Chelmsford is a city located in the county of Essex, England. It serves as the county town and is one of three cities within the county, alongside Colchester and Southend-on-Sea.
The city is situated approximately 31 miles (50 km) north-east of Charing Cross in London and 22 miles (35 km) south-west of Colchester. According to the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 110,625.
Chelmsford provides its name to the wider Chelmsford local government district, which encompasses an extensive surrounding area.