Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

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. Chelmsford deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Chelmsford

If you’re looking for affordable options, Galvin Green Man (Main Road) and The Anchor Danbury (Runsell Green) are great picks.

When to visit Chelmsford

Chelmsford in January
Estimated hotel price
£68
1 night at 3-star hotel
Chelmsford in January
Estimated hotel price
£68
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 14 miles from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Chelmsford departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

Car

Another option to get to Chelmsford is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 30 miles from Chelmsford. You’ll find branches of Turo and U-Save, among others, in London.

Plane

When flying to Chelmsford, you’ll arrive at London Stansted Airport (STN), which is located 14 miles from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Chelmsford departs from Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

Car

Another option to get to Chelmsford is to pick up a car hire from London, which is about 30 miles from Chelmsford. You’ll find branches of Turo and U-Save, among others, in London.

Airports near Chelmsford

LHRLondon Heathrow
STNLondon Stansted
LGWLondon Gatwick

Airlines serving Chelmsford

Lufthansa
Good (8,056 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,527 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,046 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,401 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,409 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,969 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,232 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,603 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,812 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (931 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,726 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,583 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,818 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,170 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,198 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,407 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (411 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,452 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,373 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,271 reviews)
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Where to stay in Chelmsford

Average rates range from around £184 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £139 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Chelmsford, with prices from £28 to £475 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Chelmsford are about 39% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Chelmsford

Most booked hotels in Chelmsford

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Channels Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£128+
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Hampton by Hilton London Stansted Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£100+
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Novotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£75+
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Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£98+
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Holiday Inn Express London - Stansted Airport By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£73+
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The Oakland Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£60+
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Hiring a car in Chelmsford

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £30 per day, on average, or £61 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.60 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 £19.15 and £25.54. The most frequently booked car type in Chelmsford is Standard (Class Commercial Truck or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Toyota Yaris or similar) is, on average, 70% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £30 per day, on average, or £61 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.60 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 £19.15 and £25.54. The most frequently booked car type in Chelmsford is Standard (Class Commercial Truck or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Toyota Yaris or similar) is, on average, 70% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Chelmsford

Mini

2 adults, 2 Bags

£18/day

Mini

Intermediate

5 adults, 3 Bags

£28/day

Intermediate
Find car hire in Chelmsford