"Colchester: Britain's Oldest Recorded Town" Top 5 Page for this destination Colchester by Tom_Fields

Colchester Travel Guide: 75 reviews and 227 photos

Busy street in Colchester's town center - Colchester
Busy street in Colchester's town center
Colchester: Capital of Roman Britain

Colchester goes all the way back to very ancient times. It played a key role in Britain's early history. It was founded by Cymbeline, a Celtic chief. In 43 CE, when the Romans conquered the island, it became their capital.

In 60 CE, Queen Boudicca of the Iceni tribe led a revolt against Roman rule. The rebels trapped a large number of Romans and their allies in the temple at Colchester and burned them all. Then, in 61 CE, a Roman legion came across the channel and defeated Boudicca. She fell on her sword rather than be captured alive by the Romans.

After the Norman conquest, the Normans built a castle on the foundations of the old temple, by then only a ruin. The castle remains there to this day, and is the town's main tourist attraction.

Colchester remains a prosperous town with good shopping and lively entertainment. It's a good place for a weekend trip or a day visit from London.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Plenty of history
  • In a nutshell:Should be on your list of places to see in Britain
  • Last visit to Colchester: Mar 1999
  • Intro Written Nov 21, 2005
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Reviews (3)

Colchester's public gardens - Colchester Colchester Public Gardens Things to Do (3)

After visiting Colchester Castle, see the surrounding public gardens. They are a sight to behold, especially in spring.... more travel advice

Strolling along the walls of Colchester - Colchester Colchester Town Walls Things to Do (3)

Colchester Castle was the Keep, or inner sanctum, of the town. Around the town are thick stone walls, its outer... more travel advice

Colchester Castle - Colchester Colchester Castle Things to Do (3)

Colchester is known primarily for its Norman castle. This castle is built atop the foundation of an ancient Roman... more travel advice

Map of Colchester

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Comments (2)

  • Reply
    Jan 7, 2008 at 1:45 PM

    Do you really think that Colchester is a must see place in England??? I used to live there and wonder why so many tourists came here! hehe

  • Reply
    alucas's Profile Photo
    Dec 7, 2005 at 11:05 AM

    Glad you liked Colchester, come again some day.

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