This place is fantastic for people of all ages and it's free which is even better. Did you know…read morethat the nursery rhymes humpty dumpty and twinkle twinkle little star are both from Colchester? Well you can find out why and much more at this museum - well worth a visit

A free museum and somewhere worth visiting. Not only are there lots of interesting artifacts but…read morethere are things the children and adults can play around with whilst learning about the local history.

Great historical displays inside the picturesque castle as well as in the extensive park grounds…read more One of the best collections of British Roman glass from 100 ad. Room after room of interesting artifacts from several eras, but do not miss the upstairs Roman artifacts room

Tons of touchable things, and interesting history presented in many different ways. Not the…read morebiggest Castle around and parking was quite a distance for us but there is also a playground adjacent to the castle.

Red alert, a 4 year old is bored and needs some entertainment. A quick Google on 'Things to do in…read moreEssex' and we discovered the East Anglian Railway Museum at Wakes Colne just outside Colchester, for the Bank Holiday weekend they are hosting a Thomas and Friends extravaganza. Problem solved and an hour later from Southend we were pulling into the car park outside the Chappel Station. The website suggested as parking was limited, to go to Marks Tey Station park there and take the train one stop away. We had planned to do this as the train would travel across the magnificent viaduct that greets you as you arrive by car to the museum. However, the Sat Nav decided to mispinterpret the inputted postcode and took us past the exit to Marks Tey off the A12 and instead the next entrance took us straight to the venue where it turned out there was plenty of parking afterall. A tad expensive to enter the museum 2 adults and a 4 year old £31; but this did guarantee unlimited rides on the trains. Chappel Station itself is a step back in time to the glorious age of steam. Although still functioning as a station for the National Express train line, it still manages to maintain it's natural historic leafy English charm. Stepping onto the platform we could see straight away a handful of trains from the Rev Awdry Thomas the Tank Engine stories including of course Thomas himself, as well as Daisy, Toby and Percy. Each one was positioned with passenger coaches or trucks to take the delighted crowds on short trips up and down the line. All the staff whom I assumed were volunteers were cheerful and engaged with the visitors from the moment we stepped on the site, with friendly waves and chatter to keep all feeling part of the experience. Considering the remoteness of this rail museum, it was pleasing to hear many accents around us including US and Australian tourists all confirming the international appeal for Thomas. My 4 year old could have stayed all day and more and was thrilled with the experience, and was still chattering about it on his way to bed, which has more than made up for the cost of entry. It can be assumed these weekends provide a valuable boost to the funds of the museum for the rest of the year. If you are in these ere parts with a little'un to cheer up or an old'un wanting to reminisce then this would be a worthy venture. the museum is pretty much open all year round but the Thomas event is for certain dates only, and there is plenty to see if you like your trains, and I am sure if you wanted to get more involved could volunteer your services too. http://www.earm.co.uk/

This is definately one to keep the kids entertained and you can be sure that they will remember it…read moreand be talking about it for some time to come! We went along to one of the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' days and as you can imagine, that is a very popular day for many people to bring their children along. We didnt have any troubles parking, but that may be because we get their early to try and avoid too much of a rush anyway. It can be a little bit on the expensive side when you look at the entry fees, but it isn't something that you do everyday anyway. Most definately well worth it to keep the children entertained and see the smile on their faces :-)

This is fascinating Museum housed in original WOrld War II buildings on Parham Airfield, where…read moreAmerican Airmen were based during the war. There are a huge number of artefacts, and every time I go I manage to see and learn new things. The Museum is run by keen volunteers who are happy to guide you round or answer any questions. There is a nice little tearoom which also sells souvenirs and often has wartime music or films playing in it. There are sometimes sandwiches for sale, but no other meals, just snacks like crisps, sweets, biscuits. The souvernirs are VERY CHEAP- lots for under £1. There is also an underground bunker which is open during high season which has been built as an exact replica of one found recently a few miles away at Stratford St Andrew- you can walk through this and see how Britain's Secret Army lived and trained, with original memorabilia such as food and bomb making equipment housed in the bunker. This is very popular with the children, but the main WWII museum part is probably more suitable to adults due to the nature of the exhibits- lots of written displays etc. There are outside picnic tables which are lovely in summer but can get very windy due to the barren and flat surroundings. BEST OF ALL, ENTRANCE TO THE MUSEUM IS FREE- but the Museum does rely on donations to be able to survive. Do play the Museum a visit if you are going near to Framlingham- it is open Sundays March- September and Wednesdays in July and August and really does offer a lovely, informative and evocative morning or afternoon out.

This is an amazing 2 story museum with all kinds of artifacts from old wedgewood to Egypt's tomb…read moreand artifacts Teapots and tea cups old coins to everything in between. 2 nd floor loads of paintings to look at. Entry is free which is always a plus.

The Fitzwilliam Museum offers a well rounded and varied collection. It is sure to please most…read moremuseum visitors regardless of interests. If you're a fan of the work of Georges-Pierre Seurat, you're sure to enjoy the 1884 Neo-Impressionism painting, "The Couple" (original title: Un dimanche après-midi sur l'île de la Grande Jatte). Does it somehow look familiar? This was a study for A Sunday on the Island of la Grande Jatte! "This work is one of many that Georges-Pierre Seurat made in preparation for a much larger painting. The woman's stiff posture is accentuated by her tightly buttoned jacket and the exaggerated bustle of her skirt, which echoes the curve of her parasol. Given that the area of Paris depicted here was known for prostitution, it has been suggested that the woman is a sex worker on the arm of a male client." Give yourself several hours if you plan to take in the entire collection. If you are fortunate enough to live nearby and can visit often, take your time and you're sure to fall in love with one of the many wonderfully curated items found within the museum walls.

The Brits plundered many fascinating archeological artifacts from around the world, and the…read moreBritish Museum displays some of the most famous, such as the Rosetta Stone. Admission: free Time budget: minimum 4 hours Free WiFi is available Plenty of clean bathrooms Caution: The museum has no air conditioning. I visited during a rare heat wave, and the museum was a sweat box. Also, if you don't like crowds, you won't like this museum. It gets packed early. Pre-opening tour: The museum offers for UK $35 various pre-opening tours. I took the Greece pre-opening tour. Pros: Small group of 20 before the unwashed masses crowd into the museum. Tour guides are knowledgable. Guides may offer extra time at no charge (e.g. 15-20 minutes extra). Cons: My tour guide did not enunciate or project his voice, so much of the tour was unintelligible.

How is this place free?!?! As they state themselves, it is the greatest collection of stolen items…read moreanywhere...lol. Meaning there are artifacts from countries all around the world. You do have to register for timed tickets ahead of time to get in. We got some just a few days before and they didn't check for times as we were almost an hour late. It was super crowded and getting through the queue took about 10 minutes. Once inside, we knew we had to move fast since they close at 5pm and you could spend all day here. The information booth was helpful as they gave us a map with the option of hitting the highlights, which was perfect for our amount of time. The items from the Easter Islands were my favorite and the library room right when you walk in was cool too. Of course the Rosetta Stone was amazing as well! There is food and a gift shop inside so get an early time and spend the day here.

Housed in a grand and impressive building, the NHM is well curated, with impeccable displays, and…read moreit's free. However, a donation of £10 is HIGHLY suggested as you enter. As with all London museums, there is security checking all backpacks, but this museum was checking for alcohol! When you see all the school teens sitting on the stairways (perhaps waiting for parents to pick them up?), then the alcohol check is understandable. Out of all the displays, my favorite was the dimly lit Treasures room. Each piece exhibited tells an important story beyond what you actually see like an Iguanodon tooth from the Mesozoic strata and found by Gideon Mantell (or his wife) and the rivalry that ensued between Mantell and Owen, who later usurped Mantell's contribution in discovering the first known dinosaur species and shaping the early understanding of dinosaurs. While I find the digital text for each display as being the true treasures, only 1-2 people can read at a time so you feel a bit rushed if you're a person (like me) who reads everything, yet people are behind you waiting their turn. In addition to the wonderful displays, there is a photo booth whereby you can have 3 photos taken against a green screen depicting a dinosaur encounter. What they don't tell you upfront is that the photos are NOT free and can be downloaded (depending on the package you choose) from £12 to £22 pounds. When I asked the staff for information on particular exhibits, I found them to be more than helpful and friendly, too. Allow time for this expansive gem.

Lots of bones! Plenty of old stuff! Great turn-of-the-century over-the-top ornate architecture!…read morePlan on an hour unless you're hardcore. Ride the escalator into the middle of the earth to find out what music is playing inside. See extraordinary taxidermy handiwork. Even see a fake dodo bird thought to be an adjacent species that didn't exist. And if you like dinosaurs this is your Mecca. Just don't dare sit anywhere like on some stairs in the corner or some overzealous guard will kick you right out. But otherwise you'll have a great time. Also enjoy the outside grounds for a stroll, and hit up the West entrance for zero lines while the hoards line up on the other side.

Colchester Natural History Museum is one of two main free museums in the town centre, and is…read moreastonishing considering the lack of funding from entrance fees. Housed within a converted church opposite Castle Park, the museum has a magical air about it, making it a brilliant free afternoon out for those with kids. Children can visit the specially-built replica badger den and adults can find out a bit more about the local area in general. The only part that is not free is parking, but this is to be expected in the town centre. In all, an excellent, if small, museum and free to boot.

A great place for the family to discover the world of Natural History. Lots to see, lots to do and…read moreit's absolutely free. Another little gem Colchester has to offer and well worth a visit.

An interesting hour spent studying all sorts of scientific instruments from Babbage's difference…read moreengine, hand held calculators and a cool section of hands on experiments and instruments for kids.

Small lovely museum, funded mainly by donations with lovely staff. Educational and mind opening…read moreexperience. I hope the museum gets the opportunity to expand and have more exhibits. When we came they had an exhibit about menopause. I think more people need to learn about the vagina in general and as a whole and understand what it is like to have one and all the burdens that come along with it and without it in the end.

A soon as I saw the name on the sign outside I HAD to go in. They have a wide variety of products…read moredisplayed from information pamphlets, books and jewellery that looks like ummm well I'm not sure what word Yelp will consider PC or risqué so just read the name of the business and you'll know exactly what I'm messing. You can wear them on your ears with a knitted sweet or on a chain around your neck made of an plastic type material, they had bold showing every size, shape and colour. You can also get t-shirts. The staff stayed behind the desk but they were friendly and greeted everyone that entered. I realised like myself most people seemed to be coming in out of curiosity and don't make any purchases but b they staff took that in stride and continued greeting everyone with the same courteous smile. Kudos to this company for celebrating woman so boldly