If you’re one of the many ARU students who loves a little retail therapy, you’re spoilt for choice with the options in the city of Chelmsford! Not only does Chelmsford have a brilliant town centre but there are also excellent transport links to some of the biggest shopping centres in the South East. In this week’s blog, we take a closer look.
Chelmsford Town Centre
Chelmsford town centre is the perfect mix of shops, independent boutiques, eateries and plenty of open area parks, perfect for a break if you’ve shopped till you drop! Having been granted city status in 2012, the town and high street area underwent significant development and is now home to over 1,000 shops within the city centre. Less than a 10 minute walk from Anglia Ruskin university Chelmsford, the town centre is the perfect place to spend a day off from studying.
The Meadows
The Meadows shopping centre also serves as the Chelmsford community hub. Open 9am-5.30pm, ARU students can enjoy a range of mainstream and independent retailers, community ongoings – notably the arts hub –, an Odeon cinema (with student offers available) and of course plenty of delicious snack shacks! The famous Brick Lane Bagel Company has a new pop up in The Meadows; you won’t want to miss out on a delicious selection of fresh bagel stacks from the London hot spot, trust us!
Chelmsford High Street
Directly outside The Meadows entrance/exit is Chelmsford High Street. The high street is home to the city market, which takes place in every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Here, you can find fresh produce, handmade jewellery, bespoke clothing garments and delicious world food to enjoy as your stroll through the city centre. Some of our favourite suppliers include:
- Brown Bread: fresh bread, cakes and pastries that taste amazing, for a really great price.
- Youngs Fish: Highly recommended, fresh Essex seafood.
- Cheese & Pie Man: A family-run stall, selling a variety of cheese and pie!
- Jerk Station: Traditional Caribbean dishes, made fresh on the spot.
- Vegan Falafel: Authentic vegan and vegetarian falafels cooked before your eyes.
- Coffee Stop: Craving caffeine? Coffee Stop sells over 50 different coffee flavours that you can try. They also sell beans/grind to take home.
Moulsham Street
If you’re looking to experience a more traditional shopping experience, head over to Moulsham Street. Here, you’ll find fabric and craft shops, gadget retailers, charity shops and importantly, some of the best pubs in Chelmsford if you’re after a pitstop! There’s plenty of quaint places to enjoy, allowing you to experience something a little more authentic than the standard town centre.
High Chelmer
Some of the best shopping in Chelmsford in is the High Chelmer precinct. Many of the shops offer discounts forARU students, you just have to have your student ID, or discount app to hand. With over 50 shops here alone, including student favourite in Primark, it’s a great place to get your shopping fix! The Market Road entrance/exit also backs onto some amazing restaurants, notably Turtle Bay and Banana Tree (look out for their happy hour deals), with Chelmsford station less than a 5 minute walk away. The Bellmead entrance/exit leads out onto the beautiful Bell Meadow Park and Sky Blue Pastures and you’ll also find Central Park just a short walk away. Here, you can enjoy an iced coffee at the Central Park Café with friends after all that browsing and buying!
Bond Street
The most esteemed shopping in Chelmsford is in Bond Street. It’s the newest addition to the retail cluster in the city and here you’ll find the likes of John Lewis, The White Company, Foyles, Oliver Bonas, Tiptree Tea Rooms, Everyman Cinema, Hotel Chocolat and Goldsmiths. Just next to the John Lewis department store, you’ll find lots of reputable eateries like Las Iguanas, Wagamama, Bills and Giggling Squid. If you’re looking to really treat yourself, this is the place to indulge!
More Shopping in Essex
If you’re looking for a day out a little further afield, Chelmsford is just a short train or car ride away from even more shopping centres:
Braintree Village Designer Outlet
Yes, you guessed it, here you’ll find the designer brands you love at outlet prices; perfect for students who love luxury but have a budget to stick to! FYI – you may hear ARU students refer to this as ‘Freeport’, as Braintree Village was previously under this name, but don’t fear, they’re the same place.
Colchester Shopping
Historic Colchester town centre has some great shopping, notably their Fenwick department store and the cobbles of Culver Square and Lion Walk. Colchester has some lovely independent stores and market stalls down lots of winding streets, so be sure to check them out to find something a little different!
Westfield Stratford City
With everything under one roof, Westfield is the perfect retail experience come rain or shine and only 25 minutes on the train from Chelmsford! Why not head out and about into London once you’ve finished?
Get in Touch
As you can see, ARU students aren’t short of options when it comes to shopping in Chelmsford! If you’re soon to be studying in the city and would like to know more about private student accommodation options, we’d love to hear from you! At Rivermead Islands, our team are on hand to help should you have any questions at all. Get in touch with us through our contact page!
Our booking process is fast and simple, and we are now taking bookings for September 2023! Simply complete our form to be added to the waiting list.
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