Temple of Claudius , Colchester, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Temple of Claudius in Colchester was the grandest classical temple in Roman Britain, built in the first century AD in what was then Camulodunum. Its massive stone base still survives as vaults beneath Colchester Castle, which is why the Norman keep standing on top of it is so large and so well preserved.

The story behind it

Colchester was the first Roman capital of Britain, and the temple was raised here after the conquest and dedicated to Emperor Claudius, who was honoured as a god after his death in AD 54. Work is usually dated from about AD 49, and the building was still being finished around the time of Boudica's revolt, when the rebels burned the town and the temple was badly damaged.

Centuries later, in 1076, William the Conqueror ordered a castle built on the same spot, and it was largely complete by 1101. The Normans built straight on the Roman foundations, which gave the keep a rock-solid base, and they reused Roman stone and brick from the temple and other ruined buildings in the town. The result is the largest keep in Britain, bigger than the White Tower at the Tower of London.

What to look for

• Look closely at the castle walls for thin red Roman bricks, reused by the Norman builders among the rougher stone.
• Notice the sheer bulk of the keep, then remember that its footprint follows the great podium of the Roman temple underneath.
• Inside the Castle Museum, find the Roman collection, including the Middleborough Mosaic and the Fenwick Treasure Hoard.
• Walk around Castle Park to see how the castle sits above the town and how the surrounding grounds still follow the older Roman ground.

Tips for your visit

• Viewing the castle from outside in Castle Park costs nothing. The museum inside has an entry charge, so check current opening hours and ticket details before you go.
• Allow about 30 minutes for the exterior and the park, and one to two hours if you want to go into the museum.
• The vaults of the temple podium are normally seen on a guided tour of the castle, so check current availability if you want to go underground.
• Castle Park is pleasant on a dry day, and morning light is good for photographing the brickwork.

See it on a quest

Exodus Hinge & Colchester’s Lost Centurion: Roman Britain Walking Tour & Escape Game brings in the Roman side of the town. You reach the temple site on foot as one stop on a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Historic Colchester: The Roman Visitor Walking Tour & Escape Game is another way to see the castle and temple foundations in context. You walk between the sights at your own pace, hear the story of each stop as you get there, and work out a puzzle from what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Colchester suits you if you would rather see the old town as a mystery. It is a self-guided walk with no guide and no group to join, with the app telling you about each place and setting a puzzle there. One ticket covers the whole group.