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Living in Chelmsford, Essex

Published Jan 8th 2024

5 mins read

Toby Ridge

If you are considering living in Chelmsford professional guidance from Garrington will give you valuable insight into the city’s appeal.

Living in Chelmsford, Essex offers a vibrant environment for both living and working. Boasting stunning landscapes, top-notch amenities, excellent schools and a convenient proximity to London, it is an ideal place to call home.

The city has a long history. Evidence of settlements dating back to the Neolithic and the Bronze Age have been found, and the Romans built a fort here in AD60. In 1199, a Royal Charter granted Chelmsford the right to hold a market, which is still running 800 years later.

Achieving city status in 2012, Chelmsford provides all the perks of urban living, from excellent transportation links to a wide choice of dining options and various outdoor spaces including beautiful riverside walks.

The city – which has a 15^th century cathedral and a museum – has flourished in recent years due to substantial investments in its retail areas and its well-equipped train station.

Living in Chelmsford has so much to offer, so if it sounds like the place for you, here is what you need to know …

What Types of Property are there in Chelmsford, Essex?

Chelmsford City is renowned for its impressive, detached Victorian and Edwardian properties. But there are also smaller, terraced Victorian properties in the area that are full of character, plus newer developments – such as the impressive Beaulieu Park – for comfortable family living.

If you are looking for chocolate-box country cottages, then the villages surrounding Chelmsford have plenty – as well as sprawling mansions that provide optimum luxury and peace but with all the benefits of the city centre not far away.

With modern waterside developments and period properties converted into apartments on offer, there is something for everyone whether you are a professional looking for city life or a family looking for a forever home.

Schools in Chelmsford

Chelmsford offers excellent schools and colleges, with higher education at Anglia Ruskin University (which includes Essex’s first School of Medicine) and Writtle University College.

Chelmsford College also offers further education in the area. Several secondary schools have attached sixth form colleges.

Primary Schools in and around Chelmsford

Chancellor Park Primary School;
King’s Road Primary School;
Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School;
The Cathedral Church Of England Voluntary Aided Primary School;

Secondary Schools in and around Chelmsford

Established in 1907, Chelmsford County High School is a selective state grammar school for girls aged 11-18;
Known locally as ‘KEGS’, the King Edward VI Grammar School is a state school for boys aged 11-18, with specialisms in science and languages;
Moulsham High School is a co-educational school for students aged 11-18;
The Boswells School specialises in Performing Arts and is a co-educational school and college for pupils aged 11-18.

Independent Schools near Chelmsford

New Hall School is a Catholic, independent, boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 1 – 18;
St. Anne’s Preparatory School – a small, co-educational independent school for pupils aged 3 – 11;
St John’s School in nearby Billericay is an independent day school for students aged 2-16.

Green spaces in Chelmsford

With a plethora of green spaces to enjoy, living in Chelmsford offers the perfect balance. Chelmsford’s parks and green spaces each possess a unique character, many lining the banks of its three rivers – Wid, Chelmer, and Can – and providing charming backdrops to the city’s expansive open areas.

You can enjoy riverside dog walks, cycling, children’s play areas, outdoor sports, events, and more. Chelmsford’s green spaces provide ideal settings for various activities as well as serving as habitats for local wildlife.

Hylands House and Park

Hylands Estate, just to the west of the city, has around 574 acres of historic parkland open to the public, including grasslands, ancient woodlands, formal gardens, and ponds and lakes.

The elegantly restored Neo-Classical villa, Hylands House, is open to the public on specific days. The Stables within the estate feature a café, a second-hand bookshop, an information point, and studios for resident artists. The park also has an award-winning, accessible Adventure Playground for children.

Central Park

Central Park, one of Chelmsford’s oldest public parks, welcomed its first visitors in 1894. Spanning over 35 acres of parkland, including a Nature Reserve, footpaths and cycle networks connect all areas within the park, making it easily accessible.

Positioned at the heart of the city, Central Park invites visitors to unwind in its green surroundings while remaining just a short stroll away from the city’s vibrant activity.

The park offers a range of attractions, including beautiful flowerbeds, riverside walks, cycle paths, a model railway, children’s play areas, a lake, tennis courts, a multi-use games area, and table tennis facilities.

Throughout the year, various outdoor events take place. You can also appreciate views of the iconic Victorian railway viaduct while strolling around the lake, then pause for refreshments at the park’s café.

Oaklands Gardens

Oaklands is a well-established and popular park, encompassing approximately 12 acres of grounds within the historic quarter of Chelmsford. Initially opened to the public in 1930, the park now proudly holds both Green Flag and Green Heritage status.

The park is home to the Chelmsford Museum and Essex Regiment Museum. There is a spacious open grass area suitable for sports and picnics, tennis courts, play areas, the award-winning Echo Garden, a café, and traditional ornamental gardens.

Chelmsford, Essex Transport Links

Chelmsford has excellent transport links, making it a great choice for commuters. Living in Chelmsford provides the ideal central location for access to the rest of Essex, London and Suffolk.

The A12 is nearby, and the M25 motorway is accessible within 20 minutes. Central London is approximately just under a 1.30-hour drive away.

London Stansted – an international airport with destinations across Europe – is only 30 minutes away by car.

London’s Liverpool Street is around a 40-minute train journey, and Norwich takes just under an hour and a half by rail.

A new train station – Beaulieu Park Station – is due to be completed in 2025, supporting new homes between Chelmsford and Braintree and further improving connections to London.

Places to Eat, Drink and Shop in Chelmsford

Chelmsford has plenty of great restaurants and pubs, including small independent eateries as well as the more recognisable chains.

You can shop until you drop in Chelmsford, whether you stroll around the many local shops in the city or one of several shopping malls such as the Bond Street Shopping Centre or High Chelmer Shopping Centre.

Browse the indoor market featuring many family-run businesses or hit the High Street Market and enjoy delicious street food. There, you can also buy bread and pastries, freshly caught lobster and fish, and even a selection of cheeses.

A lot of the area is pedestrianised, making getting around more pleasant. There are also two cinemas and several gyms.

Why Move to Chelmsford?

With an exciting town centre, outstanding transport connections, shops galore featuring luxury and high street brands, plus excellent schools, Chelmsford really has it all.

Whatever type of home you are looking for, there is everything from large period properties with land on the outskirts of the city centre to converted apartments and contemporary homes.

With open spaces, riverside walks and lots of other outdoor activities, living in Chelmsford offers something for everyone.