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Colchester
Introduction - Things To Do - Places To Eat - Transport Links
Introduction
Colchester is the largest town and settlement within the Borough of Colchester. Situated in north-east Essex it is only 50 minutes direct from London Liverpool Street.
Colchester is the oldest recorded Roman town and therefore claims to be the oldest town in Britain. It also claims to have the UK's oldest market.
With a population of just over 104,000, it has many facilities to cater for everybody's need. Whatever interests you be it history, sport, shopping or just some time to relax, Colchester is bound to have something for you.
Although it is a large town with a large population, Colchester is a great place to learn to drive with many different types of road around the area.
Things To Do
Below is list of just some of the things Colchester has to offer:
Colchester Castle
A visit to Colchester Castle takes you on a trip through 2000 years of history. Colchester once being the Roman capital means its castle has witnessed many major events in history such as invasions, civil war sieges and devastation by Boudica. So your visit to the castle will most definitely fascinate you with this town's amazing history.
Find out more about the castle's history at Wikipedia.
Castle Park
The grounds of the castle also have a lot to offer.
With its beautiful gardens and grassy areas its the perfect place for a stroll. If you just want to sit, relax and reflect on the day you can grab a drink or an ice cream at the café and watch the squirrels climb around the trees. Alternatively, you could take a walk along the River Colne and feed the ducks or just sit and admire the view.
If it's something a little more active you're after, head on over to the putting green or crazy golf course next to the play area on the East side.
Places of Historical Significance
If you want a stroll along with some sightseeing why not take a wonder around the edge the town centre. With Colchester being the oldest town in Britain there are plenty of historic sites to see, these include:
The Old Siege House - Here red circles can be seen on the side of the building where it was hit by bullets during the siege of Colchester.
St. Botolph's Priory - The mother church of the Augustinian order in the 11th century. Unfortunately all that remains today is ruins.
St. John's Abbey Gate - The remainder of the church after the dissolution of the monasteries under the order of Henry VIII.
St. Mary's at the Wall - See where "Humpty Dumpty had a great fall." Here at St. Mary's at the Wall (now Colchester Arts Centre) the cannon, Humpty Dumpty fell when the top of the tower, which it was on, was hit in the Siege of Colchester.
Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle obelisk - See where Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle where killed during the Siege. Legend has it that grass will not grow where they fell.
The Roman Wall - The Roman wall surrounds most of the town centre.
Museums
Hollytrees Museum - A beautiful Georgian house that takes you back 300 years to find out what life was like and how it differed among the rich and the poor. This is done through displays, hands on exhibitions and audio recordings. Best of all, it's free.
Natural History Museum - Another free museum, set in the old All Saint's Church, that gives you the chance to find out about the wildlife and natural history in and around Colchester. With hands-on displays, live animals and a church yard nature reserve you're bound to discover something that you didn't already know!
For more information on the above museums please visit colchestermuseums.org.uk
Leisure World & Aqua Springs
Leisure World is the local leisure centre offering a range of different sporting activities. It has two main swimming pools, a fun pool with fumes, slides and outdoor water rapids, and a standard size pool for swimming lengths. They also have indoor sports halls, which hold several different sporting activities each day, an outdoor astroturf and bar and café.
If sport is not your thing and you want something more relaxing head next door to Aqua Springs "The ultimate spa experience." With a spa pool, hydrotherapy spas, saunas, a steam room, cool pool and ice plunge, not to mention the numerous beauty and relaxation treatments you're bound to find something to suit you.
More information can be found at colchesterleisureworld.co.uk and aquasprings.co.uk
Highwoods Country Park
The park consists of over 121 hectares or 300 acres of grassland, woodland and wetland and is open 24 hours a day. It's the perfect place to go for a walk, go fishing or to just lay in the grass and read.
More information can be found at visitcolchester.com.
Tenpin Bowling
The bowling alley in Colchester has 24 lanes, 2 American Pool tables, 2 English Pool tables and a diner and is great fun at anytime of the day.
More information can be found at tenpin.co.uk.
Colchester Zoo
If you're an animal lover the Colchester Zoo is just a short bus ride from the town centre.
At just over 60 acres in size the zoo offers an experience you won't forget. With 345 species to see and some of the best big cat and primate collections in Europe, as well as many displays throughout the day. There are also trails around the zoo so you don't miss anything. Your visit could be active or relaxing - the choice is yours!
More information can be found at colchester-zoo.co.uk
Shopping
Need some retail therapy?
Then Colchester is the perfect place. With streets full of shops you'll find all the big names you'd expect; Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, Next, Gap, River Island, HMV, as well as Williams & Griffin (independent department store of the year) and many small boutiques.
You can obtain a free shopping guide here .
Places To Eat
American
Sloppy Joe's - 01206 577229 - 37 High St, CO1 1DH
Clown's Restaurant - 01206 578631 - 61-62 High St, CO1 1DN
Sam's Diner - 01206 577287 - 47 Sir Isaacs Walk, CO1 1JJ
Bar Meals
Edwards - 01206 561865 - 29-39 Head St, CO1 1NH
Yates's - 01206 710471 - 1a Head St, CO1 1NX
Ha Ha Bar - 01206 367320 - 111 High Street, CO1 1TB
Chinese
China Blue - 01206 761876 - 25 Head Street, CO1 1NH
Chef Canton - 01026 563405 - 2a Crouch Street, CO3 3ES
North Hill Noodle Bar - 01206 368889 - 2 North Hill, CO1 1DZ
Temptations Chinese Buffet - 01206 572266 - 2 Balkerne Hill, CO3 3AA
Fast Food
Burger King - 01206 573641 - 11b High St, CO1 1DA
KFC - 01206 544799 - 10 High St, CO1 1DA
McDonald's - 01206 547096 - 35-37 High St, CO1 1DH
Wimpy Restaurant - 01206 766675 - 112 High St, CO1 1TB
Indian
Alishan Tandoori Restaurant - 01206 564009 - 19 Osborne St, CO2 7DP
Italian
Ask - 01206 366379 - 16 North Hill, CO1 1DZ
Pizza Express - 01206 760680 - 1 St. Runwald's St, CO1 1HF
Pizza Hut - 01206 574478 - 48-50 High St, CO1 1DH
Portuguese
Nando's - 01206 760344 - 11-13 Head Street, CO1 1NX
Pub Meals
The Castle Inn - 01206 563988 - 92 High Street, CO1 1TH
The Playhouse (Wetherspoons) - 01206 571003 - 4-6 St. Johns St, CO2 7AA
The George Hotel - 01206 578494 - 116 High St, CO1 1TD
The Red Lion - 01206 577986 - 43 High St, CO1 1DJ
Spanish
La Tasca - 01206 768060 - 14-15 North Hill, CO1 1DZ
Transport Links
Train
With a direct line from London Liverpool Street, Colchester is easy to reach and takes only 50 minutes to reach from the capital.
Trains also run regularly to Clacton on Sea, Walton On The Naze, and Ipswich which are prominant towns in the area.
Car
Colchester is approximately 40 miles away from the M25 along the A12 and is well sign posted after coming off the M25.
For directions use multimap.
