Island Life
Live, work and play
at Rivermead Islands.
Your Rivermead Islands Life
University is like no other time in your life. You will study hard, get ready for the working world, meet new people and experience the freedom of living alone in a new city. Rivermead Islands offers you the ideal environment from which to live your student life your own way.
Join our community!
Your Wellbeing
We know that settling into a new place while tackling the challenges university will throw at you can be tough at times. We are here to help you feel comfortable and will help you from application through to moving in day and beyond.
- Free support, well-being and lifestyle resources are available through RI, our resident concierge app
- Access all the pastoral support that your university has to offer by crossing the river to campus (we’re that close!)
- Financial support. Contact us if you are having difficulty paying your rent
On-Site Luxuries
- City Bowl Sports bar with Sky Sports and BT Sport
- 12-lane bowling alley
- Pool tables
- Café – Breakfast, Lunch, Coffee & Cake
- Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve
City Guide
At Rivermead Islands you will be only a ten minute walk from the city centre, so you can enjoy everything Chelmsford has to offer.
Food & Drink
Chelmsford has an abundance of restaurants and cafés to cater for every taste. Check out Schwings for some of the best chicken around and The Breakfast Club for a decadent brunch. There are also great sandwich delis and market vendors scattered across the city. Lek’s Thai and Pastasciutta are particular local favourites. All your high-street names are here too, including Wagamama, Byron, Five Guys, Las Iguanas, Turtle Bay, ASK Italian, Bill’s, Yo! Sushi and Nando’s.
If you enjoy a traditional English pub, you’ll find The Wheatsheaf, The Ship, The Plough and The Railway Tavern, all within walking distance. The Ale House under the station viaduct offers a great selection of craft beers.
Nightlife
Throw some shapes and let loose at Chelmsford’s bars and nightclubs. Popworld, Bar & Beyond and CTZN are all on the high street, as well as bars like All Bar One and Banana Tree where you can grab a few drinks with your friends. Bassment and the Golden Fleece host great live music evenings too.
Shopping
The High Street, Bond Street, The Meadows and High Chelmer Shopping Centre offer a wide range of shopping options, all of which are a short walk from Rivermead Islands. The recent Bond Street development hosts a number of big-name stores like John Lewis, Foyles and The White Company.
Sport & Leisure
With Riverside Leisure Centre just around the corner, you’ll never be short of chances to have fun and keep fit. Facilities include indoor and outside swimming pools, an ice rink, a fitness suite and sports halls.
Support your local sports teams – Essex County Cricket Club is only a 20 minute walk down the road and Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre, home of Chelmsford City FC, is easily accessible by bus or bike.
Chelmsford Central Park Run – Join hundreds of locals every Saturday morning for a jog, starting just down the road from Rivermead Islands.
Culture
Check out the range of festivals the city hosts throughout the year, including Fling Festival, Chelmsford Beer and Cider Festival and Fake Festival.
The Civic Theatre offers a fantastic mix of theatre, music, dance and comedy throughout the year.
Odeon and Everyman Cinema have all the latest hit films as well as showings of classics from years gone by.