Begin your tour in Colchester, the oldest city in Britain, and learn about its fascinating history. Discover how the city’s history stretches back to the Iron Age, when it was ruled by King Cunobelin, described by some Roman writers as ‘King of the Britons’.

Find out how Colchester, or Camulodunum, became the first city in the new Roman province of Britannia after the Roman invasion of 43 CE. Hear how the city became the newest city in Britain, a status granted by Queen Elizabeth II just weeks before her death in 2022.

Learn how the Romans left behind a city rich in Roman classical buildings, including a temple built in honour of the deified Emperor Claudius, who died in 54 CE. Discover how the Normans built their keep or castle over and around the Roman temple foundations, rendering it the largest Norman keep in Britain and Europe.

Hear about the demise of Colchester’s abbey, priories, and churches following the Protestant Reformation started by Henry VIII. Learn about the witch-hunts in the 17th century by the unscrupulous self-styled Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, and the unimaginable starvation during the Siege of Colchester at the end of the Civil Wars in Britain.

Discover how the Victorian era brought engineering and building industries to Colchester, bringing employment and rising prosperity to the town. See Victorian architecture in the form of much-loved icons, such as the 1883 water tower known as ‘Jumbo’ and the 1902 Town Hall, which started to dominate and shape the skyline of Colchester.