New Writtle Street · Chelmsford · Essex CM2 0PG · Capacity approx 6,500
Chelmsford: county cricket at close quarters
Essex play in front of six and a half thousand at most, on a compact ground in the middle of Chelmsford. There is no tier of stands to sit behind and no distance between you and the game. On a quiet championship day you can hear the fielders talking to each other.
Capacity, which is a quarter of Edgbaston and a fifth of Lord's. It is the entire point of the place. County cricket at this size is a completely different experience from a Test, and a good deal cheaper to sit through.
What a small ground gives you
Everything that is difficult about a Test venue is simply absent here.
A few thousand at most
No closure ring, no crush, no twenty-minute walk to a collection point.
Genuinely
On a quiet day you hear the fielders. At a Test ground you hear the crowd.
County days especially
Which makes a group outing here cost a fraction of a Test day.
The exception
Friday evenings fill the ground and finish around ten. A different plan entirely.
Kent to Chelmsford
Over the Dartford Crossing and up the A12. One of our shorter journeys to any cricket ground.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Journey |
|---|---|---|
| Dartford & Bluewater | 28 miles | 45–70 min |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 32 miles | 50–75 min |
| Bexleyheath & Welling | 34 miles | 55–80 min |
| Bromley & Orpington | 38 miles | 60–90 min |
| Rochester & Chatham | 38 miles | 60–85 min |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 45 miles | 70–95 min |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 46 miles | 70–100 min |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 62 miles | 90–120 min |
Two very different fixtures
A championship day and a Blast night at the same ground need opposite plans.
| Fixture | Character | Return |
|---|---|---|
| County championship | A few thousand people, quiet, 11:00 to 18:00 | Open, on a call |
| One-day cup | Busier, finishing late afternoon | Set time works |
| T20 Blast, Friday night | Full ground, loud, finishing around 22:00 | Set time, planned exit |
| Rained off | Happens, and you find out on the morning | Cancellation terms agreed at booking |
A day at Chelmsford
The nearest county ground after our own
Canterbury is ours, and Chelmsford is the next closest. Under an hour from north Kent over the crossing and up the A12, which makes it a genuinely casual outing rather than an expedition. A group of eight can do a county day here for less than the fuel and parking on a single Test trip north.
Championship days are gloriously unhurried
A few thousand people, six hours of play, a proper lunch interval and no urgency whatsoever. It is the version of cricket that most Test-going supporters never actually see, and it is worth seeing. We treat these as open returns because play can end early or run late, and we hold nearby rather than fixing a time on the morning.
Blast nights are the opposite
A Friday evening T20 fills the ground with a younger, louder crowd, finishes around ten under lights and empties New Writtle Street all at once. Those we plan like a normal evening event: a set collection point back from the ground and a planned exit rather than an open-ended wait.
Weather is part of the deal
An English county day can be washed out entirely, and you find out on the morning. We agree the cancellation terms when you book rather than discussing them at eight o'clock on a wet Tuesday, which is fairer to everyone and takes about a minute at the enquiry stage.
Chelmsford cricket questions
Small ground, short journey.
How big is the ground?
Around six and a half thousand, which is a quarter of Edgbaston and a fifth of Lord's. It is the whole appeal: you sit close to the play rather than behind a tier of stands.
How far is Chelmsford from Kent?
Under an hour from north Kent over the Dartford Crossing and up the A12, and around two hours from the far east of the county.
Is there a road charge?
The Dartford Crossing applies both ways. We confirm whether it sits inside your quote before you book.
What is a championship day like?
Unhurried. A few thousand people, six hours of play, a proper lunch interval and no urgency at all. It is the version of cricket most Test-goers never see.
How are T20 Blast nights different?
Completely. A Friday evening fills the ground with a louder crowd, finishes around ten under lights and empties all at once. We plan those like a normal evening event.
What if it rains?
County days get washed out and you find out on the morning. We agree cancellation terms when you book rather than at eight o'clock on a wet Tuesday.
How do returns work?
Open for championship days, since play can end early or run late. Set collection times for Blast nights and one-day fixtures.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking, with the open-return and rain arrangements set out in advance.
County cricket and Essex
The grounds within easy reach.