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 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 Great Northern. 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 Turo and U-Save, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Chelmsford using FlixBus or National Express. From Birmingham, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 233 km and will cost you around £13. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 241 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 Great Northern. 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 Turo and U-Save, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Chelmsford using FlixBus or National Express. From Birmingham, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 233 km and will cost you around £13. From Bristol, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 241 km.

Airports near Chelmsford

LHRLondon Heathrow
STNLondon Stansted
LGWLondon Gatwick

Airlines serving Chelmsford

KLM
Good (1,493 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,905 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,869 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,306 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,402 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,916 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,176 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,564 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (905 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,561 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,748 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,559 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,915 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,188 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,381 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (399 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,196 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,428 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,268 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Chelmsford

Average rates range from around £166 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 £471 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Chelmsford are about 33% 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)
£123+
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Hampton by Hilton London Stansted Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
£89+
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Premier Inn London Stansted Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£64+
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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)
£86+
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Holiday Inn Express London - Stansted Airport By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£65+
View

Hiring a car in Chelmsford

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £30 per day, on average, or £60 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.47 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 £17.63 and £23.50. 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 (Opel Corsa or similar) is, on average, 72% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £30 per day, on average, or £60 if you want to hire it for 2 days.

Expect to pay £1.47 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 £17.63 and £23.50. 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 (Opel Corsa or similar) is, on average, 72% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Chelmsford

Mini

2 adults, 2 Bags

£15/day

Mini

Compact SUV

4 adults, 2 Bags

£19/day

Compact SUV
Find car hire in Chelmsford