the telephone. Visited same day. Castle is quite interesting. Used a tablet which gave more information. Took an hour.

A. G.

Nicely laid out museum, staff pleasant, beautiful artefacts well explained. There were some items about that weren't labelled. Couldn't understand why where items had gone for loan or cleaning there weren't photos of them. Good things for younger kids to get involved in.

R. Z.

Visited the castle today - well yesterday now as it has just gone past midnight and it was incredible. Truly a wonderful day out (visited for the day up from London). The staff are so kind and attentive, Sharon Money the Tour Guide was incredible, she spoke as if she was telling a story and had us all mesmerised and intrigued. Not once did I feel bored or as if it was dragging on so much kudos to Sharon. Was a lovely day out and I've returned home feeling educated and having had a great time.

D. U.

Great place to visit even during the Virus issue which they have dealt with quite well. Some areas aren't open but the main parts are very informative and interesting. The staff are very helpful and the interactive tablets are excellant, a joy to use. It wasn't too busy took us about 1.5 hours to go round. Never been...go pay the venue a visit.

C. *.

It was really nice and worth a day trip from London where I was staying. I paid the extra 3 pound for a guided tour and we went to places not accessible to everyone. A good history by the guide too. It’s fascinating to imagine the things those grounds have witnessed.

M. F.

Fascinating place to take the family. Lots of local history to indulge in. We'll cared for and safe for the kids to explore... Marilyn.

J. C.

Very interesting lovely grounds

J. S.

A well pitched museum for both adults and children within the magnificent remains of Colchester Castle. Historical exhibits that go back to early history with particularly good coverage of Roman times. The dungeon jail gives a fascinating insight to the times of the witch trials and the terror of the Witchfinder General

D. F.

To get the most from visiting The Castle Museum, you need to take the guided tour which takes about 1 hour. Just paying to enter the castle does not give you access below or onto the roof. You also miss out on a very knowledgeable guide. Adding £3 to take the tour made the overall experience worthwhile. However, if you choose not to take the guided tour you have access to some interesting and well appointed displays. There are people in costume who bring the exhibits to life and to ask questions. The castle is within a lovely park in Colchester.

T. F.

They allowed us in despite not having booked a slot. All the interactive exhibits were not being used due to Covid19, but overall it was a pleasant experience.

A. C.

Nice place to visit. A bit crammed up due to the size of the castle but there's loads of history here. Lots of fun games and puzzles and multimedia. Good for children and groups.

j. v.

Excellently done, beautiful place to start with, but with a well presented, well thought out layout for the museum. The displays are interesting and we'll layed out with easy to follow information.

J. L.

Need more public toilets and signs where to find them, otherwise a very nice place to chill out, don't forget the peanuts for the squirrels (& magpies) & plenty of water in the hot weather!

D. G.

It was a cold rainy day - so an indoors activity was what we wanted. The grounds are so very pretty, with a proper drawbridge entrance. A good set of displays regarding the history of Colchester. I found some of the roman and saxon relics amazing - I had no idea Colchester Castle had such a good collection! Highly recommend if you have primary school aged children - we saw a few displays where dress ups were encouraged...I will never post the photos online but I had a go also! Definately a win for an indoor day. Would love to visit again

S. H.

Even with Covid-19 precautions, this was a fascinating visit, with very friendly and knowledgeable guides. Well worth the admission price. The audio-visual tablet guide is also superb.

C. B.

Went with children. Great interactive displays. Recommend the tour of the Roman cellars. Good facilities for schools. Helpful staff. Historic area of a very historic town.

D. H.

Great historical place and really nice garden with lots of attractions for kids

N. J.

Good place to take the kids for bit of local history. Unfortunately not allowed in at the moment but the grounds are lovely for a winter walk.

R. W.

Colchester and its history is best demonstrated by the story of the castle. With artefacts and storyboards, the best experience is the guided tour. The lady on our tour had been telling the castle's story for decades and her knowledge and love of the history was infectious. Several staff members also wore costume from the castles history and the free flowing conversations of the past were almost like being presented facts by an eye witness. Well worth your time here, even if you're not that interested in history.

P. O.

Our first time ever, very impressed with the park its upkeep and general appearance. Well done ✔ who's responsible you should be proud.

W. T.

Great place to visit, for the whole family or just a solo visitor. Lots to see and films to watch. Very good value for money. They also do tours of places of the castle that are normally shut off to the public, for just.a small extra charge

1. B.

Lovely visit to the Castle over Christmas. Great value with plenty to see and do. Great light show in the wall with the history of Colchester and down in the scary prisons there was an AV depicting the witch trials...some grisly history when you take this, Boudicca’s slaughter and the Civil War... loads of history for the history buffs and dress up, Audio Visuals and play for the youngsters or young at heart! Two free Museums too with Hollytrees and Natural History Museum all within a few short steps....

S. I.

Interresting exhibits represebting history of Colchester, the oldest city in Great Britain. Not a big castle though. You view it within an hour or two. Lots of touch and feel exhibits and garments for kids to make fun photos.

P. S.

It's really interesting museum. And looks really nice as "Castle Museum" And i didn't know that Romans was everywhere in Britain. There is a lot of stuff about Romans history.

C. A.

Great museum, clearly laid out if you follow the map. There was plenty of information from the last 3000 years. Wheelchairs and children are welcome with suitable toilets and a lift.

N. C.

Great family activity 🏰

R. G. D. O.

We feel very lucky to have a piece of history so close and available to visit. History coming alive again and with a very nice park. We make a day of adventure by the castle being so close to the town centre.

S. J.

Beautiful park, castle and surroundings and well maintained.

K. P.

We took the ipad option for enhanced presentation, but the numbers were difficult to locate and it wasn't intuitive to operate. The museum has quite a big of interest but perhaps more for adults than primary age children.

D. N.

Large museum inside remains of old castle walls. Inside is a new space. History of Colchester from Bronze age to recent times. Upstairs is mostly Roman, which some remarkable exhibits. Rest of the history downstairs. No cafe, but Claudius Gateway cafe just by entrance. Well recommended.

P. W.

Brief look around outside when closed at 5 on weekday! Good info panels and huge range of roses in the nearby gardens.

E. M.

Absolutely loved it! Lovely location, amazing surrounding grounds. So much to see. Colchester has plenty of parking. Highly recommend.

C.

Discount on entry was available which meant it was better value for money. Interactive tablet was ok but signs weren't always obvious. Good way to pass an hour or so indoors while the weather was wet

B. H.

Took my lad here for a look round. Was nice and quiet so could easily get round and look at everything. Unfortunately due to current covid issues some things aren't available but this doesn't detract from a visit. Plenty to see and learn about. Was worth going in.

L. M.

Brilliant trip into history. Our guide Barbara had a wealth of information. Well worth the guided tour to visit the special areas of the castle.

A. B.

Fantastically managed following reopening in the Pandemic. Informative and welcoming whilst also feeling safe. Certainly would recommend for a day's visit.

G. B.

Colchester's history in a pint pot. Well prepared and well presented although limited on scope. The history has be be longer than 2000 years but you wouldn't think so baaed on the presented material.

c. o.

Very well organised re covid, good interactive devices and friendly staff. A good all round attraction

C. L.

Lovely place to learn about history. Bit pricey as cost me about £18 for 1adult and 1child. Lots 2c and interact with. Ideal for families and older generation too

C. S.

A "must visit" museum. Learn the history of the Roman occupation. The first Roman Castle in England. Roman and Iron Age artefacts, and interactive exhibits. Excellent guided tours available from top to bottom of the castle.

r. b.

Lovely castle! Went on a school trip with my little one, my second visit and as good as the first. Lots of interactive things for little ones to do, learning whilst having fun. Would defo recommend a visit

K. S.

If like like Romans i really recommend it, smaller museum then expected.

P. R.

Excellent visit and great insight into Colchester's long heritage. Frankly the Town Council don't make enough of Colchester's rich history - but here is a good place to start

S. K.

it small but its hugely amazing ))) impressed projected videos on to the wall. a lot of Rome and that time exhibitions. very nice situation with a little river and nice park around. and this just few min walk from town centre. im definitely come here to show it my family!!

C. W.

I walked around the grounds. Unfortunately the gift shop was closed. The size of the castle and the gardens are so beautiful. A magical feeling to it!

L. B.

Brilliant trip down memory lane, visited at the castle when I was a child and thoroughly enjoyed the castle again as an adult, a great family day out.

L. C.

Wanted to see more of the actual castle. Museum was interesting and well laid out

D. M.

Good price and great for young children

P. R.

Very interesting place. They give you a tablet device for added depth of experience. Well worth a visit

J. M.

If you take the walking tour for a mere 3quid more you will get to go into the foundations of the castle which once was also the foundation to a Roman temple and then make your way up through the building and onto the roof. Well worth it.

S. M.

Worth a visit. Very interesting exhibits in the castle following the timeline of events throughout its history. The castle is surrounded by a lovely park and gardens.

R. W.

Absolutely wonderful place to visit. I remember going as a child, and I now take my children. Oldest child has autistic spectrum disorder and can struggle, but this place kept him fully engaged the whole time!!

m. l.

A lovely Museum with a lot to offer children in an inter-active manner.

C. E.

The Castle made for a great visit. There was a lot to learn about the history of the area. Dotted around are opportunities to touch replicas and try on helmets, create your own mosaic and wrap a toga around yourself. They also have an interactive chariot game which was good fun.

P. M.

Great place for the kids

A. G.

A great castle similar to the Tower of London. The museum inside is excellent.

O. S.

Well impressed with the guided tour and the museum thank you

W. v. B.

Small but highly interesting museum in a wonderful historical building. Interactive exhibits for children are plentiful and original historical documents are on display.

G. T.

Worth a visit , lots of history inside and things to see. There are interactive tablets available for free with augmented reality.

P. H.

Fascinating artefacts. Great interactive activities for the kids. Staff friendly and always helpful.

A. J. R.

Excellent facility , best collection of Roman artefacts l have ever seen , particularly the glassware.

D. J.

Friendly staff and some interesting interactive activities for young and not so young alike. 😎👍

N. F.

Fascinating place

P. G.

Good value for kids, but rather expensive for adults @£10.95!

N. F.

Nice little place. Worth a visit or two. Didn't have time to do the tour this time so didn't get to see the whole castle. Will be back.

R. C.

Excellent informative morning visiting the Castle Wonderful staff highly recommended Thank you

J. K.

Great place to visit

2. &. C.

Really nice place to visit at weekend, family friendly, lots of nice things, would reccomend 5/5

J. S.

It was my first time visiting Colchester Castle, It was very good and interesting! Nice outdoors space, lovely for a picnic and for the children to play, recommended 👍

s. s.

Interesting place. I recommend it to families with kids.

J. P.

Lovely historic site, even kids enjoyed it definitely a great day out

L. S.

Lovely gardens, very peaceful. Shame that you can’t walk your dog in both upper and lower parts of the castle park, but that’s my only grumble!

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