Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2

AIBU?

To ask for opinions on Colchester?

45 replies

RussianTea · 10/10/2015 13:38

I have been offered a tempting 1 year FTC there. I have never been (yet).

OP posts:

Report

LisbethSalandersLaptop · 10/10/2015 13:41

it is OK, kind of like a shabbier version of St. Albans. Just a place really.
Good connections to London.

Report

Branleuse · 10/10/2015 13:45

Its nice enough. Lots of history, nice town centre, quite a good arts and music scene, diverse enough. Great park, lovely walks along the river. I like it

Report

RussianTea · 10/10/2015 13:56

kind of like a shabbier version of St. Albans.

I've never been there either

That sounds hopeful, though. History and arts sound good.

OP posts:

Report

Branleuse · 10/10/2015 14:02

the council dont make enough of a big deal about the history as they could/should, but its pretty obvious all around, with the big roman wall, beautiful Norman castle.

The arts centre has stuff going on all the time, the mercury theatre is very good quality. There is the firstsite art gallery which imo is a bit shit and pretentious, but there is also the minories, slackspace and the waiting room, which are much more vibrant and creative

Report

RussianTea · 10/10/2015 14:06

If I drove up tomorrow would I get much of an idea? Or are Sundays a bit dead?

OP posts:

Report

Dionysuss · 10/10/2015 14:22

I lived there for a few years when I was little. (Colchester has an army barrack) my friend has also just recently moved there. She struggled to find a school place for her dc. There's lots of new builds near the zoo that look nice. The zoo is also awesome. The nightlife is good in town.

Report

SaucyJack · 10/10/2015 14:32

I went there once to visit a mate.

The town centre is quite cute in an olde worlde way. Good pubs. There are certainly worse places to live in the UK.

Report

cleaty · 10/10/2015 14:37

I don't know it now, I did years ago. At that time the pubs seemed to be pretty rough because of the army barracks stationed there.

Report

GlitterNails · 10/10/2015 14:37

It's a nice place. Some nice open spaces - the park in the town centre, Highwoods Country Park etc. Numerous shopping areas.

Some nicer places in the town to live than others.

Any specific questions?

Report

GlitterNails · 10/10/2015 14:39

cleaty - I think things have changed. Lots of the barracks have closed and been built over.

There are rougher areas, but not because of the barracks. (And I think every town has some rough areas at night with nightclubs, etc.)

Report

GlitterNails · 10/10/2015 14:40

I think the town centre is still pretty busy on a Sunday, so why not have a drive around? It's a one-way system in the town, with some new ridiculous bus lanes, so just look at the signs carefully.

Feel free to PM any specific questions.

Report

QueenofLouisiana · 10/10/2015 14:40

I lived there for about 3 years. It's nice enough. Selection of bars/ restaurants is ok, you can buy most stuff in town or be inCentral London in an hour by train.

Sundays are the same as the rest of the week really. Some smaller shops are closed though. I'm going there tonight to have dinner and see a stand up show. I'm looking forward to it.

Castle Park is lovely, the castle itself is expensive. Some free museums are good for DC. You can be on a beach in 30 minutes if that's your thing...

Let me know if you need any specific information.

Report

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 10/10/2015 14:42

All I know about it (having been brought up in a nearby town) is don't go to Greensted. Not sure if that's still the case though

Report

Dionysuss · 10/10/2015 14:57

Fingeringhoe nature reserve is nice sniggers

Report

Binkybix · 10/10/2015 15:01

It's quite nice - open spaces, some history. There is a lot of building and development there which doesn't always seem to be accompanied by facilities. Nice surrounding villages of that's your thing.

Report

RussianTea · 10/10/2015 15:09

Yes, I was wondering about villages.

I do have (very old) memories of Dedham and some others. Also some of the coastal towns nearby such as Frinton and Clacton

I'm just looking at the map and trying to get a sense of journey times.

DH and teens would probably stay in London for the FTC, I would rent (probably in Colchester itself) and we would alternate weekends city/Essex but if I was offered a perm contract after that, it would be a different ball game.

It would tip me towards accepting the FTC if I thought we could all make a life there long term.

OP posts:

Report

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 10/10/2015 15:12

Well colchester has grammar schools and very good comps and the villages are stunning. If you fancy more costal Wivenhoe and arlesford are heading towards Brightlingsea.

It's a town with a lot of opportunities without the Chelmsford price tag

Report

bigcheesematrix · 10/10/2015 15:17

I live in Colchester, and love it. I live in a village towards the coast and it's great being so close to the sea
The town is not rough, it's the same as anywhere else with a fairly busy nightlife.
Lots of countryside, wildlife and history
Greenstead is not that bad at all but I wouldn't live there. There are far worse areas in cities, it is still comparatively nice
Go for it!

Report

QueenofLouisiana · 10/10/2015 15:19

Yes, you can easily make a life there. It has good access to lots of places.

Report

Moopsboopsmum · 10/10/2015 15:21

Lived there aged 14-19. Family from there going waaaay back. Hell. On. Earth. A.V.O.I.D.

Report

Branleuse · 10/10/2015 15:30

I was brought up on greenstead. It wouldnt be my first choice of places to live, but its pretty quiet but for a council estate its not cheap to rent there because its so close to the university, so anyone who bought their council house, now rents it out room by room.

I dont think the army thing is obtrusive. Certainly not as much as it was years back. Quite a few commuters from London whove then stayed. There is a huge choice of schools.

Report

Branleuse · 10/10/2015 15:30

moopsboops, what makes you say that its hell on earth? :| Can you expand ?

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Email address

You've subscribed!

RussianTea · 10/10/2015 15:35

I'm disappearing down the Rightmove rabbit hole

What is Brightlingsea itself like? To live in.

OP posts:

Report

Moopsboopsmum · 10/10/2015 15:38

My lovely dad was born in that town, beaten up on the street by some teens because he tried to stop them fighting in the street, in Lexden. He was then rescued by some squaddies who beat the shit out of the teens. It gave me a good going drug addiction after some teen sex abuse. Generations of my female relatives banged up in Severalls and the old workhouse in Stanway. Real enough for you?

Report

whippetwoman · 10/10/2015 15:41

It's not hell on earth. It's absolutely fine. I lived grew up there and my parents still live there and I go to visit them regularly. The Essex countryside has some lovely spots and is very pretty. Nice villages in the area and you are very close to lovely bits of Sufflok, Constable country. They are very into the arts and there's lots going on there. Bad traffic problems in the town centre due to huge expansion but other than that, just fine. Lexden is the nicest area I think but there are lots of good areas. Feel free to pm me if you'd like.