COLCHESTER
SHEEPEN STREET
Price: £86,995
Compact but thoughtfully decorated, this one bedroom apartment proves that good things come in small packages. A spacious open-plan kitchen/living room provides the perfect place to entertain at home, while the property’s central location means that all the amenities of the town centre are only a short walk away.
Contact: Spicer McColl on 01206 542 288 or go to www.spicermccoll.co.uk
WIMPOLE STREET
Price: £285,000
This four bedroom family home is crammed with quirky features and charming period details, from bay windows and open fireplaces to a roll top Victorian style bath. There is plenty of space too, with two reception rooms, a generously sized garden and a brick outbuilding for storage.
Contact: Fenn Wright on 01206 763 388 or go to www.fennwright.co.uk
STOUR HOUSE
Price: £2m
This rambling, ivy-covered residence needs modernisation but has bags of character. Its grounds include a magnificent orangery, a coach house and a glass-housed swimming pool. It also enjoys far reaching views across Dedham Vale, the countryside which inspired John Constable’s paintings.
Contact: Savills on 01473 234 830 or go to www.savills.co.uk
NEED TO KNOW | AREA INSIGHT
Commuting: Trains from Colchester North Station to Liverpool Street are frequent and fast, taking about 50 minutes.
Crime: With crime rates significantly lower than national averages, Colchester’s residents have reason to sleep soundly at night.
Education: Colchester is home to two outstanding grammar schools: Colchester Royal Grammar School for boys¬ (the best school in the country at A level) and Colchester County High Schools for Girls.
Bar: The town centre is packed with cafés such as the whimsically named Sweet Pea’s Tea Room, and
coffee-shop-cum-art-gallery, Life
Café. Foodies will love the award winning Warehouse Brasserie which uses local, seasonal produce to mouth-watering effect. Follow with a nightcap at the oldest pub in England, The Rose and Crown.
Leisure: Culture vultures will delight in exploring Colchester’s roman walls, castle and museums. Parks and green spaces are plentiful, and the sandy beaches of Clacton are only a 20 minute drive away. For more high-octane fun, head to Colchester’s indoor water-park or roller-skating rink.
Amy Higgins