Colchester is a city in Essex, East Anglia. Home to the University of Essex, the Colchester Institute and an Army Garrison, and with its attractive old buildings, Roman wall, castle and proximity to Constable country, Colchester is an interesting place to visit.
Colchester is a picturesque provincial city in the county of Essex, and the geographical region of East Anglia. It is commonly regarded as the "oldest recorded town" in England (due to being mentioned by Roman author Pliny).
It was the capital of the Celtic tribe Trinovantes until it was conquered by Claudius's army in 43 AD and became the first Roman capital - and Britain's first city. Known as Camulodunum, it was burned to the ground by Boudicca's Iceni tribe approximately two decades later.
Boudicca and her 100,000-strong army were soon defeated, but Colchester never returned to prominence in Roman Britain, becoming instead a settlement for ex-legionaries.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Colchester then passed through the hands of the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans and was home to the royalists during the month-long siege of the English Civil War. Some modern historians often speculate that "Camelot" could actually be a misspelling of "Camulod(unum)" by an early chronicler unaware of the name change to "Colchester".
The city's main attraction is the Norman castle, founded by William the Conqueror himself, on the foundations of the earlier Roman Temple of Divine Emperor Claudius. It bears similarities to the Tower of London, which was built at the same time.
The city also boasts Roman walls, Saxon and Norman churches, countless timber-framed houses, buildings still showing bullet-holes and scars from the Civil War, and also the oldest Victorian water tower in Britain, known locally as Jumbo.
51.90070.89311Colchester Station,Station Approach Road, CO1 1XD.Known locally as North Station (local buses call it North Station on the schedules) is about 1 mile north of the city centre and is Colchester's main rail hub. It has approximately 5 services an hour to London (Liverpool Street) taking 50 minutes to 1 hour. Half-hourly expresses between London Liverpool St and Norwich cover the 50-mile trip in around 50 minutes with 1 or 2 intermediate stops. Commuter trains take a bit longer and make many intermediate stops and are less comfortable, although tickets are valid on either service. There are also services to/from Norwich (50 minutes), Lowestoft, Ipswich, Colchester Town, Harwich, Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze. The station has two entrances the north entrance has a ticket office, self-service machines, ATMs, a taxi stand, long-stay parking and a bus station. The south entrance is smaller and has bicycle parking and self-service ticketing but no staffed ticket booths. You need a ticket to enter and exit the station as it has automatic ticket barriers. To get to the city centre, buses 61 and 62 run from right outside the north exit to Colchester High Street, although most local services depart from North Station Road go through the south exit and walk down to the main road.
51.886150.904812Colchester Town Station,St. Botolphs Circus, CO2 7EF.At the St. Botolphs road junction in the south-east of the city centre, it has a half-hourly shuttle to Colchester North as well as hourly services to Walton-on-the-Naze. You can get direct services to London during off-peak.
51.8860.9273Hythe,Station Rd, Hythe, CO2 8JR.A small, unstaffed station in the eastern suburb of Hythe, close to the large Tesco superstore and within walking distance of the University of Essex. There are hourly services between Colchester and Walton, and rush hour services between London and Clacton. Avoid this station after dark as it's often too quiet and isolated.(updated May 2017)
51.8570.9564Wivenhoe,Station Rd, Wivenhoe, CO7 9DJ.Serves the attractive riverside town of Wivenhoe and the University of Essex; it has hourly services to London and Clacton, and a local hourly service between Colchester and Walton.(updated May 2017)
51.8807530.7827565Marks Tey,Station Rd, Marks Tey, CO6 1EE.In the western village and suburb of Marks Tey, it is the interchange for the local line to Sudbury. It has regular connections from Colchester and London, Clacton and Ipswich, and hourly services to Sudbury.(updated May 2017)
The two main operators in the city are First Essex[dead link]and Network Colchester, with Konectbuses (services from Sudbury and from surrounding areas) and Beestons (services from Dedham). Most services run from the Temporary Bus Station on Queen Street but will pick up at other stops around the city centre.
Colchester can be reached by car either via the A12, which links up with the M25 from the south, the A14, which links up with the M1/M6 from the North or the A120, which connects to the M11.
The city centre is easily walkable and much of it is pedestrianised. The city core is encircled by High Street, Queen Street, Osbourne Street, St Johns Street and Head Street. Castle Park covers much of the north-eastern city centre and makes for a pleasant traffic-free stroll out of the city centre.
Driving around Colchester isn't too much hassle, although traffic tends to come to a standstill during the rush-hours. Within the city-centre, parking on the street is illegal, or at least limited to short-stay (i.e. no more than 20 minutes) meaning that you will need to use a public car park. When approaching the city centre, digital displays on the road-side will tell you the availability of parking spaces in each parking building, saving you from having to search hard for a space. Generally, surface car parks such as Vineyard Street or the Britannia Building are the cheapest (about £1.50 per hour), Colchester City Council multi-storey parking buildings are a little more expensive (about £2.20 an hour) and are open 24 hours, whilst NCP parking buildings are the most expensive. In most cases you will be given a ticket upon entry from the automatic barrier, and the fee should be paid at the payment machine before returning to your car in order to exit the car park. Parking on residential streets close to the city centre requires a residents parking permit, so it's not advisable to park there as you may incur a parking penalty.
Local buses have limited use to the average visitor as almost everything is within walking distance, although they can be useful to reach further-afield attractions such as Wivenhoe, the university, Highwoods Country Park, and Colchester Zoo. All buses serve the city centre via the inner one-way system, which can be confusing, e.g. if you enter the city centre from the rail station, you will alight on High Street (this is the first stop in the city centre), however to return to the station you have to board in Head Street. It's advisable to always check the schedule (available from the bus information centre on Queen Street) to make sure you don't board in the wrong place and head off in the opposite direction.
Most routes run at 10-30 minute intervals from 5AM–6PM and run less frequently in the evening up to 11PM. Fares start at around £1.50 for a single ticket (or £2.50 for a return) although if you plan to make more than a couple of journeys, a £3 day rover ticket is a useful investment as it gives you unlimited journeys for 1 day. Change is usually available but drivers will usually be reluctant to change anything bigger than a £5 bill. Useful routes are
Colchester is an attractive place to cycle, and two National Cycle Routes pass through the city. Due to heavy traffic and narrow roads, cycling in the city centre is a little hairy and there are few cycle-lanes, however there are plenty of cycle-paths away from the main roads when you get away from the city centre. These cycle routes take in many of the sights of Colchester including the site of the Roman Circus, the Gosbecks Archaeological Park, and Abbey Fields. Some bike stores such as Colchester Cycle Stores on St John's Street may allow you to rent a bicycle. Many National Cycle Routes run off-road and are not suitable for certain bicycle types, e.g. road bikes.
Metered taxis are a little hard to find although they can usually be picked up from taxi ranks on the High Street or outside North Station (north exit). However, it's usually cheaper and more convenient to call for a minicab. The most useful operators include
战争纪念碑51.89150.9039191Colchester Castle.The largest Norman keep in Britain, build on the foundations of the Roman temple to Claudius it has the city centre on one side and landscaped gardens on the other. The museum covers the extensive history of Britain's oldest recorded town, from pre-Roman times, Boudicca's rebellion, the Norman invasion, medieval witch hunts, the civil war and up to the present day. Guided tours of the Roman foundations and Norman roof take place at set times throughout the day for a small fee. There is a restaurant and gift shop.
51.89280.90322Castle Park(main entrance east end of Colchester High Street next to the castle).Daily 7:30AM-evening (locked overnight).A fairly large park in the grounds of Colchester castle. Annual events held there include cricket matches (there is a cricket week every year when Essex CC play visiting counties), music festivals and a fireworks display in November.(updated May 2017)
51.889540.895093Balkerne Water Tower(Jumbo),Balkerne Gate, CO1 1PT(follow the road to the right of the Centurion pub).40m (130ft) high square imposing victorian water tower(updated Jan 2024)
Colchester is home to 3 museums, each one housed in a different beautiful old building and offering a different insight into the history behind Colchester. It is also home to 2 galleries, each offering a distinct approach to the presentation of art and housed in beautiful neighbouring buildings, one contemporary and one historic
51.890430.903164The Castle Museum(Colchester Castle),Castle Park, CO1 1TJ,☏ +44 1206 282939,museums@colchester.gov.uk.M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM, last admission 4:30PM.Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Keep in Europe. Archaeological collections of international quality covering 2,500 years of history are beautifully showcased, including some of the most important Roman finds in Britain. Colchester Castle offers an engaging experience with interactive displays and standout exhibits, including the Colchester Gladiator Vase and the Fenwick Hoard of Roman treasure. Visitors can try building a Norman archway, dressing as an Iron Age Briton, steering a Roman chariot, or firing a replica ballista at the east wall. Daily tours, led by expert guides, provide the opportunity to explore the Roman vaults and enjoy views from the Castle roof.Adults (inc. Seniors) 12.75, Children 4-16 7.50 (first child), 3.75 (additional children), Students/Concession 8.50.(updated Dec 2024)
51.89010.90445Hollytrees Museum(Hollytrees Mansion),Castle Park, CO1 1UG,☏ +44 1206 282940,museums@colchester.gov.uk.M-Sa 10AM-5PM, closed on Sundays.A beautiful Georgian building presenting domestic life and childhood in Colchester over the past 300 years. Find out about the origin of the famous nursery rhyme "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", which was written in Colchester!Adults (inc. Seniors) 5, Children 4-16 3.50 (first child) 1.75 (additional children), Student/Concession 4.(updated Dec 2024)
51.889570.903876The Natural History Museum,High St, Colchester, CO1 1DN,☏ +44 1206 282941.Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM.A fascinating chance to get closer to nature. Find out about wildlife habitats, biodiversity and climate change.Free.(updated May 2017)
涨潮时，堤道很可能会被淹没，从而有效地将岛屿与外界隔绝，因为这是唯一的陆路交通。只有大潮（与小潮相反 ）才会淹没 Strood，而这些通常发生在涨潮时间为中午/下午早些时候，尽管天气条件可能会影响潮水进出时间、高度和持续时间。67 路公交车从科尔切斯特巴士站到 West Mersea High Street 每 30 分钟一班。行程时间大约为 30-40 分钟，具体取决于所走的路线和一天中的时间。
该岛也以其牡蛎养殖场而闻名，当地的牡蛎在 West Mersea 的 Coast Road 的几家专营餐厅出售。
51.780430.899471The Company Shed,129 Coast Road, West Mersea,☏ +44 1206 382700.周三至周四 10:00-16:00，周五至周日 10:00-17:00.(最后修改于 2025年6月)
科尔切斯特有各种各样的商店，从任何大城镇都能找到的商店（Marks & Spencer、Debenhams 等）到许多小型独立商店。High Street 是开始的地方：在这里您可以找到一家大型现代化的 Fenwicks 百货商店（前身为 Williams & Griffin）。但是，如果您沿着 High Street 往下滑，从右侧的小巷进入，您会发现自己置身于一个充满有趣商品的半行人化小巷迷宫。您可以在 Culver Square 的 Build-a-Bear 制作和打扮自己的泰迪熊，或在 Eld Lane 的 Godiva 购买巧克力。这里有一些古老的建筑和许多咖啡馆，可以为购物的疲惫的您提供休息。
周末，High Street 会有市集，每个月第一个星期天，Mercury Theatre 场地会有农夫市集。
如果您正在寻找适合您这次逗留的纪念品，Castle Museum 的商店有许多以罗马为主题的商品可供选购。
51.889450.897641Waterstones书店,12-13 High St, CO1 1DA.9:00-17:30.位于6根古典柱子后面(最后修改于 2024年1月)
51.887660.8969710The Playhouse,4 St John's St, Colchester, CO2 7AA,☏ +44 1206 571003.周一至周四 8 AM - 午夜，周五周六 8 AM - 凌晨1点，周日 8 AM - 午夜.一家 Wetherspoon 酒吧。(2017年5月更新)
51.92320.93713Dragonfly Hotel(formerly Ramada),A12/A120 Ardleigh Junction, CO7 7QY,☏ +44 1206 230900,enquiries@dragonflycolchester.co.uk.Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.Ramada hotel with 50 non-smoking rooms and 100 on-site parking spaces. Each room includes bath and/or shower, work desk, flat screen freeview TV and complimentary Wi-Fi. Some rooms have been adapted to allow for easier access.(updated May 2017)
51.9890.8955The Crown,Park St, Stoke by Nayland, CO6 4SE(jcn B1068 and B1087),☏ +44 1206 262001.Pub with rooms in bucolic Suffolk countryside.B&B double from £150.(updated Jun 2020)
51.9590.9926Sun Inn,High Street, Dedham CO7 6DF,☏ +44 1206 323351.Atmospheric inn with rooms in 15th C building, comfy with good dining.B&B double £150.(updated Jun 2020)
51.960.9977Dedham Hall,Brook Street, Dedham CO7 6AD,☏ +44 1206 323027.Cosy hotel in manor house with extensive gardens. Airy clean rooms in barn conversions, holds residential art classes.B&B double £120.(updated Jun 2020)
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