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Colchester and its surrounding area is full of child-friendly venues and can provide one of the best family days out in Essex and the East of England.
With one of the best zoos in the country and a historic and family friendly castle for starters, Colchester is an appealing destination for children and their parents alike. When the sun is shining you can discover beautiful local beaches, nature discovery centres, the magical Wyvern Wood, or the newly opened Colchester Sports Park. On wet weather days there's still plenty to enjoy including a roller rink, trampoline park, and leisure pool.
Visit during the school holidays and you'll find a special programme of events put on by many of Colchester's best attractions, and there's always something available to do for free so a visit needn't break the bank.
Events for Children in Colchester
Discover a fun and entertaining selection of events for children and families running throughout the year ranging from kids sports, art activities for children, as well as nature clubs and games. From pre-schoolers to teenagers there's always something to keep the children entertained (and plenty to do that adults can secretly enjoy as well) making it the perfect destination for a family day out - or even a longer stay.
Wet Weather Ideas
Bad weather needn't put a dampener on your trip to Colchester. You'll find plenty to do under cover, sometime in the least likely of locations!
In the city centre, all the musuems and art galleries are child-friendly and within two minutes walk of each other. Most are also free entry. Perhaps you could catch a kids show at the Theatre or Arts centre too?
Colchester Zoo has a special 'duck under cover' route, keeping you dry and indoors (where many of the animals will be sheltering too)
Or if you've really been stuck inside too long, burn off some energy at an indoor activity centre - take your pick from Leisure World, Rollerworld, Jump Street, or one of Colchester's numerous Soft Play centres. Jump into our blog post on the subject to find out more.
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Browse our specially selected events listings for the perfect family activity that's right for you.- Find out how you can entertain the family without breaking the bank. From beaches to free festivals - it's all here.
- Don't let the rain ruin your holiday with our quick guide to easy solutions of what to do in a downpour.
Number of results: 39
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Address
St Osyth Road, Alresford, Essex, CO7 8ASAlresford
Wyvernwood is an immersive story-led experience near Colchester, Essex, for families with children aged 2-12.
Come and join in with the magic at WyvernwoodColchester
Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Keep in Europe and houses the town's main museum
Address
Maldon Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0SLTelephone
01206 331292Colchester
Colchester Zoo is set within over 60 acres of beautiful parkland and lakes and is home to over 155 different species, including the critically endangered Amur leopards, Black and White Ruffed lemurs and Bornean orangutans.
Address
Leisure World Colchester, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1YHTelephone
01206 282000Colchester
Leisure World Colchester is one of East Anglia's largest sports, leisure, recreation and entertainment venues and offers year round fun for all the family. The leisure pool includes outside river rapids ride, water cannons and flumes.
Address
Chappel And Wakes Colne Station, Station Road, Colchester, Essex, CO62DSTelephone
01206 242524Colchester
Classic cars, vintage motorbikes and modern head-turners, alongside the museum exhibits and FREE steam train rides.
Colchester
An important part of Colchester's rich history with three centuries of fascinating toys, costume, clocks and decorative arts displayed in an attractive Georgian town house from 1718.
Address
Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1JHTelephone
01206 713700Colchester
Firstsite is Colchester's contemporary art gallery.
Address
Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex,, CO1 1YHTelephone
0871 222 36 75Colchester
Tenpin Colchester is an exciting venue for your day, or evening out, with 24 lanes, there is plenty of fun to be had for everyone. As well as bowling there are arcade games, American pool and air hockey.
Address
Church Road, Layer-de-la-Haye, Abberton, Essex, CO2 0EUTelephone
01206 738172Abberton
Conservation centre run by the Essex Wildlife Trust, at a site of international importance for winter wildfowl. Nesting cormorants, common terns and nightingales. Nature trails for all the family and bird hides. Shop selling gifts, optics and…
Address
Visit Colchester Information Centre, Hollytrees Museum, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UGTelephone
01206 282920Colchester
One of the best things about Colchester is that there's so much to explore that's completely free. Download a Family Heritage Treasure Trail, follow the map, and discover some of the town's historical highlights. With the choice of two routes; a…
Address
Balkerne Gate, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PTTelephone
01206 573948Colchester
A highly respected regional theatre, home to the critically acclaimed Mercury Theatre Company, staging a broad mix of classic plays and new writing as well as working extensively within the local community.
Address
Castle Park, High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1TJTelephone
01206 282962Colchester
Six walking trails of Castle Park - each aimed at a different age group
Address
Peartree Retail Park, Moss Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0LETelephone
01206 561032Stanway, Colchester
Jungle Adventure is a multi award winning (15 times) family run soft play adventure centre located in Stanway, Colchester. We have been established for 8 years and are the parents preferred choice of play centre for so many reasons. From the moment…
Address
South Green Road, Fingringhoe, Fingringhoe, Essex, CO5 7DNTelephone
01206 729678Fingringhoe
Nature reserve over 200 acres of mixed habitat on the Colne Estuary. Nature trails, wheelchair access, bird hides, gift shop and visitor centre with tea room. Friendly atmosphere. Regular events for adults and children.
Address
Head Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1NHColchester
The ODEON Cinema in Colchester is a fully digital eight screen cinema showing RealD and 3D films. It includes a large Costa Coffee shop and a Ben and Jerry's ice cream parlour.
Address
Roman House, 19 Queen Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 2PHTelephone
01233 555644Colchester
Curzon Colchester is an independent arthouse cinema wih three screens, showing the best of quality mainstream including family films, independent gems and events. Two cafe bars and a roof terrace.
Address
East Anglian Railway Museum, Station Road, Wakes Colne, Colchester, Essex, CO6 2DSTelephone
01206 242524Wakes Colne, Colchester
Our popular Small Trains Day is back for 2024 – but it's not just small trains – one of our full sized steam locomotives will also be in action with the Freight Train giving unlimited rides all day. Our Miniature Railway will also be in operation…
Address
Unit B&C Global Park, 12 Moorside, Colchester, Essex, CO1 2TJTelephone
01206 791194Colchester
Essex's only dedicated bouldering centre, Colchester Climbing Project allows you to scale walls up to 4m high. No ropes are used and instead the floors are covered with deep mats.
Address
Chappel And Wakes Colne Station, Station Road, Colchester, Essex, CO62DSTelephone
01206 242524Colchester
Father's Day Steam Unlimited Steam Train Rides Come along this Father's Day for Steam Train Rides, where one of our full sized steam engines will be operating, hauling the vintage Freight Train. Also in operation will be the Miniature Railway. You…
Colchester
For over 50 years the East Anglian Railway Museum has been transporting visitors of all ages back in time to discover the unique history of the region’s railways.
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