Everyone enjoys looking back at how places used to be—but how well do you remember what Colchester looked like more than 15 years ago?
The city has seen plenty of change, with businesses opening and closing over the years.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly tough on the high street, but the transformation stretches back well beyond that to 2009.
Thanks to Google Street View, we can revisit Colchester’s streets and see just how much they’ve evolved over time.
Colchester Northern Gateway (Junction 28 area)
The Northern Gateway is a major leisure and business destination off Junction 28 of the A12, featuring the 200,000 sq ft Leisure Park with Cineworld cinema, Travelodge hotel, Hollywood Bowl and restaurants, alongside the multi-million pound Colchester Sports Park.
The area has transformed from undeveloped land into Colchester's flagship leisure complex and is well known as the city's new destination for sport, entertainment and healthy lifestyles.
St Botolph's Street
Located on Colchester's eastern edge near the railway station, St Botolph's Street is a mixed retail and restaurant area that forms the heart of the city's regeneration quarter.
The street is well known for its transformation from a traditional shopping street into a cultural hub with independent retailers, cafés and student accommodation.
Peartree Road
Peartree Road in Stanway is an established commercial and industrial trade park location west of Colchester city centre, home to Angora Business Park with trade counter units including Screwfix, Toolstation, Halfords and Angling Direct.
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The area is well known as a busy retail park and light industrial zone with excellent A12 access, located near the Tollgate Centre
Warren Lane
Warren Lane is a residential road in Stanway that connects to the newly extended Laurence Byrne Avenue at Fiveways junction, where a new four-arm roundabout was constructed in 2025 as part of the Mersea Homes development.
The road is well known as a key access point for the large-scale housing development of 420 new homes and now serves as an important junction connecting residential areas to the Tollgate relief road and bus routes.
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