Colchester, located in Essex close to the Suffolk border and 60 miles northeast of London, holds the distinction of being the UK's oldest recorded town. This recognition is based on a reference to the settlement by the Roman writer Pliny the Elder.
Despite its ancient roots, Colchester is also one of the country's newest cities, having gained city status in November 2022. This upgrade was part of the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours, making it one of eight towns to receive the designation.
The city's history predates the Roman conquest, beginning as an Iron Age settlement ruled by Cunobelin. In AD 43, it was known as Camulodunum, serving as the first major Roman city and initial capital of Roman Britain before its destruction during Boudica’s rebellion in AD 61. Colchester Castle was later built in the 1070s over the ruins of a Roman temple.