On a week-long trip “down-south” with Grandma, we went to Colchester, the place where Boudicca and her Iceni tribe defeated the Romans. It used to be the capital of Roman Britain and the current castle sits on the foundations of the famous Temple of Claudius.
We visited Colchester Castle which well and truly exceeded our expectations. We were given a tablet which had an interactive map of the museum which guided us round. The staff/volunteers were dressed in period costumes and told us so many extra things about what we could see. The kids enjoyed the replica ballista which saw them fire virtual arrows at the castle wall and there was also a virtual chariot race you could take part in. We must have spent a good hour and a half looking round which is pretty good going for a museum.
We then went on to Colchester’s Roman Circus which is Britain’s only known Roman chariot racing track. We didn’t go into the visitor centre as the kids were museumed-out but we did have a look round the small area that is accessible. It took quite a leap of imagination to picture what it would have looked like in Roman times as it’s tucked behind a big housing estate but the girls enjoyed running around it!
The real highlight of Colchester for the girls though was the playground behind the castle. I think they could have spent all day there if they’d had the chance. They’ve said we have to promise to go back there if we ever come to this part of the UK again. It must have been good!
