About

Enjoy 300 years of history in this beautiful Georgian townhouse through hands-on exhibits and displays. Discover what family life was life for the rich and the poor. Then be transported back to the days before washing machines to try out a dolly peg and dress up as a servant. Explore Hollytrees in miniature through the dolls’ house or discover Bernard Mason’s fascinating collection of Colchester clocks. You can even learn all about the origins of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, loved the world over and written in Colchester.

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Disabled Access Information Provided by Hollytrees Museum

Disabled Access at Hollytrees Museum

WHEN YOU ARRIVE Automatic glass doors will bring you to an area full of leaflets and brochures advertising different local attractions. Just beyond that is the reception and shop. You will be greeted by uniformed staff at the welcome desk. The Colchester Visitor Information Centre team look after the museum and know a lot about the city. You may have to wait a short while to be served. If you are accompanied by someone who finds queuing difficult, please let us know and we will do our best to prioritise you. If you would like to borrow one of our Sunflower lanyards while you’re in the museum, simply ask at the welcome desk. Admission tickets can be purchased at the welcome desk on arrival. Alternatively you can buy a Hollytrees Day Ticket or a Colchester Museums Pass in advance via our website. The pass entitles you to unlimited entry for Hollytrees Museum and Colchester Castle for a whole year! GETTING AROUND The entrance to Hollytrees Museum is cobbled and the Upper Ground Floor hall is tiled. The rest of the museum floors are carpeted and flat. The museum is spread across several floors and the displays can be viewed in any order: * Ground Floor – the shop, Visitor Information Centre and exit * Upper Ground Floor – the Garden Room, leading to the hall and the Bernard Mason Clock Gallery * First Floor – Running the Home Gallery * Upper First Floor – the Childhood Gallery and Portrait Gallery * Second Floor – the Education Room (typically roped off as it is used by schools and for events) All the rooms are accessible via stairs or a lift. The lift has two doors at right angles to each other. Entering from the ground floor and exiting on the Upper Ground floor for example involves a 90-degree turn to the left. The inside of the lift is quite small so this is not easily done and may not be possible with larger wheelchairs, mobility or double buggies. The walkway from reception into the Upper Ground Floor hall is quiet narrow and there are a few steps. Some of our displays are spot lit, while other areas, such as the crawl through tunnel inside the Childhood Gallery, might appear quite dark. QUIETER TIMES The museum is typically quieter in the afternoons, particularly after 2.30pm on weekdays once any school groups have left for the day. As the display are spreads across rooms on different floors, sounds do not tend to carry from one room to another. Some spaces are quite small or narrow, such as the Childhood Gallery or the stairs, so if other visitors are already in those areas, the museum may seem busy. GENERAL The museum does not have a cafe and food is not permitted. If you have a refillable bottle, our team are happy to top it up with tap water. We welcome breastfeeding. If you or a member of your group require a quiet space during your visit, please speak to the Visitor Information Centre team. If you or a member of your group require medical attention whilst at Hollytrees Museum, please alert staff and they will contact the emergency services. The nearest defibrillator is at Colchester Castle.