Mother’s Day in Colchester 2026 💐
Mothering Sunday lands on Sunday 15 March 2026 & this is your official reminder to book the table, buy the flowers, and plan something that makes her feel special.
Whether you’re doing a full-on family day out, a low-key wander with coffee stops, or treating mum to an afternoon tea… here’s your InColchester-style guide to what to do, where to go and where to shop.
Pick your vibe: 3 easy Mother’s Day plans 🗺️✨
1) The “City Centre Stroll + Treat”
- Start with a wander through Castle Park and enjoy the fresh air.
- Pop into Colchester Castle for a look at our history.
- Finish with lunch/coffee in town and a little gift-shop browse.
2) The “Culture + Cake”
- Head to Firstsite for exhibitions & films/events
- Add a pudding stop such as Kaspa's
- Drift back into the city centre for shopping.
3) The “Big Treat”
- Book an afternoon tea (we’ve got some good ones below), then make it a whole weekend with a show, a long walk, or a day out.
Where to go: feel-good things to do 🏰🎭
🌳 Castle Park:
If you want something simple that still feels special: walk, chat, breathe, repeat. Castle Park has trails and plenty of space to do a gentle wander (or a “let’s sit on a bench and people-watch” session).
🏛️ Colchester Castle:
Whether she’s a history lover or just likes a day that feels a bit different, the Castle is one of those “always a good idea” visits and it’s right in the heart of the city.
🎨 Firstsite:
The golden building. The exhibitions. The vibe. Even if you’re not “an art person,” Firstsite is the kind of place where you can wander in, see something cool, grab a drink and leave feeling like you’ve done something a bit more interesting than your usual Sunday.
🎭 Make it a weekend with the Mercury
If you’re doing Mother’s Day as a full weekend treat, check what’s on at the Mercury Theatre and build your plan around it (show + dinner is undefeated)(The Manningtree Witches runs 28 Feb–14 Mar 2026)
🦁 Colchester Zoo:
If your mum’s happiest outdoors (or you’ve got little ones involved), a zoo day can be a wholesome, everyone-wins plan and the Zoo has a full Mother’s Day gift/experience guide if you want something more “present” than “card.”
Bonus for members: Colchester Zoo has also shared a Mother’s Day weekend guest offer (always check the T&Cs).
Where to eat & drink: Mother’s Day tables worth booking 🍰🥂
Mother’s Day is the busiest Sunday for restaurants, so if you’re reading this and thinking “we’ll just see what’s free”… consider this your gentle warning 😅
🫖 Afternoon tea energy:
- Wivenhoe House Hotel - Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea with live music (MJ Soul)
Runs Sat 14 + Sun 15 March 2026, with a welcome drink, afternoon tea, live set and a little gift for mum. - Layer Marney Tower – Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea
If you want “historic Tudor backdrop” levels of special, Layer Marney is doing a Mother’s Day afternoon tea on Sunday 15 March 2026. - Slug & Lettuce Colchester – Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea
Right on the High Street and very “make it a girly afternoon” friendly.
🍳 Brunch, lunch, roasts: the classic plan
Colchester is packed with brilliant spots for brunches, long lunches and Sunday roasts, take a look at the InColchester App for the full list of Colchester places to eat and find your perfect spot!
Where to shop: gifts, flowers and “I actually thought about this” wins 🛍️💝
💐 Flowers (don’t leave this to Saturday afternoon…)
- Dillys - right in the heart of Colchester and known for bespoke blooms and gifts.
📚 Books + lovely little extras
- Red Lion Books - proudly independent since 1978 and a guaranteed place to find a gift that feels personal (plus: vouchers and events too).
🎁 Something “Colchester” (souvenirs + local-made gifts)
- Visit Colchester Gift Shop (Hollytrees Museum) - for locally made bits, Colchester-themed gifts and cute souvenirs.
🎨 Art, design & “cool mum” presents
- Firstsite Shop - prints, books, design-led gifts… the kind of stuff you pick up and instantly go “this is SO her.”
👗 Fashion, beauty & a proper browse
- Fenwick Colchester – luxury fashion/beauty/homeware, plus in-store services and foodie stops
🛍️ City-centre shopping zones (for an easy all-in-one day)
- Lion Walk + Red Lion Yard – right in the centre and full of big names and independents.
- Culver Square – another city-centre staple for a quick “grab gifts, grab coffee, done” mission.
- Colchester Market – brilliant for picking up something a bit different while you’re already in town (trading generally 9am–4pm, with extra High Street trading on Weds/Fri/Sat).
🕊️ Pre-loved finds (and feel-good shopping)
If she loves a charity-shop treasure hunt (or you want “stylish gift, with a good cause”):
- St Helena Hospice shops, including a Colchester boutique listing, are great for browsing.
Quick Mother’s Day checklist ✅
- Book food now (seriously).
- Flowers: order ahead, especially for delivery/collection.
- If you’re doing an activity (tea, zoo, theatre), lock it in early.
- Plan a little walk or wander so the day feels like more than “just lunch.”
One last thing… 💗
Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated - it just needs to feel intentional. A booked table, a proper chat on a park walk, a gift that matches her personality and a city-centre day where you’re not rushing? That’s the sweet spot.
Tag @incolchester in your Mother’s Day plans (we love seeing your city-centre moments) and have the loveliest day, Colchester. 💐
