Colchester

The town of Colchester stands as the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England and claims to be the oldest town in Britain.

With a fascinating history as the ancient capital of Roman Britain, Colchester also claims to have the UK’s oldest recorded market, therefore making Colchester one of the greatest retreats for those interested in history. The main landmark in Colchester is Colchester Castle, an 11th century Norman keep built atop the vaults of a Roman temple.

Colchester is also home to a number of other medieval ruins, including many features from historic churches, and also features a number of Victorian buildings, such as Colchester Town Hall and the Jumbo Water Tower. The town has a number of museum’s focusing on the various era’s of the town and nearby is Colchester Zoo, one of the finest zoo’s in Britain, where you can get up-close to leopards and Orang-utans.

Colchester Castle
This old castle had its first stone laid back in 1076 on top of a Roman Fort. The best thing about this castle is that it is interactive; you can try on some old costumes of the day and enjoy some very different guided tours.

Clock Museum
This is one of the largest clock museums in England. Be careful when the hour strikes or just be hypnotised by the tick tocking.

Colchester Zoo
This zoo has spent a lot of time and energy into making world class natural habitats for their animal guests, and it really makes a difference to the ambience of the place. All the big and small creatures you expect to find are here and they really seem to enjoy their homes. Located five miles northeast of Colchester.

Norman Keep
Even bigger than the Tower of London, this symbol of many battles is located in the local park across from the Tourist Office.

Hollytrees Museum
A fun place to learn over 300 years of history. There are a lot of hands on displays and the museum gives a glimpse of what life was like for the rich and poor people who lived in the area.