Jane’s Walk returns to Colchester from 2 May to 10 May 2026, offering residents 32 free community-led walks and events across the city and surrounding countryside. First held in 2011, Colchester was the first town in the United Kingdom to host the festival, which celebrates the ideas of urbanist Jane Jacobs by encouraging people to explore their neighbourhoods through informal walking conversations.
This year’s programme is dedicated to two long-time walk leaders who passed away in the last year: Barbara Butler, a city tour guide and member of the Friends of Colchester Archaeological Trust, and artist Charles Debenham, who was known for documenting ordinary life in the city through his paintings. The festival will host a variety of themed outings, all of which are free and but may require advance booking. These walks are typically under three miles long and are designed to help participants discover new perspectives on familiar locations.
The festival will open on 2 May with a 6pm screening of the documentary ‘The Essex Ways’ at The Commons Café at The Minories. The cafe is operated by Common Ground Colchester, a community cooperative that focuses on ethically sourced food. The film follows filmmaker James Lawrence on his 21-day journey through the county.
Other highlights include a sensory walk along the Hythe, led by Beck Norris of Firstsite‘s Young Artist Kommunity. This walk will explore the history of King Edward Quay through the senses. Participants can also join a countryside ramble to Copford Church, which follows an ancient route through Gravel Pits Wood and Copford Plains. The church itself is well-known for its 12th-century wall paintings and Romanesque apse.
For more information about the events, residents can contact the festival organiser, Rowena Macaulay, via Walk Colchester.
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