boydens.co.uk 49 Location focus • Colchester has been the fastest growing place in Essex – and one of the fastest in the UK (ranked 17th) – according to The O ce for National Statistics (ONS), which found that the borough saw 8.2 per cent population growth between 2013 and 2018. • In mid-2020, Colchester’s population was estimated to stand at 197,200. • Less than an hour by train from London, a 45-minute drive to Stansted airport and 20 minutes from Harwich international port, Colchester o ers a great base for business opportunities as well as family life. • Colchester also o ers a wide array of good and outstanding nurseries, primaries and secondary schools – two of the best schools in the country for GCSE and A level results are located here, and the town is home to the renowned University of Essex, as well as a number of further education institutions. A top place to live Something for everyone Colchester is a beautiful town with a host of attractions ranging from its 900-year-old castle to its highly regarded zoo, all of which make it great place to live. But there are also plenty of hidden attractions to discover beyond its big-ticket attractions. The Castle Museum, alongside Hollytrees Museum and the town’s Natural History Museum, explore the town’s famous history. All three museums are located within two minutes’ walk of each other within the town centre and The Castle is a perfect starting point to get to grips with Colchester’s fascinating past. Charting over 2,000 years of life in Colchester, it was built on the ruins of a Roman temple destroyed by Boudica, a queen of the British Iceni tribe who led an uprising against the conquering forces of the Roman Empire in AD 60 or 61. This, alongside many other stories, are brought to life through a number of fantastic experiences, interactive exhibits, and tours that can be found throughout the museum. Indeed, hands-on history is what Colchester is all about, whether it is following Britain’s oldest and longest town wall around the town centre, walking through the impressive ruins of St Botolph’s Priory or discovering civil war musket holes in battle-scarred walls. The streets of Colchester offer just as much history as the objects in glass cases within its museums. Old and new But Colchester certainly isn’t stuck in the past. Firstsite, the town’s contemporary art gallery, is a curved, golden, space-age building that regularly hosts exhibitions by world-renowned artists and household names. Even those sceptical about the merits of modern art can find something to enjoy within its walls – perhaps via a trip to its in-house cinema, or by exploring the community events and craft fairs that take place there regularly. Even here, Colchester’s rich history pops up in the form of a Roman mosaic re-laid where it was found, in the floor of this 21st century marvel. Meanwhile, across town the Mercury Theatre has recently undergone a multi-million-pound redevelopment to bring the building up to the same quality as the work it’s been producing for years. Tucked behind it is Colchester’s much-loved Arts Centre with its programme of touring shows that perfectly balances the popular with the challenging. Exploring the town centre wouldn’t be complete without a spot of shopping either and Colchester doesn’t disappoint in this regard, with well-kept shopping arcades housing the big-name high street stores, while smaller lanes and roads host independent retailers and boutique stores. You won’t be stuck for a bite to eat either – a great mix of eateries throughout the town offer something for everyone. Beautiful borough Further afield, the town’s selfstyled ‘Beautiful Borough’ offers Colchester Zoo, which is ranked just outside the top ten zoos in the world, and you will need a full day to fully explore its extensive grounds.
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