Colchester campsites
Popular with the Romans, Colchester is Britain's oldest recorded town, and has a castle steeped in history with rooftop walks. Come and meet some furry friends in the zoo and use these Colchester campsites as your base for exploring Essex's classic Constable Country.
22 Colchester campsites
Tey Brook Orchard
Colchester, Essex (6.3 miles)
Escape the ordinary at this quirky glamping site amongst 20 acres of woodland. Restaurant on site.
Plumptons Farm Creek Campsite
Colchester, Essex (6.4 miles)
A small campsite in a remote and peaceful location while still just 20 minutes from Colchester.
4.81 /5
Layer Marney Tower
Layer Marney, Colchester, Essex (6.5 miles)
Family friendly glamping lodges with hot tubs, by a historic Layer Marney Tower and stunning Mersea Island.
Mersea Barns Glamping
East Mersea, Colchester, Essex (7.9 miles)
Small, dog friendly ensuite glamping site with an onsite cafe and shop. Just a 15 minute walk to the coast!
Woodchests Glamping
Pebmarsh, Essex (10.2 miles)
Luxury ensuite safari tents with pizza ovens on a family site with countryside views and a 19-acre fishing lake.
4.77 /5
Lee Wick Farm Cottages and Glamping
St Osyth, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex (10.3 miles)
Peaceful glamping, camping and touring site in the picturesque North Essex countryside, ten minutes from the beach.
4.73 /5
The Pretty Thing
St Osyth, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex (10.4 miles)
Family friendly camping, touring and glamping with a coffee shop. Ten minutes from Clacton-on-Sea and the beach.
4.83 /5
Osea Meadows
Maldon, Essex (13.1 miles)
Family park on the banks of the Blackwater Estuary. Onsite entertainment, a snack hut, a cafe and restaurant!
Colchester Country Park
Lexden, Colchester, Essex (1.3 miles)
An award-winning country park with touring and camping right by Colchester, with its excellent castle.
Gatehouse Barns Camping and Glamping
Peldon, Essex (5.3 miles)
Family and dog friendly camping and glamping site with views towards Abberton Reservoir and close to Mersea Island.
Rushbanks Farm Caravan and Camping Site
Nayland, Colchester, Suffolk (5.5 miles)
Riverside camping in Constable Country. Hire a canoe and paddle to the pub, then relax by the campfire at night.
The Shepherds Hide
Thorrington, Colchester, Essex (7 miles)
A unique and romantic shepherd's hut for two, in a truly special and secluded location on the Essex coast.
Little Ropers Camping
Bures, Suffolk (7.6 miles)
A back to basics campsite woodland and meadow pitches, plus hassle free bell tents. Campfires welcome.
Waldegraves Holiday Park
Mersea Island, Colchester, Essex (8.3 miles)
An award winning holiday park in Essex with camping, touring and caravan hire on Mersea Island.
Fen Farm Caravan and Camping Site
Mersea Island, Colchester, Essex (8.3 miles)
A quiet family retreat, set by the sea (and beach) and close to a country park in a small village on Mersea Island.
Polstead Country Park
Tye, Polstead, Suffolk (8.9 miles)
A well-maintained adult-only rural site, located 25 minutes from Ipswich. Dog friendly.
White Horse Inn
Edwardstone, Sudbury, Suffolk (10.8 miles)
Camping at a cosy pub and craft brewery along the South Suffolk Cycle Route and wildlife trust!
Tomcat Farm Certificated Site
Copdock, Ipswich, Suffolk (11.6 miles)
Small and quiet, friendly and welcoming family-run site is ideally situated for those visiting Suffolk.
Grange Farm Campsite
Thorpe-Le-Soken, Essex (11.9 miles)
Peaceful, back-to-basics tent, caravan and motorhome camping set in the middle of a small working farm.
Alton Water Park
Stutton, Ipswich, Suffolk (12 miles)
Peaceful camping and touring by the water with a tasty tea room, bike routes, fishing and water sports to enjoy.
Hedingham Huts
Castle Hedingham, Halstead, Essex (14 miles)
Bespoke ensuite shepherd's hut on a small, family-run farm in the heart of East Anglia's countryside.
Borleymere Shepherd's Hut
Borley, Sudbury, Suffolk (14.1 miles)
Adult only glamping in shepherd's hut with all the comforts you could wish for and nobody else on the site!
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Things to do in Colchester
The Romans chose Colchester as their capital, and even today it's a vibrant spot with history that will help you uncover Britain's past.
Mingle with more than 270 species from around the world at the fantastic Colchester Zoo. It's a great day out for kids and adults alike, with informative talks, quirky animals and more. For a really wild day out, you can try being a keeper for the day, wander through the butterfly glade and see the African sahara come alive with elephants, lions and tigers.
Art buffs and culture vultures should try the Minories Galleries and the Hollytrees Museum, set in a Georgian townhouse with more than 300 years of history. You won't be short of time for its gallery of historic clocks and then you can have a potter around its lovely collections and buy a few mementoes in the shop.
Have a gander at Colchester Natural History Museum with its interactive displays and special options for mini explorers. Come and find out about the woolly mammoths that once made Colchester their home!
Also well worth exploring just a mile south of Colchester is Bourne Mill, a Grade 1 listed watermill with a working waterwheel.
Looking for somewhere tranquil and pretty to relax in? Colchester has several beautiful greenspaces including the beautiful Grade II listed Castle Park which is home to Colchester Castle and a segment of Roman Wall. Glide over the boating lake, roam through its fine gardens and then get the little ones to work off their excess energy in the play area.
Talking of spooky castles, this Essex town is home to Europe's biggest Norman keep, which was itself built on a Roman temple. These days it has everything from vaults to ancient treasure, with an ever-changing selection of exhibits.
A browse around town will bring you to great theatres such as the Mercury Theatre and Headgate Theatre and the Colchester Arts Centre, as well as a variety of bars and restaurants. For something a bit different, why not enjoy wine tasting or a wine course at the Essex Wine School.
Nearby attractions that are well worth visiting include the Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum, the stunning Beth Chatto Gardens, the Green Island Gardens and the Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum. The National Trust property of Paycocke's House and Garden, as well as Layer Marney Tower which is the tallest Tudor Gatehouse in England are also intriguing places to visit close to Colchester.