COLONIA Centurion mosaic

A 2,000-year-old Roman mosaic depicting a centurion survives in Colchester, and it's the sort of thing that stops you mid-stride. The piece is remarkably intact - you can make out the figure's stance, the geometric patterns framing him, the sheer technical skill of whoever laid those tiny stone tesserae two millennia ago. It lives in a gallery setting in the town centre, which means you can see it properly lit and protected rather than squinting at some muddy outline in a museum corner.

History enthusiasts will find themselves lingering here longer than expected. There's something about standing in front of Roman craftsmanship that actually worked - no reconstruction, no guesswork, just proof that someone in AD 100-something knew what they were doing. Families with older kids who aren't bored stiff by archaeology will get something from it too, though young children might struggle to understand why a bit of old floor is worth ten minutes of attention.

Colchester itself is worth a proper day out. The town has genuine Roman bones - it was Camulodunum, the first major Roman settlement in Britain. You're literally standing on layers of history here. If you're camping at Colchester Country Park or Ardleigh, the mosaic is close enough for a half-morning visit before heading elsewhere. Check opening hours locally before you go - information's thin on the ground for this one.