Essex university, Colchester - daughter on exchange from nz

[nzeire]

my beautiful daughter is going to Essex for one semester starting September!

any insights, tips? North towers accomodation? Is it ok? Is it friendly, fun?

what’s a reasonable Weekly allowance For her, food, fun? Her travel and weekends away are in her

we are just so excited, any tips appreciated!

There's also a few ways of getting to the coast and beaches around the county for days out which will be hilariously small and British compared to the NZ experience, but still fun with friends. Some are the amusements and donuts kind of places (Southend - but a lot of people quite like 'Adventure Island' there) and some are more old fashioned or natural (I like Mersea Island, at some points, a real and tiny island, again closer to Colchester;

Not Southend if you're using public transport - the Clacton/frinton/walton part is much closer to Colchester.
Colchester castle is interesting, it's built on top of Roman remains.

...however, one semester starting in September ...that's not going to be English beach weather unless you're a local.

Oh you guys are so ace! Thanks for taking the time!

@ErrolTheDragon Clacton! Reform central? Don’t suggest going there!

I think better research is needed - the countryside is much nicer overall. Surely for anyone even slightly interested in the UK, a visit to Dedham Vale and “Constable Country” beats run down seaside resorts?Go and see Flatford Mill. Coggeshall near Colchester is lovely, just a quintessential English village. Loads of listed buildings and it’s beautiful. Take a look at the museum to see local history, and look at the medieval buildings. Finchingfield, Thaxted and Saffron Walden are similar. Go and look at Audley End House. Some areas of Essex are what England does best! Seaside resorts - not really. Southend has its place but not for the beach!

Southend has its place but not for the beach!

Shoeburyness East Beach for beach. Southend for a walk / train down the 'mile and a third' pier / Adventure Island

Clacton (the town) is a bit grim - like a lot of places - but does have its 'seaside-y' bits. The OP's DD really doesn't have to engage in political debate with the locals if she doesn't want to, and anyway, so many journalists seem to be flocking to the place for that purpose at the moment that her attempts are likely to be met with a suggestion that even the weather would be a more interesting topic.

Norwich is well worth a visit (direct train from the main Colchester station), or even a couple of days' stay. It's also got a castle, a permanent market, a cathedral - the Tombland area nearby is great for a mooch around - a 'major' gallery in the Sainsbury Centre on the University of East Anglia campus a short bus trip out of the city centre, and lots of other 'arty' and 'historical' bits.

When I was there the water-based societies used Brightlingsea which is a nice little coastal village/town.

Wivenhoe is a quaint little town/village closest to the University. A 10 minute walk will get you to the edge. It's where second and third year students live if they don't want to be in town, and there are many pubs there for students to socialise.

a visit to Dedham Vale and “Constable Country” beats run down seaside resorts?Go and see Flatford Mill.

Does it beat it (and Dedham) if you're an overseas student in your 20s? Are you thinking of walking from Manningtree station for the pleasure??
I'd query that, but it depends on interests and so on...
Wivenhoe is, however, really gorgeous, and really close.

You're not wrong (guess where I grew up...and left) - but if someone in Colchester did want some sea air, a walk on a beach/prom or a dip in the North Sea by public transport then it'd be the Clacton/frinton/walton bit of the coast not Southend they'd go to.

Dedham and into suffolk eg Lavenham are indeed lovely, not sure how easy to get to without a car though.

I went to Essex, a gazillion years ago! I think there were only around 2000 students then, so the campus was much smaller. I lived in Keynes Tower in my first and third year.

Wivenhoe is a nice village, and there used to be the famous Wivenhoe Run - a pub crawl through all the pubs there!

My grandparents lived (and died) in Lavenham. It is pretty, but there's nothing going on. Nothing.

Definitely not spoilt, OP-she's heading to a country so far away from home for such a (well, releatively) short time, and it gives her access to quick, cheap travel to a lot of Europe-it would be silly, if she/you can afford it, to not take advantage of that. I hope she has a great time both at uni and exploring-I've done a lot of European travel as a solo female and it's been amazing

My grandparents lived (and died) in Lavenham. It is pretty, but there's nothing going on. Nothing.

That's kind of the point of it! Admire the church and pretty houses, have a pub lunch or cream tea. Maybe many youngsters don't care for this sort of thing but some do. Dedham's a bit more fun maybe as it offers messing about in boats.

My son works for Essex Uni, in admissions.

I'm seeing him at the weekend, so I'll point him in the direction of this thread OP!

Brightlingsea is nice too.

Oh my goodness she will have so so much fun. I went to uni there and lived in the north towers.

The campus is like a little self contained town with bars and a nightclub, places to eat, nature and a big pond, a doctors surgery, shop, and of course all the classrooms, lecture hall, library etc. We very rarely left the campus to be honest and just had so much fun, I really do have the best memories! The north towers are fab as there's lots of people in each flat (I think 14?). The communal area in the kitchen has always got someone in you can talk to. Lots of socials, parties, other flats coming to yours to mingle etc. The club has different theme nights so opportunities for dressing up, fancy dress etc. oh to be at uni again!

If she goes into Colchester town there's places to shop and eat. It's a a real mixture of new and old (obviously oldest being the castle!). Some nicer areas and some rougher areas. There is an area quite close to the uni called Greenstead that is a bit rough (from my experience) however she probably won't have a reason to go there.

I've noticed the comments on Clacton so wanted to add my 2 pence on it. Typically coastal towns can be slightly 'rough round the edges' because there's limited jobs and depravation in these areas. However I love Clacton and Walton and don't think they are bad at all! Frinton is the opposite, very posh. Walton is one of the best places in the UK for fossils if that would interest her.

London is an hour away on the train although the uni isn't super close to the station so would need to get a bus or taxi to the station first. Always check for maintenance works on weekends before travelling.

I based my comments on the sorts of things my DD did when abroad. A run down seaside resort wasn’t on the agenda. There are sometimes coach trips to see the countryside and it’s famous around the areas I mentioned but I admit my DD is an art buff! So she would have bothered. I do understand that others wouldn’t but really it was opening @nzeire eyes to alternative ideas. The seaside isn’t always the best option when the countryside is lovely with historic villages.

Anyone from NZ might truly wonder at Lavenham. I suspect NZ doesn’t have places like that. It’s something to enjoy that might not have been considered.