Out & About in Chelmsford

The historic yet modern county town of Chelmsford is located in Essex, England, and is home to a population of more than 120,000 people, only 2% of whom are unemployed. Chelmsford is also a popular place of residence for workers who commute to the City of London.

The town has existed since 1199, when it was quite literally just a market. Prior to this, it is thought that the area was of much significance to the occupying Romans and there is also a Neolithic settlement nearby. Notable places in Chelmsford include Chelmsford Cathedral, Hylands House, The Shire Hall and the impressive Victorian Viaduct. The town has also produced a surprising number of 'famous people', including Penny Lancaster (Rod Stewart), Harry Judd (McFly), Keith Flint (The Prodigy) and 1966 World Cup Winner, Sir Geoff Hurst!

Shopping

High Chelmer is one of two medium sized shopping centres in Chelmsford, with the other being The Meadows. There are a good range of shops contained within these shopping centres and a high proportion of the town's population works in the retail sector.

Furthermore, the Riverside and Chelmer Village are relatively large retail parks in Chelmsford, which include household name stores such as Matalan, Staples, Currys, Halfords, Next and TKMaxx. The pedestrianised High Street, Moulsham Street and Baddow Road, however, offer a much greater diversity in terms of the types of shops available. For instance, there are specialised boutiques, jewellers, antique stores, arts and craft stores and a host of luxury brand name outlets.

True to its roots, Chelmsford is also host to several large markets - including regular farmers' markets and gourmet food fares. As aforementioned, the pedestrianised nature of the High Street allows for a sense of freedom and security whilst wandering from shop to shop. Access in and around town is made simple by the FirstGroup bus network, whilst efficient and effective signposting makes travelling by car a relatively pain-free process! In short, there are plenty of easily accessible shopping opportunities in Chelmsford.

Food and Drink

The streets of Chelmsford are punctuated by country pubs, modern bars and vibrant cafés. In fact, according to Chelmsford Borough Council, there are more than 100 places to eat in the town centre alone! These include large household names but also a selection of top quality restaurants and chic cosmopolitan bars.

The Bookleaf Tea House and Book Shop is a good example of the kind of cafés on offer in Chelmsford. Customers are treated to hot drinks and food whilst being able to browse a vast selection of books. It certainly provides a feeling of tranquillity that is easily lost in the bustling high street crowds - a superb place to relax for a moment or two.

Arts and Entertainment

The Arts feature heavily in Chelmsford - so much so, in fact, that Chelmsford Council have implemented their Arts Strategy 2006-2010, which has been developed to provide clear direction for the provision of arts and entertainment services in the area. Working alongside the Civic Theatre, Cramphorn Theatre and various arts marketing and development teams, the Council's primary goals are to ensure that all parts of the community have access to good quality theatrical experiences, the opportunity to participate in good quality arts and cultural activities and to ensure that local artists and arts organisations are supported in their work.

The Civic Theatre seats 505 in its impressive auditorium, which, according to Chelmsford Council, offers a "varied programme of large scale professional, touring and amateur events throughout the year, from classical drama and dance to an eclectic musical programme and all time family favourites". The Cramphorn Theatre seats 177 and is designed for smaller scale theatre, music and dance productions. There are also a number of independent arts and music events scheduled throughout the year, such as the annual V festival in Hylands Park.

Aside from the arts, Chelmsford also has Odeon, UCI and AMC cinemas, with plenty of fun to be had from the town's bustling night life, which centres on trendy bars, restaurants and night clubs. Chelmsford also has a major cricket scene for sports enthusiasts, who can also enjoy the town's football, rugby and hockey events - although success is not guaranteed!

Hotel and Travel

There are plenty of top standard hotels in Chelmsford, whilst bed and breakfasts are also of a good quality generally. The County Hotel provides 54 bedrooms, an acclaimed restaurant, function/conference rooms, and a separate lounge and bar area, making it one of the most relaxing places to stay in the town. Oakland Hotel is also a popular stay for visitors, who enjoy the ensuite facilities and the splendid restaurant and bar services.

Other than bus and road networks mentioned above, Chelmsford also has a relatively large railway station, which has 2 platforms and is used by some seven and a half million travellers each year.