Chelmsford is a city in Essex, England, located 31 miles northeast of London's Charing Cross. It serves as the county town of Essex and is one of three cities in the county, alongside Colchester and Southend-on-Sea. The built-up area had a population of 110,625 at the 2021 census.
The city gives its name to the wider Chelmsford local government district, which extends beyond the city itself to cover an extensive surrounding area. Chelmsford is situated 22 miles southwest of Colchester, positioning it within the broader Essex region between London and the east coast.