One of Colchester’s favourite family activities is a free attractions that allows you to get close to nature. The Colchester Natural History Museum is the place to go if you want to crawl through a badger sett or find out about the destructive earthquake that shook the region in the 19th century. See local native plants as you pass through the nature reserve attached.
Housed within a former church, the Colchester Natural History Museum has been a fixture of the city since 1958. Today its expanded collection features both permanent and temporary exhibits.
Visit the Geology exhibit to learn about rocks and minerals that date back up to 50 million years. Among the collection you’ll see fossilised crocodiles, hippopotamus’ and an enormous mammoth from the Colchester area. At the display on the 1884 Colchester earthquake you can see the make-up of the ground beneath the city and learn about the devastating effect of the quake.
Hands on exhibits will keep children busy for hours. Watch as they crawl like a badger or stroke a fox. See examples of other local species, like squirrels, bats and birds, in the taxidermy section. Continue to find more than 40,000 carefully indexed bugs and insects. Keep your eyes peeled for the beautiful butterflies and enormous stag beetles. Another room contained approximately 700 animal skins preserved in fluids.
Follow the nature trail that winds behind the building to see the small reserve attached or stop by the gift shop for great Colchester souvenirs.
The Colchester Natural History Museum is located directly opposite the castle in the center of town and can be reached on foot from most central locations. The museum is free of charge by closes on Mondays and public holidays. Pay-and-display parking is available in the area.
