Where is Chelmsford?
Chelmsford is one of Essex’s three cities and is situated about 30 minutes’ drive from Colchester and less than 40 minutes from Southend-on-Sea.
The city is also about an hour and 20 minutes from London via the A13.
Transport in Chelmsford
As Essex’s county town and one of the county’s more prominent cities, Chelmsford offers commuters several options when it comes to public transport.
Its railway station, situated in the city centre, sits on the Great Eastern Main Line, with several services running between Chelmsford and London Liverpool Street per day (roughly 5 per hour) – with a direct train to Liverpool Street getting you into the capital in as little as half an hour.
Other regular services include trains to Braintree, Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester, Ipswich, and Norwich.
Chelmsford is within half an hour of Stansted Airport and offers easy access to both the A13 and the A127 via the A414 trunk road that passes through the city.
There’s also an A12 access point which connects the city to East London.
First Essex is the primary bus provider in Chelmsford, with the operator running several routes within the city itself, as well as to other towns and cities within Essex, including to the likes of Basildon, Billericay, Colchester, and Southend.
The largest indoor shopping centre in Chelmsford is the High Chelmer Shopping Centre.
Situated on Exchange Way, the mall houses over 80 different retailers, including the likes of JD Sports, New Look, Primark, and Next, as well as a whole host of restaurants and cafés.
You’ll also find several high street names along Bond Street, including a large John Lewis department store.
Things to do in Chelmsford
One of the more prominent outdoor spaces in Chelmsford is the Hylands Estate and Park.
Spread out across 574 acres of greenery, this popular park plays host to several events throughout the year, including music festivals and outdoor markets. It’s also ideal for a family day out, with its medieval-style playground being a particular hit amongst those with little ones.
Other highlights of the city include the Museum of Chelmsford – featuring some of the greatest works to have come out of the city, including the works of famed inventor, Guglielmo Marconi – and the Essex Police Museum.
Popular places to live in and around Chelmsford
There are a number of pleasant suburbs on the outskirts of the city, giving those looking to live near Chelmsford plenty of options to choose from.
Below are just a few of the more popular ones.
Great Baddow
Less than 10 minutes’ drive from Chelmsford’s city centre, Great Baddow is one of the larger villages in Essex and offers several excellent schools to pick from, if you have a young family and that is a consideration for you.
The village’s size lends itself to having plenty of amenities, with the village having a number of independent stores as well as a Co-op, as well as well-equipped recreational grounds.
Beaulieu Park
An up-and-coming neighbourhood, with a brand-new railway station set to be complete in the Autumn of 2025, Beaulieu Park is a residential area with plenty of promise.
About 8 minutes’ drive from Chelmsford’s city centre, Beaulieu Park offers residents a good selection of schools – including the first all-through school in Essex – as well as a number of parks and supermarkets – including a Sainsbury’s Local.
Chelmer Village
Chelmer Village is a lovely suburb, on the outskirts of the city (about 8 minutes’ drive away), that sits alongside the River Chelmer.
At its heart is its village square, which is home to its village hall, a youth club and an Asda supermarket, as well as a bevy of smaller independent shops.
The local Chancellor Park also offers residents a couple of tennis courts, several football pitches and a sports pavilion.
Considering living in or around Chelmsford?
If you’d like to know which properties we have available near Chelmsford, please feel free to get in touch with our team today.
