Once you’re in Colchester, getting around is easy. You can walk from the Mercury Theatre on one side of the town centre to Colchester Castle and Firstsite on the other side in less than ten minutes. We’d definitely recommend walking as much as you can while you’re in Colchester, largely because old streets and pedestrianised areas can mean that driving sometimes isn’t always the quickest option. Nevertheless, we’ve gathered some information about Colchester’s public transport options, which will be particularly useful for travelling to the town.
Getting around Colchester
Airport transfers
London Southend Airport is the nearest main airport serving Colchester. There are a number of ways you can get from arrivals to any one of our Colchester hotels. First things first, if you’re planning on catching a taxi from the airport then be warned that it’s a 50-minute journey and may cost a pretty penny.
You can cut costs by catching the train. London Southend Airport has its own train station where you can hop aboard and set off on the hour-and-a-half journey to Colchester Railway Station. Trains run regularly, however, you will have one change to make at Shenfield.
Airport transfers
Public transport
Colchester Station
Public transport
You’ll find Colchester Bus Station towards the south of the town centre on Osborne Street. It’s handy for getting around Colchester if you’re staying local, with regular services throughout the day. National Express coach services also help to connect the bus station with London Victoria Coach Station as well as Stansted Airport.
If you’re staying at our Colchester (A12) hotel, you may be interested in the Colchester Park and Ride service one junction down from the hotel. It’ll bring you right into the town centre, using bus lanes to beat the congestion.
Train stations
Colchester Railway Station is the town’s main train station that sits on the Great Eastern Main Line connecting London Liverpool Street with Norwich. You may also hear it referred to as Colchester North, which helps to differentiate it from Colchester Town Station which operates services more locally, namely via the Sunshine Coast Line.
If you’re arriving via Colchester Railway Station, the most convenient place to stay is our Colchester Cowdray Avenue hotel that’s just a seven-minute walk, or a brief taxi journey, away. The station itself first opened its doors in 1843 and has all the amenities you can expect, including a coffee shop and newsagents.