Colchester and Dedham Area Centres Throughout the County
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Colchester Its gentle agricultural landscape dotted with 5. Hollytrees Museum 12. Dedham Art & Craft Centre For many years Colchester has celebrated church towers and mills features strongly in the Three centuries of fascinating toys, costume The centre is located in an imaginatively its status as Britain’s oldest recorded town - works of the 18th century artist and national and decorative arts displayed in an attractive converted church in the heart of ‘Constable documented since it was the Celtic stronghold favourite John Constable. Colchester’s Georgian town house from 1718. Parkland, Country’. Three floors housing resident artists, of Camulodunum. Today it is a place range of attractions and places to visit are children’s play area, shop and sensory garden. ceramics, candle shop, jewellery maker, toy which offers a happy blend of heritage of complemented by a great range of places to Tel: 01206 282940 museum. A vast array of beautifully crafted items international importance together with a strong stay as you’ll need a few days to explore it fully. www.colchestermuseums.org.uk including furniture, paintings and prints, interior contemporary atmosphere including small designer and furniture restorer can be found specialist shops, cafés, restaurants and galleries. Attractions along the route: 6. Tymperleys Clock Museum there. On-site is also a whole food vegetarian The picture postcard castle, built by the 1. Colchester Castle Museum & Castle Park Enjoy this beautiful 15th century timber-framed restaurant serving delicious home-made fayre. Normans on top of the Roman Temple of The largest Norman keep in Europe. Superb house, once home of William Gilberd, scientist Tel: 01206 322666 Claudius so despised by Queen Boudica in Roman displays, hands-on activities and tours. and physician to Elizabeth I. Tymperleys now www.dedhamartandcraftcentre.co.uk AD60 is now home to the award-winning Castle The imaginative audio visual displays explain houses part of the famous Bernard Mason Museum. The castle is set in a classic Victorian Boudica’s burning of the temple and also the collection, one of the largest collections of 13. St Mary the Virgin Church park, just off the High Street, which is a great civil war siege in 1648. Particularly effective is a clocks in Britain, and all made in Colchester The tower of the parish church of Dedham is place to relax after shopping in the town’s quiet sound and light experience which tells of the between 1640 and 1840. familiar to many who have never visited the lanes of small specialist shops. In fact, Colchester fate suffered by local ‘witches’ in the castle jail Tel: 01206 282939 village through the work of the great English is home to Williams & Griffin, Britain’s leading during the 17th century. Underneath the castle www.colchestermuseums.org.uk landscape artist, John Constable, in many of independent department store, so finding that you can visit the foundations of the temple whose paintings it features. It has stood as a special treat should not be difficult. which, as Colchester was then capital of Roman 7. Rollerworld/Quasar witness to the centuries since 1492 and was the Lovers of contemporary art will make the Britain, must have been one of the finest in the Internationally recognised as one of the finest last of the so-called ‘wool’ churches to firstsite gallery their first port of call. The new Roman Empire. roller-skating rink in Europe, Rollerworld has be completed. purpose-build visual arts space will add a Tel: 01206 282939 got the lot! Everyone can enjoy the fun at 21st century dimension to Colchester’s span www.colchestermuseums.org.uk Rollerworld from absolute beginner to world 14. Green Island Gardens of architectural gems through the ages. The champion. Proffesionally designed gardens within 19 new look firstsite new site will have a 200 seat 2. firstsite Tel: 01206 868868 acres of woodland and laid out as a series of auditorium, shop, café and new parkland Since it was established in 1995, firstsite has www.rollerworld.co.uk structured gardens displaying a huge range sweeping down to the Roman wall. built a regional, national and international of unusual trees, shrubs and perennials with lots The surrounding area also has a range of reputation for the high quality of its exhibitions 8. Colchester Zoo of interest all year around. places to visit. Colchester Zoo is one of the of contemporary art from around the globe. Award winning zoo - one of Europe’s finest. Tel: 01206 230455 county’s most popular attractions. In the Past exhibitions have included work from Bridget Interact with the animals in daily displays. Feed www.greenislandgardens.co.uk north-west, the East Anglian Railway Museum Riley, Antony Gormley, Mark Dion, Yoko Ono, Phil elephants and giraffes, touch a snake or fly a welcomes lovers of steam and the nearby Collins and Louise Bourgeois. Firstsite is located in bird of prey. Don’t miss the Playa Patagonia – 15. Beth Chatto Chappel Viaduct is another must for the photo an impressive Georgian townhouse with a shop, the underwater sea lion experience. Wonderful landscaped gardens with many album. Colchester has plenty of open spaces café and beautiful walled garden. Tel: 01206 331292 unusual plants grown in a variety of conditions; and nature reserves. Largest of these is High Tel: 01206 577067 www.colchester-zoo.co.uk ranging from the dry gravel area filled with Woods Country Park on the north of the town. www.firstsite.uk.net drought-resistant plants, to dramatic water The Visitor Centre, which opens at weekends, is 9. St Michael and All Angels Church and woodland gardens. the place to find out all about the natural history 3. Mercury Theatre Celebrated 12th century apsidal church with Tel: 01206 822007 of this ancient piece of landscape. And don’t The Mercury stages an exciting and varied magnificent colour medieval wall paintings, www.bethchatto.co.uk miss the Natural History Museum for ‘hands on’ programme for all ages and tastes, including showing a strong Byzantine influence in content events. nationally acclaimed productions by the and design as well as technical excellence and In the south-east visit Wivenhoe - a delightful Mercury Theatre Company. It has recently lavishness of execution. gem on the River Colne. The streets are small won the Barclay’s Stage Award for Special Tel: 01206 210488 and quaint, retaining much of their original Achievement in Regional Theatre. www.copfordchurch.org.uk character. Look out for Quay House near the Tel: 01206 573948 waterfront which has a blue plaque in memory www.mercurytheatre.co.uk 10. Carter’s Vineyards of Sir John Martin-Harvey, actor/manager who Forty acre site including seven acres of vines was born here in 1863. His father and grandfather 4. Natural History Museum and a variety of trails through woodland, around were successful designers and builders of racing Housed in the unique setting of the former All lakes and wildflower meadows. Self guided tours yachts and schooners. The charming waterfront Saints Church in 1957, the Museum focuses on and tastings of our wines. Winery powered by continues to be alive with fishing boats and small the rich natural heritage of north-east Essex. wind and sun generated energy. sailing craft. In fact, the place has inspired a Travel from the open landscape, through the Tel: 01206 271136 number of artists to such an extent, they made it salt marshes and beaches, to the more familiar www.cartersvineyards.co.uk their home. Wivenhoe is surrounded by beautiful urban environments of the park. Discover Images clockwise from top: countryside, has great walks and rides and what rocks lie beneath your feet with a look 11. Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum – Colchester Castle wildlife is in abundance. at local geology. Castle House, the home, studios and grounds In the north east is the Dedham Vale Area Tel: 01206 282941 where Sir Alfred Munnings lived and painted for – The Sun Inn, Dedham of Outstanding Natural Beauty, also known as www.colchestermuseums.org.uk 40 years. Large collection representing his life’s – Wivenhoe Constable Country. Best discovered on foot or work augmented by private collection loans of by bike, the Dedham Vale received its national paintings not usually shown to the public. designation due to its cultural importance. Tel: 01206 322127 Getting to For detailed travel Essex Colchester information call Colchester Arriving by train 0870 608 2 608 SAFFRON WALDEN and Dedham Colchester is or visit • DEDHAM • served by a www.traveline.org.uk • THAXTED • HALSTEAD MANNINGTREE • HARWICH • COLCHESTER regular service • 4 Map 4 GREAT DUNMOW • • BRAINTREE by One Railway STANSTED AIRPORT CLACTON-ON-SEA www.onerailway. • WITHAM • HARLOW CHELMSFORD com directly from • • • BRADWELL MALDON • London Liverpool WALTHAM ABBEY • • BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH Street. • LOUGHTON• BRENTWOOD • BASILDON • ROCHFORD LONDON • SOUTHEND-ON-SEA Arriving by Road • THURROCK There is good • TILBURY access to Colchester from all parts of the country via the A12, M25 and A14. Other useful information There are a number of Tourist Information For the Colchester and Dedham area Centres throughout the county. Friendly please contact the following: staff will be able to assist you with in-depth Visit Colchester Information Centre knowledge of their particular area Telephone 01206 282820 and book accommodation should you [email protected] require it. www.visitcolchester.com realessex.co.uk realessex.co.uk Key Colchester Town Centre U C E L L O V ST FI K E N N I T R EMPLEW B T O R O BO D HA NROAD A PE Z E LTO D