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
£66
1 night at 3-star hotel
Chelmsford in January
Estimated hotel price
£66
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 Avanti West Coast. The train journey from Chelmsford to Birmingham takes 1h 28m and costs around £15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Nottingham, expect to pay about £40 for a 1h 50m 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 Hertz, among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Chelmsford, including National Express, FlixBus and Oxford Bus Company. From Bristol, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 217 km and will cost you around £8. From Birmingham, the ticket costs about £5 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 Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

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 £15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Nottingham, expect to pay about £40 for a 1h 50m 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 Hertz, among others, in London.

Bus

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

Airports near Chelmsford

LHRLondon Heathrow
STNLondon Stansted
LGWLondon Gatwick

Airlines serving Chelmsford

KLM
Good (1,414 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,579 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,002 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,533 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,044 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,788 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,028 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,027 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,664 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,421 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,493 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,463 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (874 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,309 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,584 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,066 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,326 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,137 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,407 reviews)
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Where to stay in Chelmsford

Average rates range from around £119 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 £37 to £308 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

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Pontlands Park Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
£130+
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Hampton by Hilton London Stansted Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
£90+
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Novotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£64+
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Holiday Inn Express London - Stansted Airport By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
£57+
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Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
£88+
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The Oakland Hotel
2 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£67+
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Hiring a car in Chelmsford

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £32 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 £16.25 and £21.67. 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, 84% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hiring a car in Chelmsford costs £32 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 £16.25 and £21.67. 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, 84% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Best car hire deals in Chelmsford

Economy

2 adults, 2 Bags

£14/day

Economy

Mini

2 adults, 2 Bags

£14/day

Mini
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