Chelmsford travel guide

Chelmsford Tourism | Chelmsford Guide

You're Going to Love Chelmsford

With a population of 102,671, Chelmsford is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Chelmsford to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Chelmsford

If you’re looking for affordable options, Pig & Whistle Restaurant (Pig & Whistle Chignal Road, Chignal Smealey) and The Anchor Danbury (Runsell Green) are great picks. For delicious green meals, The New London Restaurant and Lounge (147 New London Road) and Côte Brasserie - Chelmsford (1 Exchange Way) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Chelmsford.

When to visit Chelmsford

Chelmsford in February
Estimated hotel price
£58
1 night at 3-star hotel
Chelmsford in February
Estimated hotel price
£58
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Chelmsford

Plane

When flying to Chelmsford, you’ll arrive at London Stansted Airport (STN), which is located 23 km from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Chelmsford departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Chelmsford, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Chelmsford to Bristol takes 1h 36m and costs around £24 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Norwich, expect to pay about £23 for a 1h 52m trip. Located 0.1 km from the city centre, Chelmsford is the busiest station in Chelmsford. Another popular train station is Chelmsford North Fambridge, located 18 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Chelmsford is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 49 km from Chelmsford. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA , among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Chelmsford, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 209 km and will cost you around £3. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £9 for a journey of 225 km.

Plane

When flying to Chelmsford, you’ll arrive at London Stansted Airport (STN), which is located 23 km from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Chelmsford departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Chelmsford, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Chelmsford to Bristol takes 1h 36m and costs around £24 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Norwich, expect to pay about £23 for a 1h 52m trip. Located 0.1 km from the city centre, Chelmsford is the busiest station in Chelmsford. Another popular train station is Chelmsford North Fambridge, located 18 km from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Chelmsford is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 49 km from Chelmsford. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and DRIVALIA , among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Chelmsford, including National Express, FlixBus and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 209 km and will cost you around £3. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £9 for a journey of 225 km.

Airports near Chelmsford

Airlines serving Chelmsford

Lufthansa
Good (4,697 reviews)
KLM
Good (844 reviews)
SWISS
Good (955 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,577 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,606 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,276 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (490 reviews)
Air France
Good (980 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,600 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,114 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,960 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,441 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,934 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (225 reviews)
Finnair
Good (863 reviews)
LOT
Good (681 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (922 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,171 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (823 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,721 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Chelmsford

Average rates range from around £109 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £131 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Chelmsford

Most booked hotels in Chelmsford

The Compasses Inn
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£82+
Pontlands Park
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£123+
Hampton by Hilton London Stansted Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£110+
Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£114+
Novotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£76+
The Ship
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£60+

Hiring a car in Chelmsford

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £38 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.49 per litre in Chelmsford (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £17.78 and £23.71. The most frequently booked car type in Chelmsford is Intermediate (Kia Sportage or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Seat Mii or similar) is, on average, 79% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £38 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.49 per litre in Chelmsford (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £17.78 and £23.71. The most frequently booked car type in Chelmsford is Intermediate (Kia Sportage or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini car hire (Seat Mii or similar) is, on average, 79% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.