Castle Park, Colchester
Colchester
Castle Park, Colchester is where the Colchester Castle Summer Series stages its concerts, in Lower Castle Park. The 2027 series has Simply Red on Wednesday 18 August, with Heather Small and Soul II Soul, and Ronan Keating & Blue on Saturday 21 August. The series' VIP Premium ticket adds fast-track entry, a garden zone and a raised decked viewing platform at the rear of the arena; for Simply Red, the series lists VIP as sold out.
About Castle Park, Colchester
Castle Park, Colchester stages the Colchester Castle Summer Series in Lower Castle Park (CO1 1XL). The series has announced two 2027 concerts: Simply Red on Wednesday 18 August and Ronan Keating & Blue on Saturday 21 August. There is no golden circle at these concerts, so the VIP Premium ticket's raised decked viewing platform at the rear of the arena is the premium view.
What is Castle Park, Colchester?
Castle Park, Colchester is a Colchester City Council park, run by the council's Castle Park team, with its main entrance at the east end of Colchester High Street, next to the Castle. Its concerts take place in Lower Castle Park (CO1 1XL). The park opened to the public on 20 October 1892 and is a Grade II registered park and garden on the National Heritage List for England, first listed in 1987.
What is the Colchester Castle Summer Series?
The Colchester Castle Summer Series is the run of summer concerts staged in Lower Castle Park, Colchester. It reaches its third year in 2027, with two concerts announced three nights apart in August, after starting in 2025 and returning in 2026. Visit Colchester says almost 70,000 people attended the 2025 series. Concerts go ahead rain or shine and are stopped or cancelled only if the weather is deemed unsafe. Umbrellas are not permitted.
Who plays the Colchester Castle Summer Series in 2027?
The 2027 Colchester Castle Summer Series at Castle Park has two headline concerts announced, both in August: Simply Red on Wednesday 18 August 2027, with special guests Heather Small and Soul II Soul, and Ronan Keating & Blue on Saturday 21 August 2027, with special guests The Germein Sisters.
- Simply Red: Wednesday 18 August 2027, Lower Castle Park (VIP Premium listed by the series as sold out)
- Ronan Keating & Blue: Saturday 21 August 2027, Lower Castle Park
Simply Red's Colchester night is part of the Summer Funk '27 tour, and it runs 16:00 to 22:30 with no re-entry. It is a standing event classified 6+ by the series.
What does VIP include at Castle Park concerts?
The Colchester Castle Summer Series VIP Premium ticket at Castle Park includes fast-track entry into the arena, an exclusive garden zone, a raised decked viewing platform at the rear of the arena, a premium bar (alcohol for over-18s only; ID may be required), premium toilets and a souvenir VIP lanyard. For Simply Red on 18 August 2027, the series lists VIP as sold out.
Which station and car park serve Castle Park concerts?
Colchester Town station is a 10-minute walk from Colchester Castle, and Colchester's main station is a 20-minute walk from the concert site, according to the promoter's travel guidance; trains from London Liverpool Street take about 50 minutes. The same guidance puts the event car park, for parking ticket holders, at Kings Meadow (CO1 1XN), off Catchpool Road.
For the 2026 series, Visit Colchester said concert-night Park & Ride return buses (A12 junction 28) ran from the High Street stop between 22:00 and 23:45. The 2027 arrangements are not yet published, so check before travelling.
Is there an accessible viewing platform at Castle Park concerts?
Yes. Castle Park concerts have a raised accessible viewing platform for Wheelchair Accessible and Mobility Accessible ticket holders, with seating for Mobility tickets and accessible toilets at the platform. A Changing Places facility sits behind the Castle Park Café, about 130 metres from the accessible area, with a steep incline on the route. An accessible car park can be booked for concert days with a Blue Badge.
Getting There
Accessibility at Castle Park, Colchester
Castle Park, Colchester welcomes all visitors with a range of accessibility facilities. Use the guide below to plan your visit.
Accessibility Notes
Raised accessible viewing platform for Wheelchair Accessible and Mobility Accessible ticket holders, with seating for Mobility tickets and accessible toilets at the platform. Changing Places facility behind the Castle Park Café, about 130 metres from the accessible area, with a steep incline on the route.
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Enquire NowCastle Park, Colchester FAQs
The Colchester Castle Summer Series VIP Premium ticket at Castle Park includes fast-track entry into the arena, an exclusive garden zone, a raised decked viewing platform at the rear of the arena, a premium bar (alcohol for over-18s only; ID may be required) and premium toilets, plus a souvenir VIP lanyard. For Simply Red on 18 August 2027, the series lists VIP as sold out.
No. The Colchester Castle Summer Series has no golden circle at its Castle Park concerts, so the premium view is at the back of the arena, not the front: the VIP Premium ticket's raised decked viewing platform at the rear of the arena.
The official UK general sale for Simply Red's Summer Funk '27 dates, including Castle Park on Wednesday 18 August 2027, opened at 10am BST on Thursday 24 September 2026, after the artist pre-sale at 10am on Tuesday 22 September. The band's other 2027 UK dates are on the Simply Red Tour 2027 hospitality page.
Prestige Corporate Events takes enquiries for Colchester Castle Summer Series dates at Castle Park, Colchester through this page. The team confirms options and prices for the date and group size off the page.
Castle Park concerts are in Lower Castle Park (CO1 1XL), a 10-minute walk from Colchester Town station; Colchester's main station is a 20-minute walk, according to the promoter's travel guidance, and parking ticket holders use Kings Meadow (CO1 1XN), off Catchpool Road. Simply Red's night runs 16:00 to 22:30. For the 2026 series, Visit Colchester said Park & Ride return buses (A12 junction 28) ran from the High Street stop between 22:00 and 23:45; 2027 times are not yet published, so check before travelling.
Castle Park concerts are standing events, and the Colchester Castle Summer Series says there are no designated seated areas, including in the VIP Premium area. The VIP area does have picnic tables and seating furniture, and Mobility Accessible ticket holders have seating on the raised accessible viewing platform.
The Colchester Castle Summer Series classifies Simply Red's show at Castle Park on Wednesday 18 August 2027 as 6+. Ages 6 to 17 must be with an adult over 21, with one adult for every three under-18s. It is a standing event with no re-entry, and the night runs 16:00 to 22:30.
Yes. Wheelchair Accessible and Mobility Accessible ticket holders at Castle Park concerts watch from a raised accessible viewing platform, which has seating for Mobility tickets and accessible toilets. The nearest Changing Places facility is behind the Castle Park Café, about 130 metres away, and the route to it has a steep incline. Blue Badge holders can book an accessible car park for concert days.