In the South East of England, in the county of Essex, lies Colchester itself within Colchester borough. The city is 12 square miles whilst the borough is much larger with a population of around 198,000 residents and it is surrounded by several other smaller towns and picturesque villages. Until very recently, Colchester was a town but it was proudly awarded city status as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year.
Colchester is only a sixty mile trip from London so very well connected by road and rail and the nearest airports are Southend and Stansted.
Colchester has a fascinating history as it is not only recorded as Britain's oldest town but was the first capital of England. It has a large and highly regarded military presence and has been a military base since Roman times, gaining increasing importance during the Napoleonic era and into the Victorian times. It is interesting to note that during the First World War, Kitchener's Army - made up of volunteers - were trained here in Colchester.
The city is highly ambitious and is an innovation hotspot. Colchester thrives within the Creative, Digital, Technology and IT business sectors and prides itself on revolutionary connectivity with ultrafast broadband. The city is supported by a wide range of investments which are rapidly reinforcing Colchester's position for future growth.
This year, the popular University of Essex ranked in the top 40 for overall satisfaction and has three campuses. It enjoys a diverse student population with over one hundred and forty different nationalities being represented here.
There are many wonderful buildings in Colchester and the architecture ranges from Medieval to Victorian. The heritage dates back to around two thousand years so there are ample opportunities to explore the rich history.
Top attractions to visit include Colchester Castle which dates from the eleventh century, Hollytrees Museum, St Botolph's Priory, Colchester Zoo and many, many more.
Slightly further afield will lead you to Mersea Island with its sandy beaches and wonderful selection of shops and places to eat - many of which sell local produce which includes the seafood. Dedham Vale is an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is known to be both inspiring and very pretty indeed.
House prices in Colchester are currently around £305,000 for an average home and statistics show that the city is a fantastic place for families who once settled here,will tend to stay. One of the key aspects to living here is that there are so many leisure activities which caters for both busy families and even the more solitary and quieter amongst us. An interesting selection of available properties add to the excitement of relocating to a place that offers Regency, Victorian, Georgian and of course, modern styles of housing.
Looking for a new job or career in Colchester? We are hosting an event at JobServe Stadium on Friday 12th August, between the times of 10am-2pm. Our events are free to attend - download your ticket now!