Chelmsford is at the heart of social and economic life of Essex - and has been for 800 years. To this day Chelmsford is a thriving community and maintains its position as a premier commercial, retail and leisure location. One of the best shopping centres in Essex can be found in Chelmsford. Complementing the shopping facilities are numerous restaurants, as well as pubs, cafes, wine bars and a cinema.
Chelmsford is a town in the county of Essex, in the United Kingdom. It lies 31 miles (50 km) northeast of London, approximately halfway between there and Colchester. It is almost exactly in the centre of the county and it is the county town of Essex, although it is neither the largest nor the oldest town in the county. It is also the seat of the borough of Chelmsford, which covers a wider area than the town.
Chelmsford is home to the Diocese of Chelmsford, and has the smallest cathedral in England, built in the 15th and early 16th century when it was the the parish church of the prosperous medieval town. John Dee, responsible for the English translation of Euclid, was educated at the Cathedral school in the sixteenth century. Chelmsford is also home to part of the Anglia Polytechnic University and to King Edward VI Grammar School founded in 1551 by charter of Kind Edward VI on the site on an earlier educational foundation.About 10,000 commuters travel to London daily, making Chelmsford the busiest through railway station in England.The A12 road from London, originally built by the Romans to connect London and Colchester, used to pass through the town, but is now diverted around the east.
Places of interest within the district include Writtle, one of the possible birthplaces of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, and Pleshey, where stand the ruins of a once important castle mentioned in William Shakespeare's play Richard II.
Hylands House and Park just to the west of the town is a former country house saved from dereliction and now owned by the local council. It is open to the public and has in recent years been the site of popular annual music festivals, such as the V Festival and the Chelmsford Spectacular. It has been chosen as the site for the 21st International Scout Jamboree in 2007. Hylands House also doubled as the US White House in the 2004 film Chasing Liberty.
Essex County Cricket Club play frequent matches during the season. The ground is close to the town centre, within easy walking distance of the bus and railway stations. The Borough has a variety of golf clubs for players of all standards. There are Rugby and Hockey clubs as well as the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre, home of Wavetech Chieftains Ice Hockey team. There are indoor and outdoor pools, a 60-foot flume ride, diving area and an Ice Rink.
