Colchester, Administrative district in Essex, England
Colchester is a city and non-metropolitan district in Essex, northeastern England, made up of an urban centre, residential neighbourhoods, parks, and historic buildings. It sits roughly 60 miles (about 95 km) northeast of London, making it one of the more accessible historic cities in the region.
Colchester is often described as one of the oldest recorded towns in Britain, founded by the Romans as Camulodunum and later made the first capital of Roman Britain. The Normans built a castle over the ruins of the Roman Temple of Claudius in the years after 1066, and that castle still stands today.
Colchester received official city status in 2022, after centuries as a town without that recognition. Today, visitors can explore an active centre with independent shops, markets, and a theatre that runs productions throughout the year.
The city centre is easy to walk around, with most historic sites and museums grouped close together near the main shopping streets. Public transport connects the wider district, so it is worth planning where you want to go before arriving.
Beneath the streets of Colchester lie the only known remains of a Roman circus in Britain, with a dedicated visitor centre built on the site. The circus was originally long enough to host chariot racing, which makes it a rare survival in this part of the country.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
