Colchester

Roman walls still circle this ancient garrison town, making Colchester Britain's oldest recorded settlement. The weight of 2,000 years sits lightly here though - students from the university keep the pubs lively, and the high street hums with proper market town energy most days.

Colchester Castle dominates the town centre, built on the foundations of a Roman temple. The nearby Lexden Earthworks and Lexden Mount reveal even older secrets - Iron Age fortifications that predate the Romans entirely. Friday Wood and West House Wood offer proper countryside walks just minutes from the centre, while the archaeological sites at Bluebottle Grove tell stories stretching back millennia.

The surrounding Essex countryside rolls gently towards the coast. Village signs at Great Wigborough, Layer de la Haye, West Bergholt and Great Horkesley mark out pleasant cycling routes through farmland and ancient woodland. Colchester Golf Club provides a decent round if the weather holds.

Getting here couldn't be simpler - Colchester station sits on the main London Liverpool Street line, with regular services taking just over an hour. The A12 brings drivers from the capital or Cambridge with equal ease.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for exploring both town and country. Mersea Island's holiday parks put you near proper beaches and fresh oysters, while inland options like Teybrook Orchard or Rushbanks Farm offer countryside calm after days spent wandering Roman ruins. The glamping pods at Swallows Field or Mersea Barns split the difference nicely - a bit of luxury while staying close to all that history.