How to get here

Directions

Our postcode is CO4 3SQ (for SatNav purposes use CO7 9HT which will take you to the main Wivenhoe entrance.)

When you arrive in Colchester, follow road signs to the University (off the A133) to access to our main visitor car parks, which is via the B1028, Colchester Road.

• Road route to Colchester Campus (.pdf)

See our parking information below.

Roadworks that may affect your journey

There are currently roadworks on Clingoe Hill, which runs alongside our Colchester Campus.

As part of these works, Essex Highways have temporarily closed the junction where vehicles turn into campus from Colchester and turn out of campus towards Elmstead Market. 

Parking for visitors is available in:

• Multi-storey car park (main visitor car park)
• Valley car park
• Car park B
• North Towers car park
• Wivenhoe House/Constable Building car park
• Capon Road car park

If you decide to park on our Colchester Campus then you’re agreeing to our terms and conditions for cycling, driving and parking (.pdf). The University is private property. On every entrance there is a contract to enter sign with details of our parking rules as well as in each car park and at the information stations.

• Parking for students
• Parking for staff

Parking payment

We operate a cashless parking system, you will either need to download the Parksmart app to your phone or log on via a web browser to make your payment after creating an account.

When you arrive:

1. open the Parksmart app or internet page
2. enter your registration number
3. enter the amount of time you need to park for
4. pay as prompted
5. you can create an account if you wish

You don't need to display a ticket, but you can view payment history and obtain a receipt for your payment via the Parksmart app if you wish.

The parking location number for Colchester Campus is 1597.

Pay by text or WhatsApp

Send message Park to 0786 213 7275.

Parking charges

• Up to 2 hours: £2.70
• Up to 3 hours: £3.80
• Up to 4 hours: £5.00
• Up to 5 hours: £6.20
• All day: £8.60

Parking charges apply from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, except Bank Holidays and Christmas Day.

If you have any problems paying to park, please contact the Estates and Facilities Helpdesk on 01206 872959. 

Wivenhoe House and Constable Building car parks

Wivenhoe House Hotel car park is reserved for hotel guests. Parking permits should be from the hotel reception. A row of visitor parking in front of the Constable Building is reserved for the use of tenant visitors.

Motorcycles

Visitors can register to park a motorcycle on our Colchester Campus by emailing the Estates and Facilities Helpdesk at ems-helpdesk@essex.ac.uk or by phoning 01206 872959. Registration is free and motorcycles will then be exempt from parking charges

• South Campus - ground floor of the multi-deck car park, under the ramp
• Central Campus - under the podia
• North Campus - North Towers car park by Causeway barrier

Accessible parking

There are spaces available for disabled drivers in all the main car parks.

• Valley car park (south campus) - three designated spaces (nearest to central campus).
• Multi-storey car park (south campus) - ground floor disabled parking space.
• North Towers car park (north campus) - two designated spaces and ten spaces adjacent residential houses
• Car park B (south campus)
• Constable building
• Wivenhoe House

Visitor parking charges apply and payment can be made as detailed above.

If you have any problems paying to park please contact the Estates and Facilities Helpdesk. Please ensure you display your blue badge when parking in a designated space.

Electric vehicle charging

Visitors may use the charge points, subject to the terms and conditions below. Payment for parking is also required during the times shown on the car park notices.

Charging points location

Twelve electric vehicle charging points are available at Colchester Campus, there are six in the multi-storey car park and six in North Towers car park.

Using the chargers

Visitors must pay the daily parking fee in order to use the EV chargers. You will need to pay for parking via the Parksmart app or web page (see above) before charging your vehicle.

Wivenhoe House guests must have their vehicle registered at the Hotel reception.

Knowledge Gateway tenants must contact ems-helpdesk@essex.ac.uk to arrange registration before attempting to charge their vehicle.

To access the chargers you will need to download the Clenergy App and create an account. To use the chargers follow the instructions on the Clenergy website.  

Please read the following instructions for charging an electric car (.pdf) to safely use the charge points.

When you have finished your charging session you are required to promptly move your vehicle to another parking space so other EV drivers can charge their cars. Our parking rules state that you must be actively charging in order to use an EV charging space. If users do not move their vehicles we may introduce an overstay fee.

Charging costs

The cost to charge your vehicle is currently 50p per kWh.

Clean Air Colchester CAReless Pollution campaign 

The University of Essex Travel and Transport Team is keen to support the Clean Air Colchester CAReless Pollution campaign to prevent unnecessary idling and promote better environmental practices on campus. By encouraging visitors, staff and students to respond to the emissions issue, we aim to reduce pollution and improve our community's health. We request all motorists on site switch off their engines when stationary.

For more information on how you can become involved please visit the Clean Air Colchester website.

Greater Anglia provides frequent trains from London Liverpool Street to Colchester (also known as Colchester North). London Liverpool Street has a direct link to Stansted Airport as well as Underground and bus services for travel from and to Gatwick and Heathrow Airports.

The train journey from Liverpool Street takes just under an hour and you can get a bus or taxi from the station to us. Our nearest station is Hythe (Essex) which is a 20-minute walk from campus, train services to this station are less frequent.

• National Rail provide train timetables and fares
• Stansted Express Train service
• Greater Anglia train accessibility service
• Colchester station accessibility information

• First Bus provide most bus services in and around Colchester and the University. Tickets can be bought online or via their app as well as contactless payment on the bus itself.
• National Express coaches run services from around the country to Colchester (drop off and pick up point is currently East Hill close to Colchester Castle) including from London and UK airports. Please note, for some journeys you may need to change buses before continuing to your destination. 
• Hedingham and Chambers bus service offer a 30-day student subscription or the Student Hopper discount offer.

There is a taxi rank at Colchester Train Station and in the city centre (High Street). The journey to the University normally takes about 10-20 minutes.

Colchester Campus is well served by local taxi companies in Colchester.

Wheelchair users

There are a number of firms with wheelchair accessible taxis in Colchester. We recommend that you call to check availability and suitability before travelling.

Pick-up and drop-off points

• North Towers taxi point
• South Courts taxi point
• Under podia (disabled travellers only), using the Network Centre lift to access central campus

Airport transfer service

An airport transfer service is available from London airports to our Colchester Campus at the start of the academic year.

London Stansted Airport

Our Colchester Campus is not far from Stansted Airport. The quickest way to travel is by National Express to Colchester City Centre. From there you can get a bus or taxi to the campus.

Alternatively, you can use the X20 bus service which costs just £3 for a single fare ticket.

London Heathrow Airport

If you are arriving at Heathrow, the best option is to get the National Express coach service which runs to and from Colchester City Centre. But if you can't do this, then you'll need to take a train from Heathrow (all terminals) to London Liverpool Street and then another train to Colchester. Once in Colchester, you can get a bus, or taxi to the campus.

London Gatwick Airport

There are regular train services from Gatwick to London Liverpool Street Station. You'll then need to take another train to Colchester. Once in Colchester, you can get a bus, or taxi to the campus.

London Luton airport

If you are arriving at London Luton airport, the best option is to get the National Express coach. But, if you can't do this then you will need to take a train from Luton to London Liverpool Street and then another train to Colchester. Once in Colchester, you can get a bus, or taxi to the campus.

Harwich International Port

We are 30 minutes by car from the port. You can get to our campus by car or train.

Cycle park

There is a cycle park adjacent to Rayleigh Tower at the end of the cycle path between Boundary Road and the North Towers causeway.

Cycle racks

Cycle racks are located in the following locations:

• EBS
• Innovation Centre
• North Towers causeway
• North housing
• Copse Boundary Road
• Copse Courtyard
• Meadows Courtyard
• Under podia under Square 5
• Under podia Waterstones
• Parkside
• Constable car park
• Sports Arena
• Old Sports Arena
• South Courts

See more information about cycling facilities at Colchester Campus.