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Cities Near Colchester

Cities near Colchester, UK: 10 notable destinations within day-trip and weekend range, including Clacton-on-Sea, Braintree, Ipswich. Compare distance, drive time and flight time, with day-trip and getaway ideas.

The closest notable city to Colchester, UK is Clacton-on-Sea, about 13 mi (21 km) away — roughly 43 min by road. Below, 10 nearby cities are ranked by distance, with real drive and flight estimates and whether each works best as a day trip or an overnight getaway.

CityDistanceDriveFlightBest for
Clacton-on-Sea13 mi / 21 km43 minDrive/railDay trip
Braintree15 mi / 24 km29 minDrive/railDay trip
Ipswich16 mi / 26 km31 minDrive/railDay trip
Chelmsford21 mi / 34 km41 minDrive/railDay trip
Southend-on-Sea26 mi / 41 km49 minDrive/railDay trip
Basildon29 mi / 47 km57 minDrive/railDay trip
Brentwood32 mi / 51 km57 minDrive/railDay trip
Harlow35 mi / 56 km1 hr 2 minDrive/railDay trip
Gillingham38 mi / 61 km1 hr 8 minDrive/railDay trip
Grays38 mi / 61 km1 hr 8 minDrive/railDay trip

Day trips from Colchester

Within about 100 miles and easy to visit in a day: Clacton-on-Sea, Braintree, Ipswich, Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea. These are close enough to go and return without an overnight stay.

Getting around

Nearby cities are usually quickest by car or train; for the longer hops a regional flight can save time. Tap any city above for its full distance, driving-time and flight-time breakdown, or plan a specific route with the tools below.

Distance calculatorFlight time calculator

Frequently asked questions

Notable cities near Colchester include Clacton-on-Sea, Braintree, Ipswich, Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea. The closest is Clacton-on-Sea, about 13 miles (21 km) away. The table above lists each with its distance, drive time and best use.

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