Life in Colchester? Help!

cw08aae

Hi,

I've been offered a job in Colchester and accepting it would mean moving to the area...so I'm hoping people on here might be able to shed some light on what the town is like! Good/bad areas of town to live, general pros/cons, things to do, places to go etc etc...

I would be so grateful for any help anyone can offer as I don't know the town at all so deciding whether to move there is tricky just based on a quick look when I went for the interview!

Thanks a million in advance

mundibananas

it's not so much what life is like in colchester ... but what's the life you'll be leaving behind ?
only you can answer that one I'm afraid

hunnie

Hi,
My son moved down to Colchester about 7 years ago because of a job.
He seemed to think it was okay until he settled down and had children.

Now he doesn't want his children to grow up there, preferring them to live up in the north of the country where he grew up. So they are now in the process of house/job hunting back up here.
I think he finds it too crowded down there and the countryside is quite flat!

But it all depends where you are moving from I suppose.
Regards,
Hunnie

nic_santorini

I love the town, it is a vibrant town with lots of students from a 5000 plus good uni and a garrison to boot. I am no longer a student and would live there but I am from down south and did not miss my home town one bit. I think the shopping is good, it has some culture and history and is a great place for dining out and networking. It is busy, but what place down south isn't on a Saturday or Sunday. Compared to London, I think it fine, there are a few dodgy estates but you don;t have to live there. There are some lovely surrounding villages and lovely countryside. Its an individual taste I guess, but I would give it the thumbs up.

cw08aae

Thanks for the responses guys :T

As for where I'm moving from...Northampton! And I only moved here for practical reasons so have no particular desire to stay or go. Moving to Colchester is just an opportunity I've got, but I'd like to know what I'd be letting myself in for!

nic_santorini, could you give me an idea of which the dodgy areas are?

Thanks

NiceGuyEddie_2

I quite like Colchester.

Handy location for getting about by road and train, v. quick to London, reasonable for going out (less dodgy than Ipswich), good restaurants and bars, quite good shopping too.

It has far too many roundabouts for my liking, but overall I like it.

merlin68

The dodgy areas are highwoods estate, st annes and white city. New town can be as well.

merlin68

The town centre is rubbish now, lost most of the shops. But nightlife is good if you don't mind drunk soldiers.

PasturesNew

It's only 120 miles from Northampton to Colchester, you could just weekly commute, get a Mon-Fri letting (or cheap B&B) until you've been in the job a month or so and got to know the area and what people you work with say about different parts. You might even find somebody there who will accept you as a Mon-Fri lodger while you sort yourself out.

cw08aae

Thanks...I'd be sure to avoid all of those areas!

Unfortunately I can't do a Mon-Fri commute, as I rent in Northampton so it would mean renting in two places at once! Far too expensive!!

So am I right in thinking that the general opinion seems to be that Colchester is ok but there's nothing great about it? :think: