Colchester has been around for nearly two millennia — England’s oldest recorded town, once a Roman capital, now a busy mix of history, shops and everyday life.
On this particular day, though, it felt like the city was under a very modern pressure: a heatwave pushing temperatures up to around 34°C, turning familiar streets into a slow, shimmering blur of heat.
I went into the day thinking I might struggle to enjoy it.
Staying indoors felt tempting.
But almost immediately, I realised that being outside — carefully, strategically — was actually better than sitting in a stifling flat.
I started in Castle Park, which on a day like this feels like Colchester’s greatest asset.
The open green space had a steady breeze cutting through the heat.
It was noticeably cooler here than anywhere in the city centre.
I sat for a while, taking it in, watching people drift in and out of the shade, all of us falling into the same routine of conversation: it’s too hot, isn’t it?
That became the theme of the day.
Strangers, passers-by, shop staff — everyone talking about the weather, as if it was the only shared language left.
From the park, I walked to pick up an ice cream from the former Claydons grocery store.
I went for mint chocolate chip — cold, sweet, and gone far too quickly in the heat, but exactly what I needed at that moment.
It was one of those small, simple reliefs that makes the weather feel just about manageable.
Not long after, I grabbed a Black Sheep iced coffee as an extra boost — cold, strong, and slightly necessary as the heat began to really bite.
I made my way down the High Street next.
Unsurprisingly, it was quiet.
Far fewer people than you would normally expect, even for a weekday.
The heat was relentless, the sun reflecting off pavements and shopfronts, making it feel hotter than the thermometer suggested.
I was sweating through my walk, but I couldn’t help noticing how beautiful the city looked in full sun — the old buildings glowing in a way you don’t often see in Britain.
To keep going, I stopped for an iced strawberry boba tea — cold, refreshing, and a reminder that hydration becomes a kind of survival strategy on days like this.
Cup in hand, I wandered past independent shops in Red Lion Yard and made a quick stop at the Red Lion Bookstore, where the shaded interiors felt like a temporary escape from the heat outside.
Lunch was a simple meal deal, eaten back in Castle Park with views of the historic Norman keep.
Sitting on the grass again, I found that same cooling breeze I’d started the day with.
It made everything feel a bit more bearable, like the city was gently reminding you where the relief is if you look for it.
By late afternoon, I ended up at Poppina, the pop-up bar in the courtyard, for a chilled beer.
It felt like the natural end point to the day — something cold, something slow, a place to pause after moving between shade and sun all day.
Colchester was scorching, no doubt about it.
But it also showed its best side in unexpected ways: green space that actually works, independent spots offering shade and refuge, and a rhythm to the city that adapts when the temperature rises.
Would I choose to repeat a 34-degree day like this? Probably not.
But as far as ways to spend one go, Colchester made it surprisingly easy to get through.
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