City of Colchester

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The City of Colchester is a local government district with city status in Essex, England. It is named after Colchester, its largest town, and is the most populous district in Essex with about 200,222 people (2024 estimate). The area covers 128.64 square miles (333.18 km2) and includes West Mersea, Wivenhoe, and surrounding rural areas from Dedham Vale to Mersea Island.

Colchester borders Tendring, Maldon, Braintree and the Suffolk district of Babergh. It has ancient roots, with burgesses known by the time of the Domesday Book in 1086. The borough charter dates to 1189, and it became a municipal borough in 1836. The current district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 by merging four former districts, and it was later given borough status, allowing the chair to be mayor.

In 2022, Colchester was granted city status. The council then adopted the name Colchester City Council. The council has been under no overall control since 2008. In May 2025, a Liberal Democrat–Labour coalition took charge, with Lib Dem councillor David King as leader and Labour councillor Julie Young as deputy leader. The ceremonial mayor is Mike Lilley (since May 2025), and the chief executive is Pamela Donelly (since 2022).

The council has 51 councillors representing 17 wards, with three councillors per ward. Elections are held three years out of every four; the fourth year is for Essex County Council elections. The council meets at Colchester Town Hall on the High Street, and most administrative work is done at Rowan House, 33 Sheepen Road.

There are 35 civil parishes in the district. The area formerly known as Colchester Municipal Borough is largely unparished, while some parishes have their own town councils (such as Wivenhoe and West Mersea). Some smaller parishes share a parish council, and Layer Breton and Layer Marney have parish meetings due to small populations. Colchester Castle is a notable landmark in the city.