Some of the most important events in British history have taken place in and around Colchester over the past 2000 years. The Romans, Saxons, Normans and Victorians have all left their mark here which you can discover today. Colchester, Britain's First City was recently awarded modern city status in 2022 and boasts one of the top 50 museum collections in the country as well as one of the country’s leading contemporary art galleries at Firstsite. The award-winning Colchester Castle Museum is an absolute must-see, set in the beautiful grounds of Castle Park, an oasis in the heart of Colchester city centre.
Colchester today is a modern and fast growing city with many award-winning places to visit and eat. People love the shopping here too with its excellent range of small, specialist shops alongside all the big-name stores and the town's much loved department store, Fenwicks, all encompassed by the most complete Roman wall in the country.
Why not take a lesson from the Romans and make Colchester your base for a longer stay? And with a great range of accommodation you'll be ideally placed for exploring the surrounding picturesque villages and wide skies of East Anglia, walking in the footsteps of John Constable in Dedham Vale AONB and enjoying the fruits of the sea at nearby Mersea Island.
Poised at the gateway to East Anglia with its picturesque villages yet only minutes away from the coast, Colchester is the perfect destination for a well-deserved short break or day trip.