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. 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 The Anchor Danbury (Runsell Green) 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 February
Estimated hotel price
£59
1 night at 3-star hotel
Chelmsford in February
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 14 miles 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 Train. The train journey from Chelmsford to Coventry takes 1h 34m and costs around £16 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £25 for a 1h 34m 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 DRIVALIA , among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Chelmsford, including National Express, Megabus and FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 135 miles and will cost you around £3. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 140 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 Edinburgh and takes around 1h 20m.

Train

AccesRail is the most popular train carrier serving Chelmsford, followed by Train. The train journey from Chelmsford to Coventry takes 1h 34m and costs around £16 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Bristol, expect to pay about £25 for a 1h 34m 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 DRIVALIA , among others, in London.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Chelmsford, including National Express, Megabus and FlixBus. From Bristol, the bus ride to Chelmsford takes 135 miles and will cost you around £3. From Nottingham, the ticket costs about £8 for a journey of 140 miles.

Airports near Chelmsford

Airlines serving Chelmsford

Lufthansa
Good (4,614 reviews)
KLM
Good (848 reviews)
SWISS
Good (927 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,451 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,599 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,282 reviews)
Air France
Good (974 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,549 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (476 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,930 reviews)
Emirates
Good (2,125 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,478 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,729 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (228 reviews)
Finnair
Good (878 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (832 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,160 reviews)
LOT
Good (682 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (911 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (832 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Chelmsford

Average rates range from around £108 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £135 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Chelmsford

Most booked hotels in Chelmsford

The Compasses Inn
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
£84+
Pontlands Park
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
£124+
Hampton by Hilton London Stansted Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£103+
Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£114+
Novotel London Stansted Airport
4 stars
Good (7.9, Good reviews)
£85+
Travelodge Chelmsford
3 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£49+

Hiring a car in Chelmsford

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

Expect to pay £1.49 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 £17.77 and £23.69. The most frequently booked car type in Chelmsford is Compact (Class Compact SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Toyota Yaris or similar) is, on average, 77% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

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

Expect to pay £1.49 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 £17.77 and £23.69. The most frequently booked car type in Chelmsford is Compact (Class Compact SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Toyota Yaris or similar) is, on average, 77% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.