Chelmsford is Essex’s county town, though these days it’s rivalled in size by Colchester and Southend-on-Sea, which are pretty close by. The best places to stay in Chelmsford will very much depend on why you’re visiting — if you’re here for one of Chelmsford’s many festivals (see the Travel Information section), or the racing, then the best places to stay will probably be close to the venues, but our Gurus are more partial to a few of Chelmsford’s charming pubs with rooms, which are slightly further out of town.

Chelmsford’s historic claim to fame has got to be as the birthplace of radio. Marconi opened the first wireless factory here in 1899, and you’ll find many references to this event, and others in the history of radio, on Chelmsford’s streets. When it comes to landmarks, the cathedral is definitely one of the town’s most appealing, and the gardens are a peaceful and beautiful refuge. Hylands House and Park is another — this is also where many of Chelmsford’s festivals take place, Creamfields included, and the landscaped grounds spread for more than 500 acres. Chelmsford isn’t necessarily a sightseeing town, it’s well known for its lively nightlife and multiple shopping malls too. But if you’re not here to attend a particular festival or event you might want to consider using the best places to stay in Chelmsford as a base for exploring further afield.

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Chelmsford are just to the north of town, towards Braintree. Maldon and the Heybridge Basin are to the east; Southend-on-Sea is to the southeast; and Colchester is to the northeast.

The Best Places to Stay in Chelmsford

Pubs with Rooms

• Small, quaint and very affordable, The Compasses Inn is a charming country village pub just north of Chelmsford, surrounded by walking, cycling and horse riding trails. The family-run pub is friendly, and has an excellent selection of local ales, hearty cuisine and roaring fire in season. And upstairs are five guest rooms, with beamed ceilings, fireplaces and sash windows.
• The Lion Inn has long been a pub and inn, and has relatively recently become more of a restaurant with rooms. There are 23 guest rooms in a good range of sizes and styles, with more traditional decor in the original pub building and more contemporary choices made in the new restaurant extension. Just north of Chelmsford again, this is a family friendly choice with plenty of space and choice.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• London City Airport is Chelmsford’s closest airport, about 40 minutes away by car or taxi, and 50 minutes by train. London Luton Airport is next quickest by car or taxi, while Heathrow is next closest by public transport — about an hour and twenty minutes by train. If you’re travelling through London by rail, you’ll have about an hour's journey ahead of you to get to Chelmsford Station.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Chelmsford is extra popular in May, because local estate Hylands House and Park hosts the music festival Creamfields South, and in July for the country music festival. Hylands Estate also hosts an annual flower festival. In fact Chelmsford is popular in the summer generally, because of the horse racing carnivals — including the ever-popular Ladies Day in mid-June. And the town hosts a Country Fair in July. It is also known for its 3foot People Festival, which is perfect for pre-schoolers. Chelmsford is known for having some of England’s hottest, and driest, summers. But there are plenty of things to see and do in there cooler months, just remember to bring your wet weather gear, because this is England.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Expand your search to include all the best places to stay in Essex
• Consider searching for the hotel type you’re looking for: the best pubs with rooms in Essex for example or the most romantic hotels in Essex
• Consider your options in nearby Colchester
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.