The King and Queen Consort will visit Colchester on 7 March 2023 as part of the Year of Celebration to mark the first year as a modern city.
Their Majesties will visit Colchester Castle, marking Colchester’s recently awarded city status with community groups, volunteers, local businesses, conservation projects and arts organisations. During the visit, Their Majesties will also unveil the name of Colchester Zoo’s newest addition, a baby white rhino.
They will the travel onwards to Colchester Library to take afternoon tea with Age UK volunteers and service users and learn about the library’s impact in the community through the Essex Year of Reading.
On 7 March, some city centre roads will be closed during the Royal visit, as follows:
7am to 2pm
- East Hill (Upwards from Roman Road)
- High Street
- North Hill
- Head Street
- Culver Street West
- Sir Isaacs Walk
- Head Street
- North Hill
- Culver Street West
- Sir Issacs Walk
- Eld Lane
- Castle Bailey
- Museum Street
- St Nicholas Square
- Queen Street
Visitors and residents are advised to plan before they travel.
For information on bus travel, we advise you visit bus operators’ websites.
Park and Ride services will be running as normal, but with a diversion due to the road closures in place.
Access into Priory Street will be affected by a redirection of traffic with vehicles accessing the car park between 7am and 2pm. Cars will enter off East Hill and exit via Queen Street.
Napier Road South Car Park will be closed on 6 and 7 March and Sheepen Road Car Park will be closed on 7 March, but all other council-owned car parks will be open. Visit colchester.gov.uk/parking for great value parking in the city centre.
For information on the day of the royal visit, follow:
- @EnjoyColchester on Facebook
- @YourColchester on Twitter
- @ColchesterCityCouncil on Instagram
For everything you need to know about the Royal visit, go to www.colchester.gov.uk/royal-visit
Page last reviewed: 3 March 2023