GreyFriars
By the Top3Hotels editorial team. Based on Booking.com guest scores and reviews, location data and reference prices. We did not stay at this hotel. Updated 2026-10-24.
Book GreyFriars if you want to stay right by Colchester Castle with free parking and a strong guest score. If you can do without the central spot, Wivenhoe House scores slightly higher for only €3.50 more a night, and the Budget pick costs about half.
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Sold out? See available alternatives →Who it suits and who should skip it
This is our Best Value pick for Colchester. It suits couples and families who want to walk out of the door into the town, with the castle, a park and shops close by. It also suits drivers, since free parking is listed and guests mention secure on-site parking.
Skip it if your budget is tight. At €163.20 per night it is almost double our Budget pick. It may also disappoint anyone who expects a quick breakfast, as guests say service is slow.
Location and getting around
The address is High Street. Guests praise the central setting near the castle, a park and shops, and the location score is 9.4 out of 10, the highest of our three Colchester picks.
Colchester Castle is about 0.1 km away, around 1 minute on foot. Colchester Zoo is about 5.8 km and 73 minutes, and Elmstead Market about 6.2 km and 78 minutes. Those two are far, so use public transport, a car or a taxi. Walking times are straight-line estimates.
What guests say
GreyFriars scores 8.7 out of 10 from 1,791 reviews, joint 2nd of 6 eligible properties.
The location is the first thing guests mention: central, near the castle, park and shops, with secure parking on site. The staff come next, described as friendly and professional with a warm, helpful welcome.
Breakfast is the sore point. Cooked dishes are served to the table and guests find them tasty, but service is slow and prices are high. If breakfast is not in your rate, compare the cost with cafes nearby.
Price and how it compares with our other two picks
We saw a reference price of €163.20 per night for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults in one room, about €326 in total, compared with a sample median of €122.11. It is not a live quote, so check today's price for your dates.
Our Budget pick, Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG, was €85.68 with 8.1, but it is far from the centre. Our Luxury pick, Wivenhoe House Hotel, was €166.70 with 8.8, set in parkland about 45 minutes on foot from the castle. GreyFriars is the one to pick if being central matters more than the extra 0.1 points.
Listed facilities include free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, free parking, family rooms, air conditioning, a garden and a terrace. Breakfast options listed are continental, full English or Irish, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.
Why it made our top 3
We compared 6 eligible properties. Our Best Value pick balances guest score, review count and reference price, so it is not necessarily the cheapest. GreyFriars pairs an 8.7 score from nearly 1,800 reviews with the best location score in our sample.
That combination of a central address and consistent praise is what earned the slot.
Before you book
Room size, noise, renovation condition, breakfast inclusion and cancellation terms have not been assessed. A High Street address can mean street noise, so check reviews on that point.
Confirm parking for your dates and the pet policy if relevant.
Check prices on Booking.com ↗We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our pick.
Sold out? See available alternatives →Questions travellers ask
How close is GreyFriars to Colchester Castle?
About 0.1 km, roughly a minute on foot as a straight-line estimate. It is the closest of our three picks to the castle.
Does GreyFriars have parking?
Free parking is listed and guests mention secure on-site parking. Confirm a space for your dates.
How much does GreyFriars cost?
We saw €163.20 per night as a reference price for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults. Check today's price for your dates.
Is breakfast good?
Guests find the cooked dishes tasty but say service is slow and prices high. Check whether breakfast is in your rate.