Top 50 Places to Visit in Chelmsford, England, U.K. : Being the only city in the English county of Essex, Chelmsford is a place that can effortlessly keep any tourist engrossed in its depths for hours at a stretch, having all that it takes to distinguish itself as charming English countryside town. With a variety of places to explore, historic sites to see, fun and fruitful leisure activities and unique events there really is something for everyone! Check out all the Top 50 Places to Visit in Chelmsford, England, U.K along with their respective entry fee and opening hours from the list of the Top things to do in Chelmsford from below.
World famous for being the birthplace of the radio, the county town Chelmsford recently became a City. The Sanford Mill Museum upon the river Chelmer opens up a few times a year and lets visitors and school children view its displays of the famous Marconi hut, scene of the first ever programmed radio broadcast in 1922. Along with this, there are many unique places to visit in Chelmsford, U.K. There is the famous picturesque Hylands House Estate that is a prime attraction of the city, being an epitome of British-style architecture. Then there is the Oaklands Estate that houses two of Chelmsford’s historic museums while also providing a fantastic public park for a lovely day out under the sun. You can also visit York or Cambridge city to spend your lovely day.
Chelmsford is a scenic, very serene little city nestled between many attractive natural water resources that provide an extensive playground for watersport enthusiasts to indulge in activities like canoeing and boating. However, you know what the fun fact about Chelmsford is? The city is just a 35-minute train ride away from Central London and also has quick access to the A12. All this means, that you have no more reason to keep postponing that trip to Chelmsford that you’ve been postponing for so long. Get here in no time at all, and discover Chelmsford and all its glorious treasures. Wander about the city of Oxford, when in England.
Top 50 Places to Visit in Chelmsford, England, U.K.
Hylands House
About: Hylands House is a Grade II* neo-classical villa situated within Hylands Park, a 232-hectare open-air parkland, south-west of Chelmsford in Essex in South East England. The last private owner lived in Hylands House until her death until 1962. It was in 1966, with the House in a desperate state of disrepair, that Chelmsford Borough Council purchased the Park for the people of Chelmsford to enjoy.
Why Should you Visit: This a beautiful mansion that is usually used as a wedding venue. In the 2004 film Chasing Liberty, Hylands House doubled as the US White House. Hylands House now opens its doors free of charge to reveal the secrets of its history. On each Open Day, an exhibition is displayed in the library, along with a Farmers’ & Crafts Market taking place by The Stables
Timings: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Entry Fees: Free
Official Website: Hylands House
Hylands Park
About: The Hylands Park is a public park with a large mansion with an area of approximately 2.3 square kilometres, located near Clemsford, in the county of Essex, England. It belongs to the population of Chelmsford and is subordinate to the local state administration. Although open to the public, the estate grounds and mansion is closed to general access for major events, such as the annual Rock Festival V Festival among others.
Why should you Visit: Popularly used for recreational activities or a day outdoors, this is a perfect venue for hosting weddings. Go there with kids or go there for a wonderful day on the wondrous green under the sun.
Timings: Open all times.
Entry Fees: Free
Official Website: Hylands Park
Chelmsford Cathedral
About: Chelmsford Cathedral in the city of Chelmsford is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, St Peter and St Cedd. It became a cathedral when the Anglican Diocese of Chelmsford was created in 1914 and is the seat of the Bishop of Chelmsford. In 1914 the church became the cathedral for the newly created diocese of Chelmsford.
Why should you Visit: The Chelmsford Cathedral welcome visits from individuals, community groups and parishes. Spend time taking a self-guided tour around the Cathedral using some of the literature available.
Timings: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Entry Fees: Free
Official Website: Chelmsford Cathedral
Chelmsford Museum
About: The Chelmsford Museum is based in Oaklands House, a historic property in Chelmsford, Essex. It is in itself a Grade II Listed building. The Chelmsford Museum is a local history and industrial heritage museum. Besides hosting the Chelmsford Museum, the Oaklands House is where the Essex Regiment Museum is also located.
Why should you Visit: After a major extension and redevelopment scheme, the museum which is now open for public visits, includes exhibits and interactive displays focusing on Crompton, Marconi and Hoffman, as well as illustrating the development of the town and city from prehistory up to modern times.
Timings: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Entry Fees: Free
Official Website: Chelmsford Museum
Oaklands Park
About: Oaklands Park is an established award winning park. It covers around 12 acres of grounds within the historic quarter of Chelmsford. Chelmsford Museum is located within the grounds of Oaklands Park, in fact in the Oaklands House.
Why should you Visit: Park facilities at Oaklands Park include the two museums there, viz. Chelmsford Museum and the Essex Regiment Museum, sports pitches, tennis courts, two play areas, a rose garden. There is also free car parking with spaces available for disabled badge holders and more spaces just outside the park. Maximum stay is 2 hours. If you need to stay longer, please ask at the Museum reception desk and you will receive a permit.
Timings: 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Entry Fees: Free
Official Website: Oaklands Park
Ingatestone Hall
About: Ingatestone Hall is a 16th Century manor house, still owned and occupied by the Petre family who built it. It is open to the public for visits during the summer (Wednesday and Sunday afternoons) and is available for private hire (eg weddings and dinners) at other times.
Why should you visit: Go to Ingatestone Hall for a day out, and have the best afternoon tea you will ever have. The tour of the place and the grounds will show you some spectacularly beautiful views of the interiors alongside outstanding service by attentive, friendly staff. Then take a stroll around the amazing grounds which is just perfect.
Timings: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Entry Fees: Adult: £7.00
Official Website: Ingatestone Hall
Great Baddow Millennium Community Centre
About: Open to everyone living in Great Baddow and the surrounding areas, the Millennium Centre provides numerous facilities and events for people of all ages from the Great Baddow Community.
Why should you Visit: Their comfortable and friendly Members Bar sells a wide range of beers, lagers, wines and spirits and with its three TV Screens is a perfect place to watch live-telecast sporting action. At lunchtime, Monday to Friday, their restaurant opens to the public serving delicious home-cooked food and on a sunny day, you can make use of the outside seating on our terrace overlooking the recreation ground.
Timings: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Entry Fee: Nil
Official Website: Great Baddow Millennium Community Centre
Chelmsford City Racecourse
About: Chelmsford City Racecourse is Britain’s newest racecourse offering thrilling all-weather racing under the mesmerizing light of its Champagne fluted floodlights. The venue also highlights its versatility with a huge range of events happening on days without races being held.
Why should you Visit: The Chelmsford City Racecourse provides a wonderful setting where you can anchor your horserace experience. The Grandstand boasts of two restaurants, one ideal for families, friends and corporate events, the other, a more formal environment and perfect to celebrate special occasions. The restaurants are complemented by the lively Sports Bar area offering various race day packages and bars for general admission.
Timings: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Entry Fees: Nil. Tickets available for race-day
Official Website: Chelmsford City Racecourse
Mountnessing Windmill
About: Mountnessing Windmill is a grade II* listed post mill at Mountnessing, Essex, England which has been restored to working order. Mountnessing Windmill was built in 1807, replacing an earlier mill. In 1937, ownership of the Mill passed from the Blencowe Estates to Mountnessing Parish Council. It was repaired as a memorial to King George VI, whose coronation was in that year.
Why should you Visit: It’s a beautiful mill and set in a spectacular location, makes for a great tourist spot as it overlooks the town of Chelmsford. The mill is open to the public on the third Sunday of each month between May and October. Have an outdoor picnic in the grounds near the mill or walk around the Mountnessing Mill (4 miles long) exploring some of the oldest settlements of the area including Mountnessing Hall and the Iron Church.
Timings: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Entry Fees: Nil
Official Website: Mountnessing Mill
Paper Mill Lock, Tearooms and Riverboat Cruises
About: Paper Mill Lock is situated in Little Baddow halfway along the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. The River stretches 14 Miles in total from the centre of Chelmsford to the sea at Heybridge Basin. Our Tearooms are a welcome break at the 7-mile point and are open all year round. There is parking available too, although this is reduced in the winter months.
Why Should you Visit: The Paper Mill Lock Tearooms are a family-run business and were established in 2003. We are open 7 days a week from 10 am, but of course, this is weather permitting, as the river has been known to flood. Caffel, our small trip riverboat holds 12 people and runs on the hour from 11 am on selected days. The journey leaves Paper Mill Lock and takes a leisurely 50 minutes, turning at the Baddow Mill Pond, before arriving back at the tearooms.
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to sunset.
Entry Fees: Adult: £6
Official Website: Paper Mill Lock
Central Park
Why should you visit: This is a public park in the City of Chelmsford, that is strikingly magnificent in its scope and space. This lovely open space can be found just off Parkway, there is plenty of space for the children to play in safety & a great place for a picnic. There is a lovely lake there as well as some play facilities. Nice place also to take the dog for a walk. If you’re in Chelmsford take a visit to Central Park and Bell Meadow, it’s a lovely place in the city centre, great for kids and adults alike.
Timings: Open 24 hours.
Entry Fees: Free
Official Website: Central Park
Shire Hall
Why should you visit: The Shire Hall in Chelmsford is an impressive Georgian building which still dominates Chelmsford town centre. When it was built the Shire Hall was designed to permit meetings of the county council and other civic meetings, and house the assizes, the quarter sessions for the county and the petty sessions for the division. Visit the premise to learn more about its tragic history how its courts and civic assembly hall have fallen to disuse since its construction during Tudor times.
Timings: Daylight hours.
Entry Fees: Nil
Official Website: Shire Hall
Boating in Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation
Why should you Visit: Paper Mill, on the river Chelmer, has many moored boats and fascinating old canal buildings. The Long Pond, a true canal now, carries the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation the last couple of miles to its own little salty seaport at Heybridge basin, part of Maldon, where waterside pubs await the canoeist. The waterways in this trail are managed by Essex Waterways Ltd and require paddlers to hold a licence. The presence of boats is what makes navigable waterways distinctive and attractive to a wide range of users.
Timings: Nil
Entry Fees: Nil
Official Website: Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation
Marsh Farm Country Park
Why should you Visit: Surrounded on three sides by the River Crouch, Clementsgreen and Fenn Creeks, Marsh Farm Country Park is a great place for coastal walks and superb river views. Its 300 acres of grazing marsh offers ideal dog-walking and wildlife-spotting opportunities, as well as a chance to explore many scenic riverside paths.
Timings: 8:00 a.m. – dusk
Entry Fees: Free
Official Website: Marsh Farm Country Park
RHS Garden Hyde Hall
Why should you visit: RHS Garden Hyde Hall is surely one of the finest gardens in the East of England, its location among rolling hills and fantastic panoramic views can often surprise the visitor to Essex. This 145-hectare (360-acre) estate is constantly evolving, as the gardening team strive to retain the original intimacy and charm of this horticultural gem. With sweeping panoramas, big open skies and far reaching views this Essex garden is an inspiration to visitors of all ages. The park is open to the public and includes a restaurant, children’s play area, picnic areas and garden library.
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Entry fees: Adult: £11.50
Official Website: RHS Garden Hyde Hall
Admirals Park
Why should you visit: A beautiful city centre park leading into Tower Gardens and West Park, Admirals is one of Chelmsford’s most popular parks where visitors can experience many different features, from landscaped garden areas to more natural spaces that encourage wildlife. There is a network of footpaths and cycleways linking the parkland with surrounding areas and you can take a walk along the River Can which meanders its way through the park.
Timings: Open 24 Hours
Entry Fees: Free
Official Website: Admirals Park
Marconi Ponds Nature Reserve
Why should you visit: Marconi Ponds has seen a number of uses including a source of brick clay following the opening of the railway in the 1840s, a Victorian tip and allotments. The ponds were dug to supply water to Crompton Works where The Village estate is today. The wooded area includes Hawthorn and Goat Willow which are coppiced each year to form dense bushes, ideal for nesting birds.
Timings: Open 24 hours
Entry Fees: Free
Official Website: Marconi Ponds Nature Reserve
Sanford Mill Museum
Why should you visit: Sandford Mill is located just outside Chelmer Village, and there are brown tourist signposts for you to follow. It is a Science Education Centre, where they offer fun and educational days throughout the year celebrating science, nature and industry. Sandford Mill is also one of the regular operating locations for the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society. The main Sandford Mill building houses the 1920s Marconi 2MT Writtle hut, and the team from CARS use this historic hut during radio days at Sandford Mill. From April to October we offer schools brilliant hands-on science sessions at this unique learning centre.
Timings: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. There are specified education days announced for each year.
Entry Fees: Nil
Official Website: Sanford Mill Museum
Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre
Why should you visit: The Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre is another fun place to go to, in Chelmsford. There are a wide variety of activities for visitors to do and engage in while there. There are concessions and facilities for registered members, the activities there include a gym, exercise lessons, swimming, an ice-skating rink, children’s activities, squash, a sports hall, a physiotherapy centre, clubs
Timings: 6:15 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Entry Fees: Nil
Official Website: Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre
Bond Street
Why should you visit: This is a very popular shopping mall in Chelmsford. The mall premises have many advanced facilities that make it state-of-the-art. There are stores of popular global brands here, ranging from fashion, cosmetics, food, furnishings and home decor and many many more. Enough said that makes this the most popular place where the flow of social activity come to a confluence.
Timings: 9am – 6pm
Entry Fees: Nil.
Official Website: Bond Street
Old Court Theatre Chelmsford
Why should you visit: This is considered by many as a true gem amongst country theatres where good quality plays get screened. Due to the theatre’s diminutive size, the audience not only feels involved in the performance but can also see every nuance of expression, hear every word the performers utter, even hear the sighs. Shows are usually charged 10 pounds per person and since it is Chelmsford, this a good source of entertainment for most of the local people.
Timings: According to shows.
Entry Fees: Adult: £10
Official Website: Old Court Theatre Chelmsford
Danbury Country Park
Why should you visit: Danbury Country Park – originally laid out in the 13th century as part of a private estate – offers ornamental gardens and lakes, woodland and meadows. The lakeside path takes you past the ornamental gardens and alongside tranquil waters, where you can see ducks, carp, moorhens, coots, grebes and sometimes a kingfisher. Late spring is a good time to see ducklings and spectacular displays from rhododendrons in the gardens. Woodland paths offer respite from the sun in the dappled shade of ancient oaks, hornbeams and sweet chestnuts.
Timings: 8:00 a.m. – dusk.
Entry Fees: Free
Official Website: Danbury Country Park
Essex Police Museum
Why should you Visit: The aim for the establishment of the Essex Police Museum was to preserve the history of the Essex Police force and expand public knowledge and awareness of their history by collecting, preserving and displaying material relevant to the history of Essex Police. Things to do at Essex Police Museum include: Stepping inside the Victorian cell, looking through the Charge Book from 1914, trying on a real police uniform, and getting your fingerprints collected police-style. Also, see a blue telephone box that looks exactly like The Doctor’s TARDIS.
Timings: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Entry Fees: Adults: £7.00
Official Website: Essex Police Museum
Hanningfield Reservoir
Why should you Visit: Hanningfield Reservoir is now the UK’s premier ‘any method’ trout fishery, and its success has allowed for investment into onsite facilities. They have a fleet of 35 boats, 10 of which were recently replaced with new Coulham fishing boats. The fishing season is open from March through to end November, and each year at least 40,000 trout will be stocked throughout the season.
Timing: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Entry Fees: Free, but suggested donation of £2 per adult
Official Website: Hanningfield Reservoir
Galleywood Heritage Centre
Why should you Visit: The Galleywood Heritage Centre was opened in 2009 to show the history of Galleywood and the surrounding areas. It has since developed into a popular venue for the many fundraising events held and hire of the 4 halls/marquee for Birthdays, Weddings, Anniversaries etc..
Timings: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Entry Fees: Nil
Official Website: Galleywood Heritage Centre
- #26. Chelmer Valley Local Nature Reserve
- #27. Jubilee Park
- #28. Boreham Airfield War Memorial
- #29. Parish Church
- #30. Civic Theatre
- #31. Beaulieu Park
- #32. Chelmsford Miniature Railway
- #33. Norsey Wood
- #34. Ale House
- #35. Be At One Chelmsford
- #36. The Six Bells
- #37. Asylum Bar and Club
- #38. The Griffin Danbury
- #39. The Woolpack
- #40. The Curlew
- #41. The Three Elms – Chignal St. James
- #42. The Whalebone Pub and Scrimshaws Restaurant
- #43. The Kings Head
- #44. Boutique Cafe Bar
- #45. The Black Bull Pub
- #46. The Royal Steamer
- #47. BackTrack Bar and Lounge
- #48. Virgin Balloon Flights Chelmsford
- #49. Crondon Park Golf and Country Club
- #50. Radical Bikes C.I.C
We hope you loved your virtual excursion to Chelmsford! Check out all the other places to visit nearby Chelmsford from down below.