Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG
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 it if price is your main concern and you have a car, since it was about half the cost of our other two Colchester picks. Skip it if you want to walk to Colchester Castle or the town centre, because it is far out.
Check prices on Booking.com ↗We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our pick.
Sold out? See available alternatives →Who it suits and who should skip it
This is our Budget pick for Colchester. It suits travellers on a tight budget, drivers passing through, and families who want a 3-star chain hotel with family rooms, air conditioning and a long breakfast menu listed.
Skip it if you want to sightsee on foot. Every sight in our data is a long way off. It is also the lowest-scoring of our three picks, and we have no guest comments to report, so you are relying on the score alone.
Location and getting around
The address is Birchwood Road. The location score is 8.2 out of 10, the lowest of our three Colchester picks.
Colchester Castle is about 6.9 km away, roughly 86 minutes on foot. Elmstead Market is about 7.5 km and 94 minutes, and Colchester Zoo about 12.3 km and over two and a half hours. All are far, so plan on driving, public transport or a taxi. These walking times are straight-line estimates.
Parking is not among the listed facilities. Since you will likely arrive by car, confirm whether there is a car park and what it costs.
What guests say
The hotel scores 8.1 out of 10 from 2,410 guest reviews, joint 5th of 6 eligible properties.
Our data has no summary of what guests like or dislike for this hotel. That does not mean there is nothing to report, only that it is not confirmed here. Read recent reviews on your booking site, paying attention to noise, room condition and breakfast.
Price and how it compares with our other two picks
We saw a reference price of €85.68 per night for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults in one room, about €171 in total. That was 30% below the sample median of €122.11. It is not a live quote, so check today's price for your dates.
Our Best Value pick, GreyFriars, was €163.20 per night with 8.7, and our Luxury pick, Wivenhoe House Hotel, was €166.70 with 8.8. The saving here is close to €78 a night, the biggest gap of any of our three picks in this city.
Listed breakfast styles are continental, full English or Irish, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, buffet and breakfast to go. Whether breakfast is included is not confirmed, so check your rate. Free Wi-Fi, a restaurant and a terrace are also listed.
Why it made our top 3
We compared 6 eligible properties in Colchester. After reserving the upscale choice, this one had the lowest eligible reference price. Its score is mid-to-low for the sample, but it rests on more than 2,000 reviews.
The case for it is simple: a large price saving with an acceptable score.
Before you book
Room size, noise, renovation condition, breakfast inclusion and cancellation terms have not been assessed. With no guest comments in our data, recent reviews are your best check.
Confirm parking and the pet policy if relevant, and budget for transport into town.
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 far is Holiday Inn Express Colchester from Colchester Castle?
About 6.9 km, roughly 86 minutes on foot as a straight-line estimate. That is far, so use a car, public transport or a taxi.
How much does it cost?
We saw €85.68 per night as a reference price for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults. Check today's price for your dates.
What breakfast is available?
Continental, full English or Irish, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, buffet and breakfast to go are listed. Check whether your rate includes it.
Is there parking?
Parking is not confirmed in our data. Ask the hotel before arriving by car.