🌳 Outdoor🆓 Free entryEducational
What’s there
- Dogs welcome
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
St Botolph's Priory is the surviving nave of one of the first Augustinian priory churches in England, standing on the edge of Colchester town centre. The flint and reused Roman brick walls, round arches and massive circular pillars give children a clear sense of how old the place is, and the broken walls and cannon-damage from the Civil War siege invite questions about what happened here. Around the ruins is a large open space where families can spread out, and a small burial ground sits behind the nave. There is little in the way of facilities on site, so it suits a short history stop on a longer town-centre day rather than a full afternoon out. The site is cared for by English Heritage and Colchester City Council, and the nearby castle and Colchester Town station make it easy to combine with other visits.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
Wellies
Wristband for lost childrenWrite your number on it before you go in.
Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
Waterproof trousers- Sun cream for after
Tissues- Sudocrem
Gloves- Rain ponchoGoes over the rucksack too.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links open Amazon in a new tab and never change what you pay. How this works
Photos: Anna Tesar, CC BY 2.0 · Web-Betty, CC BY 2.0 · dorsetbays, CC BY-SA 2.0
Reviews
No reviews yet — been here with your little ones? Be the first to share.
Something not right? Tell us — opening hours and prices change, and we’d rather hear it from you.
Do you run St Botolph's Priory? Claim this listing to keep it up to date and add your own photos.
More outdoor play & adventure playgrounds nearby
