Roman Circus Visitor Centre — Attraction in Colchester

THIS WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR VISIT TO COLCHESTER!!! I believe that it is the only Roman Circus in the UK - think chariot racing. Colchester Castle is good - but this is better.

Our stop a the Visitor's Centre was made by the staff on site. We arrived around 10.30 and were asked if we wanted the Guided Tour at noon. As time was tight, we were going to opt for the self-guided look a the displays. But the staff offered an immediate guided tour. Our guide, (Linda, I think) was one fo the best tour guides I have ever experienced. She was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and a great speaker. She really brought the history to live and was full of useful anecdotes, facts and information. She should be recorded and offered as a an audio package to bring the place to life.

The actual site is mainly buried but one gets a good idea of how large it was. Colchester should make every effort to ensure that the historical significance of this site is maintained and emphasised. Maybe sell a combined ticket to the Castel and the Circus!

There were negatives but these could and should be fixed. The signage and directions were almost non-existent. (The centre is at the back of a residential area and I nearly turned back when we popped round a corner and there it was - the City should fix this immediately!) The parking is barely adequate and should be cleaned up. The grounds are well-maintained, by volunteers, I think) but they could be so much better and integrated into the Circus remains. The Café is basic at best and could be a real money-maker for the Centre. The displays need a lot of work - again the Centre seems to rely on volunteers. This should be of the same quality and depth as the Castle.

The Roman Circus is a must visit site - and Colchester you should put way more effort into it! Well done the the staff who were clearly doing a great job with very...

We visited towards the end of the day, we had parked nearby and just happened to notice it was open (on last few occasions we had gone past it was closed). We were greeted by the friendly staff who advised that the cafe shut a tad earlier than the museum so if we wanted drinks, best to do that first perhaps.

Cafe has a selection of drinks and a few cakes. Prices are not bad, and there is a small amount of seating inside the museum but more outside (which is nice if the weather is good!)

After myself and the kids had demolished a bit of cake between us we popped back in for a look around. It's very informative and the staff are more than happy to answer any questions but there is a lot to read - and possibly not as hands on kid friendly as you'd perhaps want a museum to be. They did however enjoy looking at the models and we tried a bit of spot this and that on the big pictures, which when they found what we was looking for we attempted to talk about! There is also a nice outside space for a small wonder, and if weather is good it's a really nice little area for a rest / chill.

In terms of facilities there is a small car park, and there is toilets. Admission to the museum is not expensive - it cost me £3 and the kids were free (kids up to 11 are free).

The visit was a nice diversion from a busy day in the town / city - it was quiet on our visit and we were there for just over an hour (but that included cake eating time). If you are keen on finding out about Colchesters roman past then this is a great...

Excellent place to visit, the Roman Circus was really worth going to.. It doesn't open (at the moment), until 11am.. There is a great exhibition indoors and lots to see outside.. It was £1 for an adult to get in and free for children.. A bit difficult to see the turn but once found it was good to be there.. Great educational value.. There is a brilliant mosaic piece outside and some seating areas as well as a really nice cafe inside.. Great food.. Scones, sandwiches and cakes, excellent staff.. Took my Grandson of 13 years and he really enjoyed it.. It's small, but well worth the effort of seeing it.. Considering there are not many Roman Circuses.. It's perfect for exploring the past.. There were posters available to buy and very reasonably when I went in April.. Hopefully they still have them when I go back.. Remember to take your camera, there are some excellent pieces inside and outside worth...