Why visit Colchester
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 31 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Gallery Cinemas, Buckley Hill, Colchester Village Historic District and Old Bacon Academy.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 18°F.
Weather in Colchester
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Colchester
Colchester is a census-designated place (CDP) comprising the primary village and adjacent residential land in the town of Colchester, New London County, Connecticut, United States. It is in the east-central part of the town, with the Connecticut Route 2 expressway running through the south side of the community. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a population of 4,781, out of 16,068 in the entire town of Colchester.
From the Wikipedia article Colchester (CDP), Connecticut (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Museums and landmarks8
Colchester Village Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in Connecticut, United States
Old Bacon Academy
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Connecticut, United States
84 Main Street, Colchester
Hayward House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Connecticut, United States
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Wheeler Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Connecticut, United States of America
Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Company Museum
Museum
100 South Main Street, Colchester
"By appointment"
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Colchester Spur Trail
Hiking and trails · 1.8 mi
Owned by Eversource, from north end until CT 85; Town of Hebron, from CT 85 to town line; Town of Colchester, south of town line.
Restaurants and cafes31
Harry's Place
Restaurant · Burger, Hot Dog, Ice Cream, Sandwich, Seafood, Chicken
104 Broadway, Colchester
Mar-Oct 10:00-20:00
Oz n' Bones BBQ
Restaurant · Barbecue
43 Hayward Avenue, Colchester
Tu-Th 11:30-20:00; Fr 11:30-21:00; Sa 11:00-21:00
Big's Kitchen & Sandwich Shop
Restaurant · Sandwich · 0.9 mi
467 South Main Street, Colchester
Fornarelli's Ristorante & Bar
Restaurant · Italian · 0.7 mi
108 Halls Hill Hill, Colchester
Fresca Tequila Bar & Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.9 mi
232 New London Road, Colchester
Illiano's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza, Italian · 0.4 mi
Best Pizza in Town - "It's in the sauce!"
19 more on the map.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship5
Saint Andrew Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 0.4 mi
124 Norwich Avenue, Colchester
Colchester Bible Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.6 mi
34 Chestnut Hill Hill, Colchester
Saint Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church
Church · Ukrainian Greek Catholic · 0.5 mi
180 Linwood Avenue, Colchester
Shopping6
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries8
Healthcare3
Map of Colchester
81 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 18°F | 3.2 in |
| Feb | 39°F | 19°F | 2.7 in |
| Mar | 47°F | 27°F | 4.0 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 4.0 in |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 3.4 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 3.9 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 62°F | 2.7 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 4.4 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 52°F | 4.1 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 41°F | 3.8 in |
| Nov | 52°F | 31°F | 3.5 in |
| Dec | 41°F | 24°F | 3.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Willimantic Windham Ap (14 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
The county has had 24 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-01-13: Severe Storms, Flooding, And A Potential Dam Breach (Severe Storm)
- 2021-10-30: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
- 2021-08-22: Hurricane Henri (Hurricane)
- 2021-01-12: Tropical Storm Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-06: Tropical Storm Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-28: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Hartford–Brainard Airport (HFD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 20 miles away.
- Moodus 7 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
- East Hampton 8 mi west, about 13 min by car
- Lake Pocotopaug 9 mi west, about 15 min by car
- Willimantic 11 mi northeast, about 18 min by car
- South Windham 11 mi northeast, about 17 min by car
- South Coventry 12 mi north, about 20 min by car
- Norwich 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Higganum 13 mi southwest, about 21 min by car
- Chester Center 14 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
- Coventry Lake 14 mi north, about 22 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Main Street, Colchester CT, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Colchester Village HD - 31 Hayward Avenue, Thundersnow, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Colchester Village HD - Colchester Green, Thundersnow, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norton Mill Dam removal in Colchester, CT (30765973212), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
- Norton Mill Dam removal in Colchester, CT (30580849020), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
- Norton Mill Dam removal in Colchester, CT (30580848090), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
- Bridge near the Norton Mill Dam removal in Colchester, CT (30765979012), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
- Cragin Memorial Library, Colchester CT, John Phelan, CC BY 4.0
- Cragin Memorial Library, Colchester, Connecticut, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Colchester Federated Church, Connecticut, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Colchester Historical Society Museum, Colchester CT, John Phelan, CC BY 4.0
- ColchesterCT WheelerBlock, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Colchester (CT) station, April 2017, JJBers from Willimantic, Connecticut, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Colchester freight house, April 2017, JJBers from Willimantic, Connecticut, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Hayward Fire co museum, Colchester Connecticut, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BaconAcademyMagPhotoColchesterCT1896, Israel Foote Loomis, Public domain
- Colchester Village HD - Civil War monument, Thundersnow, Public domain
- Former Ransom School, Colchester, Connecticut, Jerry Dougherty, CC BY 2.5
- Hayward House, Colchester, Connecticut, Jerry Dougherty, CC BY 2.5
- Vintage auto - Early American, Thundersnow, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hayward House (New London County, CT), Thundersnow, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norton Mill Dam detail (28259177494), U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region, Public domain
- Norton Mill Dam view from the bridge (28259178814), U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region, Public domain
- Norton Mill Dam from the bridge (28259160294), U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region, Public domain
- Norton Mill Dam with watertower (28259181064), U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region, Public domain
- Norton Mill Dam upriver close-up (28800755571), U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region, Public domain
- Norton-Mill-Dam-Norton Mill Dam Pano (28259162844), U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region, Public domain
- GershomBartlettSchist, Gravestoneman, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
_station,_April_2017.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.