Driving 

The M25, London's orbital motorway, makes Essex easy to drive to from all parts of the UK. The M25 is famous however for being "the biggest car park in the world" - the congestion and traffic jams cause near gridlock so avoid if possible. If you must drive on the M25 try to avoid the commuter rush hours, although these are also getting longer.

Several motorways converge with the M25 providing excellent road access to the area from all directions:

• The M1 provides access from the North
• The M11 from East Anglia
• The M20 from the ports of Dover, Folkestone and the South West
• The M23 from Brighton and the South
• The M3 from Southampton and the South West
• The M4 from Bristol and the West
• The M40 from Oxford and the North West

Approximate journey times and mileage

London to Chelmsford

• A412
• 35 miles
• 1 hour drive

Birmingham to Chelmsford

• A38, M6, M1, M25, A12, A414
• 145 miles approx
• 2 hours 30 mins drive

Manchester to Chelmsford

• M56, M6, M1, M25, A12, A414
• 230 miles approx
• 4 hours drive