Introduction
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. 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 Galvin Green Man (Main Road) 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 January
Estimated hotel price
£64
1 night at 3-star hotel
Chelmsford in January
Estimated hotel price
£64
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 Belfast and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Chelmsford, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Chelmsford to Birmingham takes 1h 33m and costs around £26 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Brussels, expect to pay about £34 for a 2h 01m trip. Located 0.1 miles from the city centre, Chelmsford is the busiest station in Chelmsford. Another popular train station is Chelmsford North Fambridge, located 11 miles from the centre.

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 GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Chelmsford using National Express or FlixBus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 130 miles and will cost you around £6. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £6 for a journey of 135 miles.

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 Belfast and takes around 1h 15m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Chelmsford, followed by Eurostar. The train journey from Chelmsford to Birmingham takes 1h 33m and costs around £26 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Brussels, expect to pay about £34 for a 2h 01m trip. Located 0.1 miles from the city centre, Chelmsford is the busiest station in Chelmsford. Another popular train station is Chelmsford North Fambridge, located 11 miles from the centre.

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 GREEN MOTION and Turo, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Chelmsford using National Express or FlixBus. From Southampton, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 130 miles and will cost you around £6. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £6 for a journey of 135 miles.

Airports near Chelmsford

LHRLondon Heathrow
STNLondon Stansted
LGWLondon Gatwick

Airlines serving Chelmsford

Lufthansa
Good (7,407 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,386 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,363 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,957 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,737 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,968 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,924 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,925 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,468 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,336 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,624 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (850 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,144 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,486 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,114 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,250 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,894 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,324 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (993 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (359 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Chelmsford

Average rates range from around £116 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £137 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Chelmsford, with prices from £42 to £297 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Chelmsford are about 49% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Chelmsford

Most booked hotels in Chelmsford

See all
One Pelham Grove Bed & Breakfast
4 stars
Excellent (9.4, Excellent reviews)
£40+
View
Pontlands Park Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, Excellent reviews)
£125+
View
Hampton by Hilton London Stansted Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£95+
View
Holiday Inn Express London - Stansted Airport By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£78+
View
Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£94+
View
The Oakland Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£65+
View

Hiring a car in Chelmsford

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

Expect to pay £1.34 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 £15.99 and £21.31. Economy (Class Economy Car or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Chelmsford, while also 69% cheaper than other types, on average.

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

Expect to pay £1.34 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 £15.99 and £21.31. Economy (Class Economy Car or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Chelmsford, while also 69% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car hire deals in Chelmsford

Intermediate

5 adults, 3 Bags

£29/day

Intermediate

Compact SUV

4 adults, 2 Bags

£30/day

Compact SUV
Find car hire in Chelmsford

Chelmsford Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Chelmsford city guide for the best Chelmsford travel tips. To help you organise your Chelmsford trip ideas, this Chelmsford visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.