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. 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 December
Estimated hotel price
£59
1 night at 3-star hotel
Chelmsford in December
Estimated hotel price
£59
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 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 28m and costs around £28 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Coventry, expect to pay about £21 for a 1h 31m 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 U-Save, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Chelmsford, including FlixBus, National Express and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 217 km and will cost you around £5. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £8 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 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 28m and costs around £28 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Coventry, expect to pay about £21 for a 1h 31m 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 U-Save, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Chelmsford, including FlixBus, National Express and Megabus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 217 km and will cost you around £5. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 225 km.

Airports near Chelmsford

LHRLondon Heathrow
STNLondon Stansted
LGWLondon Gatwick

Airlines serving Chelmsford

Lufthansa
Good (7,032 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,820 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,584 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,920 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,780 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,686 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,444 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (780 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,688 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,211 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,562 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (345 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,210 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,345 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,068 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,272 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,935 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,846 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 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 £123 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Chelmsford, with prices from £47 to £303 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Chelmsford are about 76% 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
5 stars
Excellent (9.3, Excellent reviews)
£34+
View
Channels Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
£110+
View
Pontlands Park
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
£127+
View
Hampton by Hilton London Stansted Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£105+
View
Holiday Inn Express London - Stansted Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£81+
View
Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£117+
View

Hiring a car in Chelmsford

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £31 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.31 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 £15.69 and £20.92. The most frequently booked car type in Chelmsford is Full-size (Ford Galaxy or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 62% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £31 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.31 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 £15.69 and £20.92. The most frequently booked car type in Chelmsford is Full-size (Ford Galaxy or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is, on average, 62% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Chelmsford

Compact SUV

4 adults, 2 Bags

£23/day

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

4 adults, 2 Bags

£23/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.