14.09°C Jane’s Walk Colchester returns this May with a week of free guided walks exploring the city’s history, landscapes and communities.
For one week each year, people across the world step outside and explore their places of residence on foot as part of the international Jane’s Walk festival. In Colchester, that usually means a fascinating mix of local historians, artists, campaigners and community groups leading informal walks through places you may pass every day without really noticing.
Jane’s Walk Colchester 2026
Dates: Saturday 2 May – Sunday 10 May 2026
Location: Colchester, Essex
Cost: Free (some events require booking)
Named after urban writer and activist Jane Jacobs, the global festival encourages people to experience cities at street level and understand how everyday places shape community life.
Colchester’s programme includes more than thirty walks, talks and events taking place across the city and surrounding areas. Walks are typically short – most under three miles – and led by volunteers who share their own knowledge, interests and perspectives on the places they know best.
This year’s festival is dedicated to Barbara Butler and Charles Debenham, two long-time walk leaders and supporters of the project who sadly passed away during the past year.
Colchester is almost ideal territory for a Jane’s Walk festival. It layers Roman streets, medieval churches, Victorian industry and modern neighbourhoods in a compact area that can easily be explored on foot. Many of this year’s walks move between those layers – from Roman archaeology and Civil War history to community stories, architecture, nature and the changing life of the River Colne.
Festival highlights
The programme ranges widely, reflecting the different interests of the people leading the walks. Some focus on history, others on nature, creativity or the lived experiences that shape the city’s communities.
Among the many walks taking place across the week are several particularly distinctive events.
A walk to celebrate Colchester as a City of Sanctuary
Curated by Bryn Griffiths, this walk explores Colchester’s diverse community through a series of pop-up contributions along the route. Participants will hear historical and contemporary stories showing how refugee and migrant communities have helped shape the city over centuries. The walk is organised in partnership with Colchester Refugee, Asylum and Migrant Action and Colchester Unite Against Racism.
Meet: 2.30pm, Colchester War Memorial, CO1 1DN (approx. 2.5 miles, 2.5 hours)
The General Strike of May 1926 – according to the journal of a Colchester teenager
Using readings and sketches from the journal of E.J. Rudsdale, this walk imagines Colchester during the nine-day General Strike a century ago. Participants will explore locations linked to the events while reflecting on the experience of a young observer documenting the town at a moment of national upheaval. The walk is led by Rebecca Rocket and includes an opportunity to embellish journal drawings along the way.
Meet: 10am, Colchester Castle, inside the Museum Street entrance (approx. 2.5 miles, 2 hours)
This walk is followed by an afternoon and evening of panels, discussion and film commemorating the Strike, hosted by Colchester Trades Council at the Headgate Theatre.
A Westlands Wander and Warble – stroll and sing
Join Lorraine Francis, one quarter of natural voice singing quartet Voce Silva, for a gentle wander through Westlands Country Park. Along the route, participants will learn unaccompanied harmony songs together, celebrating nature and the joy of singing. Everything is taught by ear, so no previous singing experience is necessary.
Meet: 6.30pm, inside the entrance gate in James Carter Road, opposite Shillito Close (approx. 1.3 miles, 1.5 hours)
A celebration of Colchester’s celluloid history
This walk explores Colchester’s cinema heritage through the remarkable story of local film-maker Bernard Polley. After a childhood encounter with a cine camera in 1937, Polley went on to make more than 200 films documenting life in Colchester, including the changing fortunes of the city’s cinemas. The walk visits sites linked to that history and concludes with a short film made by Bernard, as told by his friends Billie and Elisa.
Meet: 2.30pm, St Botolph’s roundabout, Mersea Road exit (approx. 1 mile, 2 hours)
3am with Ant – a walk for no good reason at the worst possible time
Perhaps the most unusual event of the festival, this walk invites participants to join Colchester Arts Centre’s Dr Anthony Roberts on a deliberately mysterious early-morning adventure. Where it goes, how long it lasts and what might happen along the way are all part of the uncertainty.
Meet: 3am, Colchester Arts Centre
Pam Nelson Memorial ‘Jane’s Cycle’ Ride
Cyclists can take part in the third annual memorial ride to Fingringhoe Nature Reserve via Friday Woods and back. The round trip follows mostly off-road routes and includes a refreshment stop at the reserve café. The ride is led by Neil Allen and is open to cyclists of all ages, provided the distance is manageable at a relaxed pace.
Meet: 12 noon, outside St John’s Green Primary School, CO2 7HE (approx. 12 miles return, approx. 4 hours)
Jane’s Walk Colchester 2026 – key dates
Saturday 2 May
- Walk 1: An ancient route to Copford Church – Copford Village Hall, 11am
- Walk 2: Outside Looking In – Abbeygate Street, 2pm
- Walk 3: A sensory walk along the Hythe – Uni Mart Asian Supermarket, 2pm
- Festival launch and film: The Essex Ways – The Commons Café at The Minories, 6pm
Sunday 3 May
- Walk 4: Children’s Art Walk – St Botolph’s Priory, 10.30am
- Walk 5: Argy Bargy and Turning Tides – bridge by Riverside Place, 11.30am
- Walk 6: A walk to celebrate Colchester as a City of Sanctuary – Colchester War Memorial, 2.30pm
- Walk 7: X Marks The Spot – Firstsite, 4pm
- Walk 8: Allotments, Gardens and Health Care in Myland – Colchester North Station, 5pm
Monday 4 May
- Walk 9: The General Strike of May 1926 – Colchester Castle, 10am
- Walk 10: What’s in a name? – The Old Fire Office, 1.30pm
- Walk 11: Shine On Jaywick Sands – St Christopher’s Church, Jaywick, 1.30pm
- Film and talk: Our Land – Curzon Cinema, 5pm
Tuesday 5 May
- Walk 12: Come and meet some of our Castle Park Trees – Colchester Castle, 10.30am
- Walk 13: Alleys and Folleys – hidden in plain sight (1) – Napier Road North car park, 2.30pm
- Online panel: Creating Pilgrimage Routes – 7pm
Wednesday 6 May
- Walk 14: Town Centre to High Woods – a nature walk with Ted Benton – Land Lane, 11am
- Walk 15: Brutal But Beautiful: Essex University – University of Essex, 2pm
- Walk 16: History of Middlewick Ranges – Speedwell Road footpath entrance, 7pm
Thursday 7 May
- Walk 17: Alleys and Folleys – Hidden Colchester (2) – Napier Road North car park, 2.30pm
- Walk 18: Finding light in the darkness – The Old Fire Office, 9pm
Friday 8 May
- Walk 19: Little Explorers: A Toddler-Led Nature Walk – High Woods Visitor Centre, 10am
- Walk 20: Roses for Remembrance – Castle Park bandstand, 11am
- Walk 21: Constable in the City – outside Mercury Theatre, 2.30pm
- Walk 22: A Westlands Wander and Warble – stroll and sing – James Carter Road entrance, 6.30pm
Saturday 9 May
- Walk 23: Six curious vicars of Colchester and their churches – Colchester Arts Centre, 11am
- Walk 24: A celebration of Colchester’s celluloid history – St Botolph’s roundabout, 2.30pm
- Walk 25: Colchester Fort and City – East Bay near East Bridge, 4.30pm
- Walk 26: Constable in the City – outside Mercury Theatre, 6.30pm
Sunday 10 May
- Walk 27: 3am with Ant – Colchester Arts Centre, 3am
- Walk 28: Foraging in the Footsteps of the Invading Roman Army at Lexden – Lexden Crown, 10am
- Walk 29: Weans Walk Wild in Wellies in Wivenhoe Woods – Wivenhoe Railway Station car park, 10.30am
- Cycle 30: 3rd Annual Pam Nelson Memorial ‘Jane’s Cycle’ Ride – St John’s Green Primary School, 12 noon
- Walk 31: Boudica Rising – outside Mercury Theatre, 11am
- Walk 32: The Wrong End of the Stick – bridge to Colchester Castle, 2.30pm
- End of festival drink – The Commons Café at The Minories, from 4.15pm
How to take part
All walks are free to attend, and most do not require advance booking unless stated. Participants simply turn up at the meeting point at the advertised time.
Full programme details, accessibility information and booking links can be found at
walkcolchester.org.uk/janes-walk
Follow updates via @janeswalkcolch on social media.
