Colchester has been named among the UK’s best places to live for 2027.

The Essex city was included in Muddy Stilettos’ list of the UK’s Top 260 Best Places to Live, published in late October.

Published annually, the guide picks out the best places to live in each county and looks at what they offer, from schools, commuting and house prices to where to eat, shop and spend a weekend.

Colchester is one of eight places in Essex to make the list, alongside Billericay, Bradwell-on-Sea, Buckhurst Hill, Chelmsford, Leigh-on-Sea, Manningtree and Saffron Walden.

Why Colchester made the list

The guide says Colchester “offers that elusive city-meets-country sweet spot, with London still within easy reach”.

It points to “a buzzy centre, thriving business scene, top-notch education and culture by the bucketload”, adding that this is “hardly surprising with 2,000 years of history to play with”.

“Add pretty villages and the Essex coast just down the road and, frankly, it’s now just showing off,” it says.

The ornate bandstand in Castle Park surrounded by autumn trees and fallen leaves
The bandstand in Castle Park, Colchester. Photo: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Geograph

For a weekend out, it says Castle Park “is hard to beat, mixing Roman walls and a castle with gorgeous grounds, a bandstand, boating lake and play area”.

It adds that Colchester Zoo “packs 180 species into 60 acres”.

“Culture vultures will be very happy here,” according to the guide, which names the Mercury Theatre, Colchester Arts Centre, Firstsite and The Minories.

It says the city’s schools earn it “a head teacher award”, naming Colchester County High School for Girls and The Gilberd School among those rated Outstanding.

Its “best kept secret” is the city’s Britpop credentials: Blur’s Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Dave Rowntree “all have roots here”, and Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay went to Holmwood House School in Lexden.

How much it costs to live in Colchester

The average house price in Colchester was £325,966 over the last year, according to the guide.

Semi-detached homes, the most commonly sold type, averaged £334,239, detached homes around £467,809 and terraced homes £275,174.

“Colchester still offers relatively accessible prices for a city within commuting distance of London,” the guide says.

A Greater Anglia train standing at a platform at Colchester station
Colchester railway station. Photo: Peter Pearson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Geograph

It says direct trains to Liverpool Street take around an hour, with an annual season ticket “from around £6,700”.

“Still, no changes on the morning commute gets a definite thumbs-up,” it adds.

What do you think makes Colchester a good place to live? Tell us in the comments.