Colchester was the original capital of Roman Britain, and by the time the Normans were in town it was still worthy of a great honour – a magnificent castle. A thousand years on, the Castle Museum is reopening on May 2 after an extensive refurbishment. More of it is now accessible to visitors who want to find out more about the stronghold William the Conqueror built. In the 17th century, the notorious ‘Witchfinder General’ Matthew Hopkins interrogated and locked up alleged witches there. But the city’s not only for the ghoulishly curious – its thriving art scene includes firstsite, one of the most exciting contemporary art galleries in the country.
