Looking for a change - seeking feedback on Colchester

My husband (UKC) and I (USC) (we're both dual nationals now) are considering a move from Greater London to Colchester due to a job opportunity.  We're in our 50s, both of us will be working full-time. In our spare time, we love to travel and see things, local and internationally. Do quite a lot of exploring in that sense.

Don't know a thing about Colchester - never even been to Essex.. What can you tell me about it in terms of amenities, appearance, friendliness, access (I see that there are nearby ferries to Europe - what is best/nearest international airport?), etc.

Thanks for any feedback!

-Denise (TeaLoverDenise@yahoo.com)

Haven't been to Colchester yet (except for the zoo which is pretty cool) as I'm based in Southern Essex but it was the capital of Roman Britain so there are quite a few historical sites based on that.  Essex has great connections to London without feeling like you're living in a metropolis.  There are several airports in the area that have good international connections- Stansted and Southend airports are in Essex and Luton won't be ridiculously far away.