Natural History Museum, Colchester

Natural History Museum entrance
(All Saints church)

This family-friendly museum is housed in the redundant medieval church of All Saints, directly across Colchester's High Street from the historic 12th-century castle. The church interior has been adapted to showcase displays on the natural landscape, flora, and fauna of East Anglia and the Colchester area.

Explore an underground badger's sett, learn about the mammoths and hippopotami that used to roam East Anglia millions of years ago. Explore the diverse natural landscapes of the area, including salt marsh habitats and fenland. Lots of hands-on activities for all ages.

A special exhibit explores bio-diversity and the ecological challenges facing the world today. Learn about climate change and wildlife habitats, and explore an outdoor urban wildlife garden behind the church.

One exhibit tells the story of the 1884 Colchester Earthquake, the most devastating quake to hit the UK since 1580. Sometimes called the Great English Earthquake, it measured 4.6 on the Richter Scale and caused widespread panic and damage to over 1250 buildings in the greater Colchester area.

Our visit

We were impressed by just how much they've managed to fit into a fairly small building. The museum is very cleverly laid out, with a winding trail from one display to the next maximising space inside the old church.

Though the exhibits will interest anyone, the museum focus is really geared towards for local residents, especially families with children, who will enjoy learning about their local environment, animals, plants, habitats, and geography.

The museum is free for all, and is currently open every day except Monday (just to make sure, its always a good idea to check opening times on the official website before visiting!)