Things to do in Chelmsford
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Top 10 attractions in Chelmsford
London Eye
Take a ride on the incredible 135-metre London Eye and enjoy a panoramic view of London's stunning skyline, packed with iconic landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and more. Ride during the day, at night, at sunset, or at dusk—which will you choose? The London Eye has a total of 32 air-conditioned, fully enclosed cabins, each of which can accommodate approximately 25 people. It takes about half an hour to complete a full rotation. The cabins are equipped with explanations of various sights in London, which play when they rotate to the corresponding angle. In addition, touch-sensitive information panels are also available.London · 48.1 km from Chelmsford
The British Museum
The British Museum is one of the largest and most renowned museums in the world. The British Museum houses over 8 million cultural relics and treasures from around the globe, with its vast quantity and diversity of collections being rare among museums worldwide. Rich collection of treasures Due to its vast collection, The British Museum can nearly showcase the entire course of world civilization. Despite spatial limitations, it still displays approx. 50,000 items simultaneously. The main collections date from the medieval period, with particular renown for ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman artifacts, alongside a wealth of precious cultural relics from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Many cultural treasures from around the world can only be seen in their authentic form here. Ancient Greek-style main building The main building emulates ancient Greek architecture, featuring a grand entrance with a tall colonnade flanked by eight thick and towering Roman-style columns on each side, topped by a pediment roof adorned with reliefs. Entering through the main door leads to the great court, which is connected to over 100 galleries of various sizes surrounding it. Inspired by the Louvre Pyramid, the great court is bright, spacious, and elegantly minimalist. Bright central atrium The great court was originally part of the British Library. After the library moved out, it was transformed into a covered square with a white color scheme. The square's massive semi-transparent roof is composed of many uniquely shaped glass panels, combined with white stone, ensuring excellent lighting even on gloomy days in London. The sculptures displayed in the court are genuine treasures, such as the marble lion and Easter Island statues. Additionally, artists from around the world occasionally perform here, adding a relaxed atmosphere to the solemn museum. At the center of the grand atrium is the reading room, displaying art literature and books open to the public, where travelers can admire the dome and quaint circular bookshelves up close. The entrance of the reading room is marked with the names of notable figures to commemorate their time spent reading here. Cafés and restaurants are located on both sides and above the grand atrium, offering dining options with a view overlooking the entire space. Along the outer edge of the reading room lies the museum shop, where visitors can purchase souvenirs after their tour. Three iconic treasures The Rosetta Stone: Originally from Egypt, this stone bears three different script versions of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh's decree. Through comparing these scripts, archaeologists gradually unlocked the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian civilization. However, the Rosetta Stone displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo is a replica. Admonitions scroll: The scroll consists of 12 paintings in total, with The British Museum housing 9 Tang dynasty replica versions. The Admonitions scroll ranks 39th in BBC's "A History of the World in 100 Objects," highlighting its immense cultural and historical value. Throughout history, the scroll has been collected by numerous emperors and high-ranking officials. The Elgin Marbles: These are sculptural fragments from the Parthenon, with a history of over 2,500 years. They have been housed in the museum for over 200 years since the British royal family purchased them at great expense. Specialty exhibition halls Asian pavilions: Halls 33 and 95. Hall 33 features artifacts from China, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, including collections from countries like India. Hall 33B is dedicated to Chinese jade artifacts, while Hall 95 showcases Chinese ceramics. The British Museum is one of the museums with the largest collections of lost Chinese artifacts, housing over 25,000 pieces, with approx. 2,000 on long-term display. The exhibition is meticulously designed, organizing Shang and Zhou dynasty bronzes along a chronological sequence, displaying artifacts from the Shang and Zhou, Qin and Han, to the Republican era. The major kilns of porcelain are divided into different curated sections by Ru, Ge, Jun, Ding, and Guan styles, presented professionally and systematically. Recommended artifacts to admire include large Tang tri-color ceramics, the Song Cizhou kiln "circus pillow," the Yuan blue-and-white fish and algae pattern large plate, Ming Xuande cloisonné, and Dunhuang mural Buddha statues. Ancient Egypt exhibition hall: halls 4, 61-66. One of the popular spots in the museum. The exhibits include mummies. The ancient Egypt hall is also one of the most visited exhibition halls, and almost all visitors to The British Museum make it a must-see. Ancient Greek and Roman galleries: rooms 11-23, 69-73, 77, 78, 82-85. The entire Parthenon is truly awe-inspiring, along with numerous ancient Greek marble sculptures and exquisite artifacts like vases. Don't miss the Portland Vase in room 70. Some exhibits are not suitable for long-term display and are only open during specific periods each year (including the mentioned Admonitions scroll). If you plan to visit, check the schedule on the official website in advance.London · 47.6 km from Chelmsford
Tower of London
The Tower of London stands majestically on the north bank of the Thames. It is a Norman fortress ordered by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and served as a royal palace, fortress, armory, mint, and prison for over 900 years. Queen Anne Boleyn was executed within its walls, and the future Elizabeth I was imprisoned here before her coronation. The unsolved mystery of the two young princes' disappearance in the "Bloody Tower" remains to this day. With its gripping royal history, it is an essential stop for understanding British history. · Savor the rich historical and cultural ambiance of the Tower of London, and listen to the legends and mysterious stories behind it. · Admire the exquisite royal jewelry, coronation crowns, and scepters in the Jewel House, and exploreWhite pagoda(the White Tower) houses world-renowned royal armory collections and treasures. · Don't miss the free guided tour by the Yeoman Warders to learn about the tower's iconic thousand-year history. △The Tower of London is a castle that initially served as a royal palace, later taking on various roles such as a fortress, armory, execution ground, and prison. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. This site imprisoned high-profile prisoners like Elizabeth I and witnessed the execution of many nobles. △Tower of London'sThe treasure house displays the jewels, coronation crowns, scepters, swords and other treasures of the British royal family. Travelers slowly pass through on the automated walkway during the visit, while large screens above the glass display cases explain the history of these treasures and their role in coronation ceremonies. Pictured is the imperial crown containing 23,578 gemstones, which is exquisitely beautiful. △Get a close-up view of the exquisitely carved rare armor in the white pagoda and experience the time-honored royal culture. △In addition, you will see many ravens during your visit, some of which are kept by the government but have their wings clipped; it is said that as long as there are ravens in the Tower of London, England will not suffer invasion.London · 45.3 km from Chelmsford
St. Paul's Cathedral
• Climb up and overlook the entire city of London • Admire the Baroque style • Immerse yourself in royal style St Paul's Cathedral is England's architectural masterpiece and place of national celebration. St Paul's is the only cathedral to have been designed, built and completed by a single architect (Sir Christopher Wren). A cathedral has stood here since 604AD with the current cathedral, rebuilt after the 1666 Great Fire of London, now over 300 years old. St Paul's has hosted events of national significance, from state funerals to the Royal Wedding of HRH Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, as well as national services of thanksgiving to celebrate the Jubilee's of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. St Paul's actually has three domes: an inner dome, a brick cone that supports the lantern, and the outer dome ‘skin'. The inner dome is 225ft high with a diameter of 102 ft. The whole structure weighs 64,000 tonnes.The golden ball on the top of the Dome is six feet in diameter, with room inside for ten people [although visitors can no longer do this]. The golden cross on top of the dome is 355.5ft from the ground meaning St Paul's was the tallest building in London for 252 years until 1962 when the BT tower overtook it. There are over six million pieces of glass mosaic in St Paul's Cathedral. The St Paul's Cathedral Grand Organ has 7,256 pipes, 108 stops and 5 manuals. Both Mendelssohn and Handel played the St Paul's organThe Crypt of St Paul's is the largest in Western Europe, and unusually for a cathedral, is the exact ‘footprint' of the cathedral floor. Explore the awe-inspiring interior of the Cathedral Floor with its monuments, mosaics and art. Climb to the Whispering Gallery to experience its unique acoustic quirk; continue climbing for the breathtaking views over London from the Stone and Golden Galleries. Descend to the Crypt housing the tombs and memorials of some of the nation's greatest heroes, St Paul's has been the venue for some of the nation's grandest funerals, including State Funeral's for Admiral Lord Nelson (1806), Arthur, Duke of Wellington (1852) , Sir Winston Churchill (1965) and the architect of St Pauls, Sir Christopher Wren. The Crypt is home to tombs and memorials to British heroes such as Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, JMW Turner, Florence Nightingale and Sir Alexander Fleming. Sir Christopher Wren is also buried here, in a very plain grave. On the wall at the head of his tomb is a plain inscription, in Latin, arranged by his son. It translates asIf you seek his monument, look around you. Multimedia guides are included, and family and individual visitors can, subject to availability, join in on the schedule of guided tours and welcome talks offered throughout the day to ticketholders.London · 46.3 km from Chelmsford
Buckingham Palace
Explore the nineteen magnificent state rooms at Buckingham Palace, where the royal family hosts state activities and grand ceremonies. You will stroll through the white drawing room, music room, state room, and blue drawing room, culminating in the highlight of the tour—the throne room. The arch and canopy were designed by architect John Nash. The pair of thrones in the room were used consecutively for the coronations of Elizabeth II and Charles III. The king's official portrait after his coronation was photographed here and is now permanently displayed alongside the queen's portrait. △ In the changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace, a guard detachment replaces another to become the king's guard, marching from Wellington Barracks to Buckingham Palace accompanied by music. △ At Buckingham Palace's King's Gallery, travelers can view constantly updated exhibitions of the royal collection, including works by old masters, rare furniture, decorative art, and a vast array of photographs. △ The royal mews is one of the world's prestigious still-operating mews, and also houses the collection of royal carriages, Windsor greys, and Cleveland bays. To this day, the mews remains responsible for the transportation of His Majesty the King and other members.London · 49.5 km from Chelmsford
Westminster Abbey
• Visit the site on the north bank of the Thames where kings were crowned and royal weddings took place • Stroll through the UK's royal burial sites and visit the resting places of royal family members and legendary figures like Newton and Darwin • Explore magnificent, solemn, and serene Gothic architectural masterpieces Westminster Abbey, located on the north bank of the Thames in London and adjacent to the Palace of Westminster, is a Gothic-style royal church in Britain. Magnificent and grand, it is a sacred site in the UK and holds a prominent status among the country's many churches. The Henry VII Chapel is located at the rear of the church, featuring ornate decorations and surrounded by numerous chapels. Above the west door stand ten statues of 20th-century Christian martyrs, installed in 1998, representing figures from around the world, including Martin Luther King Jr.London · 48.8 km from Chelmsford
Tower Bridge
· Ascend Tower Bridge for a panoramic view of London's iconic landmarks along the River Thames, including the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Shard. · Step onto the 42 m high glass walkway for a unique perspective of life in London. · Explore the historic engine room to learn how steam engines raised the bridge and listen to workers' construction stories. Tower Bridge is one of the landmarks of London and a symbol of the city. It is a suspension bridge spanning the River Thames and also a bascule bridge. When ships pass on the River Thames, the bridge slowly splits and lifts upward. After the ships pass, the bridge slowly lowers to restore vehicle traffic. Tower Bridge consists of four towers connected together, with a total length of approx. 240 m and two levels. △The scenic Tower Bridge Explore the amazing glass walkway at Tower Bridge and discover the 13 million rivets that hold this landmark together. This pedestrian walkway connects the north and south towers, offering a stunning panoramic view of London from east to west at 42 m above the River Thames. △Thrilling glass skywalk △The spectacular moment when Tower Bridge risesLondon · 45.4 km from Chelmsford
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is one of London's historic royal parks. Enclosed by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in the 15th century, it is also a core component of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Maritime Greenwich". The park is situated on a hill on the south bank of the River Thames. From the hilltop, you can take in the modern skyline of Canary Wharf and the winding River Thames. A striking landmark in the park is the Royal Observatory Greenwich standing atop the hill—the birthplace of Greenwich Mean Time. In 1884, the Prime Meridian passing through this location was established as the global zero point for longitude, allowing visitors to stand on this line and straddle the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The deer park on the hillside preserves the tradition of introducing deer herds dating back to the time of Henry VIII, and fallow deer foraging in the woods is a sight that has continued in the park for hundreds of years. The park also features ancient sweet chestnut trees aged approx. 360 years, as well as the historic Queen's Orchard. The park, along with the National Maritime Museum, theQueen's House, and the Cutty Sark sailing ship at the foot of the hill, forms a complete tour route for the core area.London · 43.2 km from Chelmsford
RHS Garden Hyde Hall
Set in the heart of rural Essex, RHS Garden Hyde Hall's glorious hilltop location offers sweeping panoramic views and wide-open skies. Famed for dealing with challenging gardening in dry conditions, RHS Hyde Hall is packed with dramatic color, texture, and wonder. Explore the paths of the Global Growth Vegetable Garden, and then enjoy its produce at the cafés and restaurants. Alternatively, take a stroll up Clover Hill to admire the wide views of the landscape beyond. If you are looking for a peaceful place to take in RHS Hyde Hall's stunning surroundings and native wildlife, make your way to the glorious reservoir and bird hide to admire over 90 species of birds including swans, tufted ducks, and herons. Don't forget to treat your bare feet to the luscious green lawns of the Hilltop Garden, filled with fragrant roses, fishponds, and colorful herbaceous bordersChelmsford · 10.4 km from downtown
Hylands Park
Chelmsford · 3.3 km from downtown
Experiences you can't miss in Chelmsford
Featured Food & drink in Chelmsford
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Free things to do in Chelmsford
London Eye
London · 48.1 km from ChelmsfordImmediate access, Book now for todayThe British Museum
London · 47.6 km from ChelmsfordTower of London
London · 45.3 km from ChelmsfordImmediate access, Book now for todaySt. Paul's Cathedral
London · 46.3 km from ChelmsfordImmediate access, Book now for todayBuckingham Palace
London · 49.5 km from ChelmsfordWestminster Abbey
London · 48.8 km from ChelmsfordImmediate access, Book now for todayTower Bridge
London · 45.4 km from ChelmsfordImmediate access, Book now for todayGreenwich Park
London · 43.2 km from ChelmsfordRHS Garden Hyde Hall
Chelmsford · 10.4 km from downtownBook now for tomorrowHylands Park
Chelmsford · 3.3 km from downtown
What travelers say about Chelmsford
Catherine KwongOctober 14, 2026
5.0
Wonderful experience, very nice view and lovely weather in early Aug
London Eye
Chelsea小星October 10, 2026
5.0
I visited the British Columbia University 10 years ago and found it quite challenging. This time, I decided to opt for a guided tour, and the experience was immediately different. The guide was very knowledgeable, providing excellent depth and breadth in their explanations, and answered my questions very well.
The British Museum
M14***49October 12, 2026
5.0
The must-see exhibit is the Royal Jewels exhibition. A basic understanding of British history is recommended for a truly worthwhile visit. From here, you can see Tower Bridge and The Shard. It's easily accessible by the Underground.
Tower of London
花花小兔August 21, 2026
5.0
Much cheaper than the official website, and the entry was incredibly smooth. The Great Dome was absolutely stunning; it was definitely worth the effort to climb up and overlook the east bank of the Thames. I even went to see the Harry Potter staircase from the staff. A truly fulfilling experience.
St. Paul's Cathedral
lilianna0309September 3, 2026
5.0
After visiting Windsor Castle and Chatsworth House (Darcy Estate), we then visited Buckingham Palace.
If you could only visit one palace in the UK, it would have to be Buckingham Palace.
Photography is not allowed inside the royal palaces, as is the case with Windsor Castle, so we could focus on the guided tour.
The gift shop after the Buckingham Palace tour has some limited-edition items available only there, making great souvenirs.
I bought a Buckingham Palace + Royal Horse Stables combo ticket. The product page stated that visiting the Royal Horse Stables allowed direct entry to Buckingham Palace, but this wasn't actually the case.
The State Rooms and the Royal Horse Stables are exchanged at two separate locations, not far apart. However, the ticket exchange and verification are handled by different people, and the verification personnel strictly adhere to the reserved time.
The Royal Horse Stables houses the Golden Carriage used exclusively for coronation ceremonies, which is worth seeing; there are also carriages for tourists to ride in and take photos.
Buckingham Palace
130***95September 29, 2026
5.0
I've been there a few times before, and this time I focused on the sculptures on the exterior walls—they were quite interesting, with many funny emoji-like faces. The interior remains as solemn and dignified as ever, embodying the history and spirit of the British Empire. I highly recommend a visit, provided you have some knowledge of British history.
Westminster Abbey
_TI***kxAugust 5, 2026
5.0
Traveling with a family member who had just undergone surgery, I initially thought staying in a hotel would be somewhat compromised, but I was completely moved by the thoughtfulness hidden in the details. True quality is revealed in the small things; meticulous service embodies the highest level of hospitality. During check-in, the staff noticed my family member's mobility issues and, without us even asking, proactively moved the room to the closest position to the elevator. They had already padded all the sharp table corners, laid two layers of non-slip mats in the bathroom, and ensured the handrails were at the perfect height for my elderly relative to get up. Throughout the trip, they didn't explicitly emphasize "what we did for you," yet they always appeared when needed: when my family member wanted warm porridge, the kitchen quickly brought out a bowl of perfectly cooked, soft millet porridge, the temperature just right; upon returning from a walk, we found a lightweight folding wheelchair at the door. There was no unnecessary sales pitch, no excessive intrusion. This just-right sense of proportion is the highest form of gentleness and respect; this unassuming care is more reassuring than any deliberate enthusiasm.
Tower Bridge
NoemieyJune 15, 2023
5.0
Second time here for the cherry blossom… The park was packed but the view was absolutely gorgeous.
Greenwich Park
