Colchester Attractions: Things To See And Do In Colchester

Colchester is the largest of all the settlements in the County of Essex in England. It lays claim to being the oldest settlement in the whole of Britain and is certainly the oldest recorded Roman town in England. Due to its long history, there are lots of attractions in Colchester, which one can enjoy whilst visiting the town. Here, we look at just a few which may be worth considering visiting when you visit Colchester.

1.  Balkerne Gate – This is the most complete Roman gateway you will find in Britain and is believed to have been built at around 55AD. It was originally actually the main way that visitors would enter the town but it’s gradually been turned into a triumphal arch. Then, later, it became part of the town’s new walls then in 465 AD it got blocked up in order to help strengthen the defences of the town. It was rediscovered about a hundred years ago which is why it’s been so well preserved.

2.  Charter Market – This is believed to be the oldest recorded market in the UK and has been a regular feature of the town for over 800 years. The market was granted a Royal Charter in 1189 by King John and is where it gets its name from. You can still find a market at Charter Market twice a week, on Fridays and Saturdays and there is a wider than normal variety of goods as the charter prevents more than one stall selling the same item.

3.  Colchester Castle – Altough “only” dating back to Norman times, this castle was built on the same ground as the Temple to Claudius in Roman times. But, the temple was destroyed in 60AD as part of Queen Boudica’s campaign to force the Romans to leave Britain. The Normans re-used the stone to make the current castle which means the fabric of the building dates back to the Romans.

This castle now has one of the largest and oldest castle keeps in the whole of Europe and inside the walls of the castle there is much to do and see. There are a number of exhibitions in the castle, tracing more than two thousand years of British history and there are interactive displays to keep your youngsters busy. Whilst touring the castle you might want to find out about the Witch Finder General, Matthew Hopkins who used the castle as a jail at the time of the main witch trials.

4.  Colchester Zoo – One of Europe’s finest zoos and is only a short drive from the town itself. Located in around sixty acres of English countryside the zoo has more than 200 species of animal for you to look at. Along with elephants in Elephant Kingdom, there are the chimpanzees in Chimp World to enjoy. Plus you will find other parts of the zoo just as enjoyable and enchanting. As with any zoo, you’ll almost certainly find yourself spending lots of time here.

Check out this list of Colchester accommodation for your next visit.

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