St John's Orthodox Church

The golden onion domes of St John's rise unexpectedly above the Essex countryside just outside Colchester, a proper full-stop moment when you first spot them. This Orthodox church is entirely genuine - built to serve the local Russian Orthodox community, not some theme park recreation. You step inside and the iconostasis, the soaring interior, the candles and incense hit you all at once. It's worlds away from your typical English parish church.

This is a magnet for anyone with a genuine interest in religious architecture and Eastern Orthodoxy, rather than casual Sunday drivers. History types will appreciate how it came to exist here at all. Photography enthusiasts get the exterior shots of those domes, particularly on clear days when they catch the light properly.

Access and visiting details aren't straightforward - your best move is ringing ahead or checking with Colchester visitor information. Allow an hour if you're stopping by, though it's less a sprawling tour and more an intimate look inside. Summer weekends tend to work better for visits.

The church pairs well with a longer Essex break. Colchester Country Park sits just 2.2 miles away, which gives you a convenient home base. Ardleigh Caravan & Camping Park and the increasingly popular Swallows Field Glamping Pods are both within four miles, meaning you can explore this quietly unusual attraction without too much driving about. It's a nice counterpoint to the more conventional Colchester attractions.