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, Galvin Green Man (Main Road) and The Anchor Danbury (Runsell Green) are great picks.

When to visit Chelmsford

Chelmsford in January
Estimated hotel price
£65
1 night at 3-star hotel
Chelmsford in January
Estimated hotel price
£65
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 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Chelmsford, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Chelmsford to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around £17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £39 for a 1h 35m 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 Turo and Avis, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Chelmsford using National Express or FlixBus. From Cambridge, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 121 km and will cost you around £8. From Southampton, the ticket costs about £7 for a journey of 185 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 10m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Chelmsford, followed by Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Chelmsford to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around £17 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £39 for a 1h 35m 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 Turo and Avis, among others, in London.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Chelmsford using National Express or FlixBus. From Cambridge, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 121 km and will cost you around £8. From Southampton, the ticket costs about £7 for a journey of 185 km.

Airports near Chelmsford

LHRLondon Heathrow
STNLondon Stansted
LGWLondon Gatwick

Airlines serving Chelmsford

KLM
Good (1,426 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,603 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,550 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,011 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,071 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,798 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,038 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,679 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,432 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,063 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,500 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,496 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (875 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,322 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,591 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,080 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,141 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,411 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,388 reviews)
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Where to stay in Chelmsford

Average rates range from around £121 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £142 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Chelmsford, with prices from £41 to £305 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Chelmsford are about 51% 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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Pontlands Park Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
£129+
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Hampton by Hilton London Stansted Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£86+
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Novotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£62+
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Holiday Inn Express London - Stansted Airport By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£52+
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Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£87+
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The Oakland Hotel
2 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£66+
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Hiring a car in Chelmsford

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £33 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.36 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 £16.27 and £21.69. 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 Compact car hire (Peugeot 208 or similar) is, on average, 82% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £33 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.36 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 £16.27 and £21.69. 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 Compact car hire (Peugeot 208 or similar) is, on average, 82% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Chelmsford

Mini

2 adults, 2 Bags

£14/day

Mini

Mini

2 adults, 2 Bags

£14/day

Mini
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