Traditional family run shop. Offers higher end mens and ladies wear as well as a wedding outfitters…read moreand hire service. The mens section is comprehensive with sizes for the larger man and a fitting service with traditional knowledge and courtesy. There is a very good sports and hiking section and also a school outfitters department. They also stock gifts, shoes, walking stick, leatehr goods. A really pleasant place to shop in.

Traditionally run family shop just off the town centre on Norwich Road. This shop offers clothing…read morefor the slightly higher end of the market. They also have a very good wedding hire service. Extremely good selection of menswear in a variety of sizes. They are also school outfitters and they have a sports department as well as gifts, shoes etc. A great place to shop with fantastic service and knowledge. Private car park round the back of the shop which is looked after by a car park attendant.

This is a lovely, large, well-ordered, well-stocked Homebase. Its location is ideal; tucked in,…read morenext to the station and behind the main high street. Parking here is plentiful and free. It's rare to find a DIY store in a location that means you can pick up what you need, put it in the boot, then finish the shopping by walking into town. Inside, the store is large, bright and the staff always helpful. Whenever I've been in (and that includes on a Bank Holiday) it's remained a laid back experience. Although the prices here do tend to be higher than some of the other large DIY warehouses - the slightly higher cost is worth the experience.

One of the best Homebase stores as it has so much to offer, in so many ways. Their car park is free…read moreand is the first shop that you encounter when you arrive at the town's train station! The staff are very friendly and helpful and will often say hello if they see you browsing in the store.

Totally relaxing. Fresh Air, wonderful plants. What more would any person ask for ?…read moreA wonderful, restful day out.

We visited on a sunny September day and were the first to arrive. It's an attractive place in a…read morequiet area with a nice fresh looking cafe, small shop, nursery and the gardens. We first went into the gardens and it was very peaceful with a number of small ponds surrounded by well manicured lawns, trees, and a lot of borders with interesting grasses. At the end of the gardens is a woodland, more ponds and a lot of ducks and fish. I think the silence is a treasure in these sort of places. There is a small shop that leads to the nursery and next door is a cafe. You can see it all except the gardens for free. Overall, I think its a nice place to visit for peace and quiet.

Good range of locally produced breads and cakes, popular shop with friendly staffread more

Well stalked and tidy grocery. (AIE)…read more This is the fancier of the options in the area for food shopping. Wonderful variety and helpful staff. When I asked about sauerkraut, the employee walked me to one and offered to show me other variety in a separate aisle. Same with the meat counter. They did not have any center cut chops behind the counter, so he came out and walked me to good choices in the aisles. Cafe is has a higher standard. Open choice pastries, china and real silver were to eat with. Multiple options for milks and variations on their drinks. Will frequent this store when I'm on that side of town. Sign up for rewards program can be done on your phone and the card saved as a picture. (American in England)

Waitrose food is generally good, but also generally horrifically overpriced. The Duchy and Organic…read morestuff seems to have taken over the store, and the fresh food and Deli sections are getting smaller and smaller, in an already small store. My favourite quote about Waitrose, that I read in an online discussion recently: Does that actually exist?! "Geranium and cherry cupcake" is precisely the sort of thing one would say Waitrose sell if you wanted to take the p*ss out of them... They do indeed sell a "Geranium and cherry cupcake", and it is apparently very good! I'm not so convinced about their recently introduced "Cashmere Quilted Bathroom Tissue, enriched with extracts of Cashmere" however...

Debenhams Colchester store is set out across three floors, with clothing, homewares, gifts and…read morecosmetics. For clothing, there is always a broad choice for men, women and children, although some lines are rather expected. Although this is to be expected of designer brands, some of Debenhams' 'own-brand' clothing (e.g. Red Herring and St George by Duffer) are sometimes extortionately priced. However, staff are nearly always helpful and, if you are so inclined, you can get advice of cosmetics in that department and make use of the free Personal Shopper service. Therefore, I am giving Debenhams Colchester four stars out of a possible five.

This store is set on 3 floors and seems to stock everything the well dressed home and person needs…read morewether it's new undies of new curtains! Loads of different designers offering something for everyone. There's no parking but they do have underground access if you need to collect something heavy.

Nice displays of local artists work and great food to while away the hours while the mrs shopsread more

We regularly buy our 'Sunday roast' meat from 5 Winds. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and…read moreenthusiastic. The range of butchery is great and the quality second to none locally. They also sell a good range of cheese, sauces, breads and some frozen items. Can be busy at times but worth the wait - very very popular at Christmas!

One of the best butchers around - worth making the effort to visit. Great quality meat and…read morewonderful smoked products from the smoke house. Cheeses, breads and small deli product available - very busy on Saturdays