The Top 10 Family Things to Do in Chelmsford
Chelmsford is a lively city in Essex, surrounded by beautiful countryside and just a 40-minute train ride from London. It’s a great destination for a day out with the family because there are so many child-friendly attractions and fun events. Chelmsford is also an excellent place for families to live…
Here’s the Hopkins Homes guide to family-friendly Chelmsford.
Call of the Wild Zoo
This friendly zoo is just south of the city and is one of the best-loved family days out in Chelmsford. Meet lemurs, parrots, meerkats, monkeys and wallabies among others, and there’s an appealing petting zoo for younger visitors.
Perfect for families because…
As well as all the marvelous animals, there’s everything a family needs for a successful day out. The Serengeti Snack Shack serves a good choice of food, plus there’s plenty of parking, a play park, loos and baby changing, and yes, a gift shop.
Chelmsford Museum
Chelmsford Museum is free to visit and is a super place for a family trip. It’s located in lovely Oaklands Park, where you’ll also find picnic tables and a playground: everything you need for a family adventure.
Perfect for families because…
Head for the museum’s new Explorer Zone where you can pick up resources to help younger kids get the most out of the museum. This includes Explorer Bags and Percy’s Park Trail.
Chelmsford Theatre
Chelmsford Theatre has a varied programme of shows, held either in the large auditorium or next door in the more intimate Studio. Naturally, the panto is the annual highlight, but there are plenty more family-friendly performances held throughout the year.
Perfect for families because…
Look out for one of the Comedy Club 4 Kids performances at the Studio. Guaranteed age appropriate without being patronising, and very, very funny.
Hylands Estate Gardens & Parkland
Chelmsford is a wonderfully green city with plenty of spaces for a good old scamper. The gardens and parkland at Hylands are a great family favourite, with 574 acres to explore. The park is a blend of formal gardens, woods and huge open spaces, and is free to visit.
Perfect for families because…
Feeding the ducks on the Pleasure Gardens pond is a lovely way to entertain the kids. You can buy special duck food in The Stables shop.
Go Ape Chelmsford
Popular family adventure experts Go Ape have opened their 35th outdoor activity centre in Chelmsford’s Hylands Park. There are zip lines, a tarzan swing and a lot of ground-free ways of moving from tree to tree. Look out for events such as Sundown Adventures.
Perfect for families because…
There are activities for adventurers of a range of ages, starting as young as four years old. Visitors aged ten and over can try the challenge of Treetop Adventure Plus, where they’ll face 21 obstacles including three zip wires.
Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve
For a more tranquil day out in the great outdoors, Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve is a popular spot among locals. It’s a long 17.6-hectare area that stretches 2.5km from the city centre to residential areas along the banks of the River Chelmer. The footpaths and cycle paths are a lovely way to navigate this part of Chelmsford.
Perfect for families because…
There are lots of different habitats within the reserve, so it’s an excellent place for wildlife spotting. Look out for common lizards, kingfishers and even otters.
Riverside Leisure Centre
Sometimes, a swim is just the thing your family needs. Riverside Leisure Centre is in a handy city centre location (and is also a good place to park for the nature reserve) and has two swimming pools, main and learner. The ice-skating rink is a real bonus and offers holiday lessons for rookie skaters.
Perfect for families because…
Riverside’s indoor soft play is suitable for little ones from 0-7 years (separated into two areas for babies and toddlers and older kids). There are tables for parents, with coffee and snacks available from Paddy & Scott’s cafe.
Air Hop Chelmsford
On a rainy day, book the family into this extraordinary indoor play centre. Chelmsford’s trampoline park naturally has a great choice of bouncing opportunities, as well as dodgeball courts, air slides that propel you into giant bean bags and a Clip-n-Climb centre.
Perfect for families because…
Look out for the different sessions: open jump, family, toddler and SEN. There’s also a very welcome cafe overlooking the main area.
Moto Pizza
After all this swimming, climbing, bouncing and exploring, it’s time to refuel. There’s a great choice of places to eat in Chelmsford, and Moto Pizza is a firm favourite among hungry families. Not only are the pizzas wood-fired and made using traditional Italian ingredients, they’re bottomless. Pay once and try as many different slices as you like.
Perfect for families because…
It’s fun, friendly and good value – there are different price tiers for kids of different ages. Older guests will enjoy the wine menu, and if you’re a daring diner, ask for the Pizza Roulette.
Odeon Chelmsford
And relax… A family trip to the movies is an excellent way to unwind together, and Odeon Chelmsford is a wonderfully comfy place to finally sit down (upgrade to a Premier seat as an extra treat). Those essential cinema snacks are provided by the Costa Coffee and Ben & Jerry’s concessions.
Perfect for families because…
With eight screens, there’s bound to be a film that suits you all. Look out for special family screenings and offers.
Thinking of moving the family to Chelmsford?
There’s certainly a lot to keep a young family busy in Chelmsford. At Hopkins Homes, we think that family-friendly Chelmsford is a great place to live. Find out more about our new homes at Beaulieu, Chelmsford.