20th June 2026 A friend from Swindon wanted to come & see the Dinosaur exhibit, so we easily booked tickets. We weren't disappointed, what a creature!! Such a wonderful little jewel of a museum with so much history & interest there. Very well worth the visit. The staff were friendly & helpful. There is also a lovely garden to the side of the museum which is really worth walking around.

Came here to see the new dinosaur display - Juliasaurus. It was spectacular. Saw a few interesting fossils too. Theres much for children to enjoy here, I wish I could have brought my 4year old nephew. We saw the old toys, grandfather clocks, past household living sections. The staff are very kind and welcoming. The outside grounds/park is very beautiful. The museum and Castle are within the dame grounds. The entry cost is around £5 each for Hollytrees only. Tickets for the castle would be separate. We booked online. Parking was 4mins walk at Priory Street public car park. We used the MiPermit app to pay.

A great little museum that details the history of Colchester, which is vast, and it's all housed in a historical house. For the princely sum of £5, you can get a real idea of how Colchester was shaped, specifically through wartime and the daily lives of ordinary people getting by on what little they had back then, as well as notable women who played a significant role in breaking norms to get their voices heard during a time when a woman's voice was largely muted by politics. Once you're done with that, there's a lovely little area outside where you can relax and unwind and even visit the castle nearby. Definitely a museum to check out if you happen to be in the area and want to immerse yourself in the local historical culture of this town.

My daughter is learning disabled and it can be difficult to keep her amused but she had a go at the interactive jigsaw and games in the room with the large dollhouse. She liked the museum showing old toys and could relate to the more modern versions that she had...I enjoyed reading about Ms Cavandish and just how she seemed born in the wrong time. Extraordinary woman.

This is a lovely place, free of charge. You can get to see some amazing flowers.if you walk further down you will see the play area for kids. The play area is suitable for kids who are between 2-9 yrs old.