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Jobs in Colchester | Pictures of Colchester
Considered to be the cultural capital of Essex, Colchester derived its name from ‘cole' meaning ‘imaginary king of Britain' and ‘chester' being a synonym for castle or fortified place – a mark of respect for England's oldest know settlement.
Colchester is also reputed to be the home of three of the best known nursery rhymes: 'Old King Cole', 'Humpty Dumpty ' and 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star'. But all the King's horses and all the King's men didn't have to try and put this place together again because Colchester has always be made of sturdy stuff and continues to be the most cosmopolitan, energetic and attractive place to live and work in Essex.
Getting around Colchester
Colchester is moving closer to reducing the level of congestion that has been the bane of many commuters' lives. Three Park & Ride schemes are in operation and the Council is offering a number of incentives to discourage car use into the town centre, such as a Bike2Work scheme which offers a discount on the retail cost of a new bike, discounts on bus and train travel, and a car-sharing scheme.
If travelling to work by car is unavoidable, the centre is well-connected from the A12 which links up with the M25 from the south.
Colchester is served by two rail stations, Colchester Town and Colchester North – the former for local services and the latter (a 15 minute walk away from the town centre) for main-line trains..
The bus station is more central and located off Queen Street – a few minutes' walk from the High Street.
Eating, drinking and shopping in Colchester
Colchester has a good selection of shopping areas, ranging from those you would find in any large town to many small individual shops. The High Street is the place to start and it is here you will find Williams & Griffin's - an awarding-winning independent department store.
Wandering along the cobbled streets of Eld Lane and Trinity Street, you will find an area full of smaller independent shops, boutiques and a bevy coffee houses. Larger retail outlets can be found in and around Culver Square and Lion Walk.
Eating and drinking go hand-in-hand in Colchester, where you find the pubs you will also find a comprehensive choice of café bars, bistros and restaurants specialising in everything from American and British to European, Indian, Mexican and Nepalese. Head towards the St. John's Street , High Street, North Hill and Crouch Street areas and you can't go wrong. But if you need a pointer as to some of the best places to eat, the Lemon Tree and The Hub are among the finest, whilst The Company Shed at West Mersea is reputed to be best seafood restaurant in the region, serving up a true Colchester delicacy – oysters.
Culturally, Colchester comes into its own with a number of museums, including Castle Museum , the Hollytrees Museum , the Natural History Museum and the Tymperleys Clock Museum . Not forgetting the Minories art gallery.
The Arts Centre plays host to a number of blues, jazz, folk, rock and comedy performances, whilst the Lakeside , Mercury and Headgate theatres put on historic and contemporary plays. Alternatively, enjoy the latest blockbuster movie at the Odeon.
But if you prefer the great outdoors, Country Park and the world famous Colchester Zoo are right in your doorstep, as are the nearby seaside resorts of Frinton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze.
Essex County Cricket Club is based in Colchester along with a number of sporting facilities including leisure centre and health & fitness clubs.
Main residential areas
Colchester remains one of the most desirable locations to live in the country. And the city's appeal in again on the up as a result of a number of redevelopment projects in the area..
North Colchester is one of the most sought after parts of town with those looking to be close to the railway station, the hospital and the main link roads out of the city. Not surprisingly this area is full of young professionals and students on account of its closeness to the city centre.
Elsewhere, East Colchester is the area nearest to Essex University , and the area is undergoing some substantial redevelopment and modernisation. South Colchester has fewer major road links than other areas and tends to be quieter.
If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Colchester.
Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Colchester below.
Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Colchester or find out more information on the local area.