Read my Chichester travelogue here

The fifth city on my list is the Essex city of Colchester fifty miles northeast of London. it is one of Essex’s three cities, and the second that I am visiting.

Colchester takes its name from the river Colne which the city lies upon. The “Col” refers to the Colne, whereas the Chester is derived from the old Roman name for fort, so it would literally mean the Roman fort on the river Colne.

I started my trip on the ten am from London Liverpool Street. I arrived at ten forty-six into Colchester station. I could have also gone to Colchester Town, which is right in the centre of town, instead of twenty minutes away down a big hill.

However, I would have had to have changed at Colchester anyway, so I decided to do that. Of course I had known about the big hill, I would have gone via Colchester Town but shoulda,coulda, woulda.

I started my trip with a break from the norm. Traditionally, I look around the city’s cathedral, but Colchester didn’t appear to have any cathedral. If it did, I certainly couldn’t find it. And you think a cathedral would be very noticeable. But what Colchester did have, other than strange statues,

were lots of churches, including one that had been converted into a natural history museum. It was only small and some of the exhibits were missing, but it was very interesting. Plus, it had free entry. I learned that Essex had the longest coastline in Britain at 350 miles. And there was plenty of stuff to keep the kids busy.

From here, I went across the road to Castle Park, which stood in the grounds of Colchester Castle. The park was massive and very pretty. It had carefully manicured grounds and a lovely playground complete with a bouncy castle for the kids and a lake with pedaloes.

The only downside? It led downhill, so it was a very steep walk back up to the top. Colchester was a hilly city lol. It was lunchtime and I was starting to get hungry.

Right outside the castle, I found a little cafe called Number Ten Museum Street. Their pasta of the day was a Chicken Arrabiata with penne pasta.

It was a massive bowl with a small portion of pasta, but still very yummy. That combined with a mango and raspberry smoothies made for a very tasty lunch. And all for £12 too. I very much enjoyed it.

Afterwards, I ventured into the Colchester Castle, where I got a student discount on my entry. The castle focussed on a history of Colchester. It claimed to be the oldest city in England with a settlement dating back to two thousand years ago. One of its rulers – the warrior king Cunebein was labelled as King of the Britons by the Romans.

It also had lots of fascinating information about the Romans such as their burial practices. When a nobleman was cremated, their possessions would be destroyed and left on top of the graves, which I found very funny. You’re dead? Sucks to be you. Now we’re going to smash everything you own. There were also exhibits on the history of the Gladiatorial games, as well as witch-finder general Matthew Hopkins. It also had plenty of stuff for the kids such as smelling the herbs that the Romans used for their cooking, as well as chances to dress up.

I left the museum at half one where I took a little walk around the town centre. I found their CEX shop where I bought four films: Moulin Rouge, Philadelphia, Ben-Hurt and the Blind Side. All of them are on the top 1000 films of all time. I am slowly watching and reviewing all the films on that list.

I also found a second-hand book shop called Greyfriars Books.

As well as working through the top 1000 films of all time, I’m also slogging through the top 50 books to read before you die list. In the bookshop, I picked up a couple more books on that list: a Christmas Carol and the Way we Live now, as well as book on chess. I am a keen amateur chess player. While I have played on a county league level, I have had little success, so hopefully this book will help me to not lose so much.

It was about three PM now. In Colchester Castle, I read there was a Dutch Quarter within the city where the Flemish settled in the Seventeenth century. I ventured there where I found a multitude of wonderfully coloured houses.

It was all very picturesque and it reminded me of the similarly coloured houses in London’s Portobello market.

From here, I took a little walk along the River Colne. I say little, as it wasn’t long before I was led back to Castle Park.

Fifteen minutes later, I ended up in a pub. I am British after all. I spent my last hour in Colchester sipping on my pint, before I caught my half 5 train back to London.

I very much enjoyed Colchester. It was full of history with some pretty scenery. And I have now visited every English city beginning with C. Derby. You’re next!