Wivenhoe

Wivenhoe
Town and civil parish
Wivenhoe riverfront on the River Colne
Wivenhoe
Location within Essex
Population7,586 (Parish, 2021)
7,350 (Built up area, 2021)
OS grid referenceTM045225
Civil parish
  • Wivenhoe
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCOLCHESTER
Postcode districtCO7
Dialling code01206
PoliceEssex
FireEssex
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament

Wivenhoe (/ˈwɪvənh/ WIV-ən-hoh) is a town and civil parish in the City of Colchester district of Essex, England. It lies approximately 3 miles (5 km) south-east of Colchester. The historic core of Wivenhoe stands on the left bank of the River Colne, which is tidal at this point. At the 2021 census the parish had a population of 7,586 and the built up area had a population of 7,350.

The town's history centres on fishing, ship building and smuggling.

Much of lower Wivenhoe is also a designated conservation area, with many streets being of particular architectural interest. The urban area has grown up the hill away from the river to absorb the formerly separate hamlet of Wivenhoe Cross on the higher ground to the north-east.