Colchester Roman Circus Visitor Centre

18/06/2026

🏛️ THIS SATURDAY! 🏛️

Ever wanted to stand in the middle of Britain's only known Roman chariot racing arena?

The Roman Circus Visitor Centre is OPEN this Saturday, giving you the chance to explore one of Colchester's most remarkable hidden treasures. You might even spot a couple of Romans! 𓌝

Imagine the roar of 8,000 spectators, the thunder of racing chariots and the excitement of race day nearly 2,000 years ago. This wasn't just a sports ground, it was Roman Britain's biggest entertainment venue!

Plus, don't miss the temporary exhibition exploring the story of the Lexden Lady, one of the most fascinating discoveries from Roman Colchester. Learn about the life, status and burial of this remarkable woman whose grave goods have helped shed light on the region's rich and complex past.

Whether you're a history lover, looking for a family day out or you've lived in Colchester for years and never visited, this is the perfect opportunity to discover a truly unique piece of our city's story. Why not bring a picnic to enjoy on the site the ancient chariots raced? 🧺🥪

📍 Roman Circus Visitor Centre
📅 Open this Saturday 20th June, 10 am to 4 pm.
🎟️ Ticket: £5, under 11s FREE
🌐 https://catuk.org/romancircus/plan-your-visit/

Colchester is home to the only known Roman Circus in Britain, a site so rare that there is nothing else quite like it anywhere in the country😱

Tag someone who needs to visit this incredible site with you! 👇

08/06/2026

🍞🏛 Step Back in Time with The Travelling Baker 🏛🍞

Join fourth-generation Italian baker Giovanni Di Sarno for a unique journey into the world of Ancient Roman bread at the Roman Circus Visitor Centre, Colchester.

Discover the stories, ingredients and baking traditions behind three incredible historic breads once enjoyed in Roman times and taste them for yourself during the talk!

Born in Naples into a four-generation baking family, Giovanni is now a baking teacher and Bread Ambassador for the Real Bread Campaign, sharing traditional bread-making methods across Essex, Suffolk and London.

Set in Colchester (Roman Camulodunum), Britain’s first and largest Roman city, this is a perfect chance to experience history through food, culture and storytelling.

📍 Roman Circus Visitor Centre, Colchester, Essex
📆 Friday, July 3
⏰ 6 PM - 8 PM
🥖 Includes bread samples!

🎟 Book now on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ancient-roman-breads-a-talk-and-tasting-with-giovanni-di-sarno-tickets-1989663971499?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Ancient Roman Breads: A Talk and Tasting with Giovanni Di Sarno

03/06/2026

Now we are in June, it is time to think about July!

On July 15th, our Senior Associate, Howard Brooks, will be delving into all things Norman. With the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum in September, what better way to celebrate the Normans than by exploring their lives and legacy right here in Colchester. 🏰🪨

Tickets can be purchased via this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/power-and-stone-eudo-dapifer-and-the-archaeology-of-norman-colchester-tickets-1989387506585?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&_gl=1*1i3zx4p*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTc5NjI4NDYyNi4xNzgwNDgyODY3*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3ODA0ODI4NjYkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODA0ODI4NjYkajYwJGwwJGgw

Thank you to Colchester Archaeological Trust for organising such a wonderful series of lectures!

With the success of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙭𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙇𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, our newest addition to the Roman Circus Visitor Centre, it is no surprise that tickets for the first instalment in our lecture series, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘅𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆 are selling 𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧!

Click here to pick up any last‑minute tickets before it is too late and while you’re there, the next three talks are available for you to peruse and book! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/colchester-archaeological-trust-30746596062 🎫

On 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟱𝘁𝗵, our Senior Associate, 𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀, will be delving into all things Norman. This talk will explore the Norman buildings of Colchester, not least the Castle, built by 𝗘𝘂𝗱𝗼 𝗗𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆, while also setting these landmarks within the wider context of Norman‑period stone houses and churches across the town🏰

This lecture also arrives at the perfect moment, coinciding with the build‑up to the arrival of the 𝗕𝗮𝘆𝗲𝘂𝘅 𝗧𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 at the British Museum in September.

What better way to celebrate the Normans than by exploring their lives and legacy right here in Colchester?🪨

18/05/2026

Following a successful and busy opening weekend, we have introduced an optional timed ticketing system for entry to the Lexden Lady exhibition and the Roman Circus Visitor Centre. This new system is designed to make your visit more enjoyable, giving you plenty of space to explore the exhibits safely and at your own pace.

You can choose to book your two-hour visit (available on the hour from 10am - 2pm) using the link below and discover more about this remarkable high-status burial and its associated artefacts.

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲: 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿👍

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-lexden-lady-exhibition-and-roman-circus-visitor-centre-tickets-1989742824350?aff=oddtdtcreator

01/05/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿...

Earlier this year, we made a big decision: the model needed a new home.

But there was a challenge.

Because it had originally been built in a small room, the model couldn’t be moved in one piece. That meant delivering some difficult news to the model making team… we would have to carefully divide the town (read as: saw in half!) to relocate it.

Thankfully, the move was a success.

Now reassembled in a larger space, the model can be viewed from multiple angles, with natural light revealing details that may have gone unnoticed before. It’s a completely new way to experience the Roman town.

Even if you’ve seen it before, it’s well worth another visit.

This model is what it is because of the passion, skill and dedication of the people behind it, constantly improving and illustrating the story of Roman Colchester.

𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵?

Stay tuned… we’ve got some exciting news coming soon.

30/04/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀

The model of the town has advanced significantly since those pre-pandemic days. Various structural materials have been trialled and revised over the years: craft card, wood, Styrofoam and even the paperboard from medication packets! The town wall underwent various iterations, until it was decided to 3D print it and apply the brick impressions as stickers as opposed to painting each course; a feat that is much harder than it sounds. Even the environment has been revisited. The river was recently repainted to reflect a more natural green-brown tone with Finnish moss was used for the woodland and scrub bringing greater realism to the scene.

The forced hiatus of the lockdowns did not stop the team's creativity - the team returned from the break with handfuls of houses and other useful objects!

Our dedicated volunteer team has spent years refining and expanding the town, adding ever more intricate details to buildings, homes and the surrounding landscape. It’s not just a model, it’s a constantly developing interpretation of Roman life.

As new archaeological discoveries are made in Colchester, they’re carefully incorporated into the model. Keep an eye out for details like Roman burial sites on the outskirts of the Roman town, subtle additions that tell deeper stories about the town and its people.

Over the years we have had both practical and theoretical advice from friends, family and members of the public. We are hugely grateful to everyone who has had an input into the town model’s creation.

Thanks to Alan Curtis, Alan Tindall, Alphonso Torrejon, Andrew Creswell, Bill Ward, Carrie Creswell, Jenny Knowles, Jonathan Pearsall, Ken Aldred, Penny Allen, Philip Crummy, Philippa Davies, Roger Massey-Ryan and Scott Campbell and to name but a few!

29/04/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

The story of our Roman town model begins with Philip Crummy, the visionary behind the project and former director of the Trust for many years. A passionate advocate for making archaeology accessible, Philip dedicated decades to researching Colchester and bringing its Roman past to life in visual, engaging ways.

In 2019, a detailed topographic landscape (scale: 1:400) was created in plaster by Philip alongside Jonathan Pearsall (trustee at the Colchester Archaeological Trust). Soon after, we advertised for local volunteers to create the Roman town as it would have stood in 250CE.

We were very lucky to secure Philippa Davies who had previous experience in model making for dollhouses. She brought Penny Allen and Carrie Creswell on board, and together with Philip they started to map out the road system on their three-metre-square blank canvas. Using a detailed road layout developed by students from the University of Essex, they began constructing the town piece by piece, one morning a week initially, when the Roman Circus Visitor Centre was closed.

Three dimensional specialist Scott Campbell, local artist Roger Massey-Ryan and the Trust’s very own Alec Wade were on hand to create and print 3D replicas of the key Roman buildings, while the remainder of houses were built in wood by local guitar maker Alan Curtis. He joined the team complete with spare wood, specialist saws and lots of talent! Once constructed, the remainder of the team set about roofing and hand painting each of the buildings

Each house needed occupants, gardens, mosaics, paths, carts and other details…so over the years the volunteer model makers built up the town from its white plaster beginnings. Over time, a vibrant Roman town emerged full of character and detail.

03/03/2026

30/01/2026

Half-term fun is just a couple of weeks away!

Join us at the Roman Circus Visitor Centre in Colchester from Tuesday 17 to Friday 20 February, 11 am - 3 pm, for Roman-themed drop-in activities for the whole family. Design and colour your own chariot, have a go at Roman games (including Aquila), and take on our picture hunt as you explore Britain’s only known Roman chariot-racing track. 🏺🐎

Kids go FREE * Accompanying adults £5

Why not bring a packed lunch and make a day of it?