Colchester has been Britain's oldest recorded town since a Roman centurion named Favonius Facilis had his tombstone raised here in AD 50. This tour is not about the Romans, Normans, or earls who commissioned the monuments. It is about the legionaries who mixed the mortar, the Flemish weavers who fled Alva's army and rebuilt a cloth trade in Maidenburgh Street, the monk who told Henry VIII to his face that he would not give up his abbey, the ordinary townspeople who ate cats and dogs through eleven weeks of Civil War siege, the maidservant Mary Last who kept nine Victorians fed and dressed, and the builder's men from Hythe Hill who laid 1.2 million bricks for a water tower their rector called an elephant.
Colchester CastleNorman castle in Colchester, United Kingdom
location_on
2
lock
Hollytrees MuseumA Georgian townhouse built in 1718 by London builder Thomas Blagden for Elizabeth Cornelisen. Home to the Round family through the 19th century. In 1881, Charles Gray Round's household comprised nine family members served by nine domestic servants. The museum centres its social-history displays on two named working people: Mary Last, one of the Round household's servants, and Isaac Calthrop, a sedan-chair carrier who worked the streets of Colchester in the Georgian era.
location_on
3
lock
High StreetThe commercial spine of Colchester since Roman times — the decumanus maximus of Camulodunum. At its western end, where Balkerne Lane meets the High Street, Sir Isaac's Walk commemorates Sir Isaac Rebow (1655–1726), the Flemish-descended clothier and MP whose house stood nearby and who was knighted by William III. The High Street has been the market street, the cloth-selling floor, and the political theatre of Colchester for 2,000 years.
location_on
4
lock
Maidenburgh StreetThe street at the northern edge of the Dutch Quarter, whose plots were leased out by the borough from the 1330s — 18 feet wide, at least one lease requiring the tenant to build a house. By the 15th century, Flemish weavers Edward III had invited to boost the Colchester russets cloth trade had established themselves here; the 1565 Protestant refugees reinforced and expanded the settlement. The street's name may derive from a corruption of 'Maldon-borough' or from a personal name; either way, it was a working street before the Flemish arrived.
location_on
5
lock
Saint Helen's LaneA short medieval lane running south from the Dutch Quarter to High Street, named for the chapel of St Helen that once stood here — traditionally associated with Helena, daughter of Old King Cole and mother of Constantine. This is the threshold where the Dutch Quarter's working weaving households met the commercial High Street; the lane served as the route along which bays and says cloth moved from the weaver's workshop to the market.
location_on
6
lock
The Dutch QuarterThe physical core of the Dutch Quarter, the area bounded by West Stockwell Street, Northgate Street, Maidenburgh Street and High Street where Flemish Protestant refugees settled from 1565. The first 11 families — 55 individuals — arrived in that year, fleeing the Duke of Alva's persecution in the Spanish Netherlands. The giveaway is in the architecture: houses on West Stockwell Street have unusually wide ground-floor windows — extra width cut to flood a weaver's loom with natural light. By 1586 the Flemish population of Colchester exceeded 1,290.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start the tour?
After purchase, download the AudaTours app and enter your redemption code. The tour will be ready to start immediately - just tap play and follow the GPS-guided route.
Do I need internet during the tour?
No! Download the tour before you start and enjoy it fully offline. Only the chat feature requires internet. We recommend downloading on WiFi to save mobile data.
Is this a guided group tour?
No - this is a self-guided audio tour. You explore independently at your own pace, with audio narration playing through your phone. No tour guide, no group, no schedule.
How long does the tour take?
Most tours take 60–90 minutes to complete, but you control the pace entirely. Pause, skip stops, or take breaks whenever you want.
What if I can't finish the tour today?
No problem! Tours have lifetime access. Pause and resume whenever you like - tomorrow, next week, or next year. Your progress is saved.
What languages are available?
All tours are available in 50+ languages. Select your preferred language when redeeming your code. Note: language cannot be changed after tour generation.
Where do I access the tour after purchase?
Download the free AudaTours app from the App Store or Google Play. Enter your redemption code (sent via email) and the tour will appear in your library, ready to download and start.
verified_user
Satisfaction guaranteed
If you don't enjoy the tour, we'll refund your purchase. Contact us at [email protected]
Checkout securely with
Loved by travellers
Thousands of tours started. Plenty of opinions.
4.8 across the App Store and Google Play. Here's a few we keep coming back to.
starstarstarstarstar
This tour was such a great way to see the city. The stories were interesting without feeling too scripted, and I loved being able to explore at my own pace.
Started this tour with a croissant in one hand and zero expectations. The app just vibes with you, no pressure, just you, your headphones, and some cool stories.
