We checked 16 Chelmsford shops, from Gallery43's art to Intense Records' vinyl, for opening hours, addresses and what each sells. Updated November 2026.

Chelmsford has 16 shops and markets worth a Christmas shopping trip in 2026, and this guide puts them in one place with opening hours, addresses and what each one sells. Gallery43 on Moulsham Street, Intense Records, the indoor market at Bellmead and Lathcoats Farm Shop in Galleywood are good places to start. Every entry was checked on 5 November 2026 against the shop’s own site, and we say where it could not be.

We have not shopped at any of these for this guide, and nothing here is a review. Each entry says what the shop says it sells. The hours are regular hours: none of these shops had posted Christmas hours when we checked, so ring ahead in the last week before Christmas.

Dates and shopping centre hours

No late-night shopping dates had been published for Chelmsford when we checked. Chelmsford For You’s Christmas programme does not list any, so treat a late night as unconfirmed until a shop or centre says so.

  • Bond Street: most shops open 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday. Its opening times page says Christmas hours will be published closer to the date.
  • High Chelmer: the centre opens 7am to 6.30pm Monday to Saturday and 9.30am to 5pm on Sunday. Its festive hours are 7am to 7pm from 14 to 19 December and 21 to 23 December, 9.30am to 5pm on Sundays 20 and 27 December, 7am to 6.30pm on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and 28 December, closed on Christmas Day, and 9.30am to 5pm on 1 January. Each shop’s own hours may differ.
  • The Meadows: we could not find a centre website with hours or Christmas times. Check with each shop.
  • Busy days: the lights switch-on brings festivities to the city centre from 12pm to 5pm on Sunday 15 November. Chelmsford For You and Farleigh Hospice run Festive Fun for Farleigh from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 5 December, the same day as the Cathedral’s market. Our Christmas markets guide has the market dates.

City centre

1. Chelmsford Indoor Market

The council’s indoor retail market at Bellmead has “a variety of stalls and kiosks, from clothes and fabric to vegetables and flowers”, with directory categories including art and gifts, cards, collectables, and toys and sweets. Stalls named in the council’s directory include Deb’s Cards, Bertie’s Beads, CH Skelton Wools and Andrew’s Books, Magazines and Pet Stall, and some keep shorter hours than the market.

In December 2022 the market opened every day before Christmas; no such dates were on the council’s site for 2026. The separate High Street market runs every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

Open Tue to Fri 8.30am to 4pm; Sat 8.30am to 5pm; closed Sun and Mon
Address Chelmsford Retail Market, Bellmead, CM1 1LE
Website chelmsford.gov.uk/leisure-theatres-and-museums/chelmsford-market
Good for cards, toys and sweets, collectables, haberdashery

2. Chelmsford Wholefoods

Chelmsford Wholefoods trades inside the indoor market, at the back near the cheese stall, according to the council’s directory. Its own online shop sells teas, muesli, gluten-free lines and jars, bottles and tins.

The hours below are the ones on the shop’s own site, and they give a Saturday close 30 minutes earlier than the market’s.

Open Tue to Fri 8.30am to 4pm; Sat 8.30am to 4.30pm
Address Chelmsford Retail Market, Bellmead, CM1 1LE
Website chelmsfordwholefoods.co.uk
Good for teas, muesli, gluten-free food

3. Intense Records

Intense Records calls itself “one of the UK’s longest-running independent music retailers”, established in 1999, and sells vinyl, CDs, DJ products and music merchandise. It has two Chelmsford shops.

The main store is under the railway viaducts on Viaduct Road. The second is at Unit 11 in The Meadows, CM2 6FD (01245 976027), and is the one to pick on a Sunday: it opens 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4.30pm on Sunday.

The Viaduct Road hours and phone number are below.

Open Mon to Sat 9.30am to 5.30pm; closed Sun
Call 01245 347372
Address 33/34 Viaduct Road, CM1 1TS
Website intenserecords.com
Good for vinyl, CDs, DJ products, music merchandise

4. Bubbling Burkes

Bubbling Burkes is on Bond Street, and the centre’s listing describes “licensed Harry Potter merchandise, wands and themed gifts”, with a small selection of Lord of the Rings, Wednesday and Stranger Things decorations. It also serves takeaway Chocolate Frog Hot Chocolate and Butterscotch Beer.

We could not find a separate shop website, so these details come from Bond Street’s page for the shop, where the hours are also listed.

Open Mon to Fri 10.30am to 4pm; Sat 10.30am to 5.30pm; Sun 10.30am to 4.30pm
Address Bond Street, Chelmsford
Website bondstreetchelmsford.com/shops/bubbling-burkes
Good for Harry Potter gifts, wands, themed decorations, takeaway hot chocolate

5. Number Six

Number Six is a designer clothing shop on Can Bridge Way that says it began in 2013 “with an idea sketched on the back of a napkin”. It describes itself as “an award winning independent” and names itself Retailer of the Year 2026 Winner on its about page, without naming the award there.

It says it stocks clothing and accessories, and offers a 10% first-order code to people who sign up online.

Open Mon to Fri 10am to 6pm; Sat 9.30am to 6pm; Sun 11am to 4pm
Call 01245 690580
Address 6 Can Bridge Way, CM2 0WP
Website nosix.co.uk
Good for designer clothing, accessories

6. Gaia Jewellery

Gaia is a jewellery boutique in Barrack Square, “right by the river, near Stone Bridge”. The owners opened it in October 2023 and say they specialise in solid gold, sterling silver and bespoke pieces, with “no mass production, no duplicates”. Their story also records an award for customer service from the Chelmsford Business Awards within seven months of opening.

Bespoke work is by appointment. Note the Tuesday closure.

Open Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri and Sat 9.30am to 5pm; Sun 10.30am to 4pm; closed Tue
Call 01245 601001
Address 3 Barrack Square, CM2 0UU
Website gaiajewellery.uk
Good for one-off jewellery, solid gold, sterling silver, bespoke appointments

Moulsham Street and Oaklands Park

7. Gallery43

Gallery43 was established in 1985 and describes itself as “a deceptively large art gallery” in Old Moulsham. It shows paintings, limited edition prints, jewellery, crafts and gifts by contemporary British artists, and frames pictures by hand in its upstairs workshop, with more than 400 framing options. Its site has a Christmas gift category that includes decorations.

If you want a picture framed in time for Christmas, ask how long the workshop needs, because the site gives no cut-off date.

Open Mon to Fri 9.30am to 5.30pm; Sat 9.30am to 5pm
Call 01245 353825
Address 43 Moulsham Street, CM2 0HY
Website gallery43.co.uk
Good for original art, limited edition prints, crafts, picture framing

8. G Davison and Sons

G Davison and Sons says it is an independent, family-run jeweller and pawnbroker that has served Chelmsford and Leigh-on-Sea for more than 20 years. It sells pre-owned luxury watches and vintage and antique jewellery, and has an on-site workshop for repairs.

It also services watches and offers valuations. Its site writes its weekday hours as “Mon / Fri”, which we read as Monday to Friday.

Open Mon to Fri 9.30am to 5pm; Sat 9.30am to 5pm; closed Sun
Call 01245 266181
Address 42 Moulsham Street, CM2 0HY
Website davisonjewellers.com
Good for vintage jewellery, pre-owned watches, repairs, valuations

9. Springfield Florist

Springfield Florist is a family business that says it has been on Moulsham Street for more than 15 years. It sells bouquets through its site for collection or delivery in its own van, and takes flowers made up while you wait.

Its site does not give opening hours, so ring before making a special trip, and ask about Christmas orders at the same time.

Call 01245 264566
Address 64-65 Moulsham Street, CM2 0JA
Website springfieldflorist.co.uk
Good for bouquets, local delivery, made-while-you-wait flowers

10. Museum of Chelmsford gift shop

The museum’s gift shop sits by the welcome desk at Oaklands House, with what the museum calls “a range of gifts from pocket money treats to collectable keepsakes linked to our collections”. Museum members get 10% off.

Admission is £4 for adults and free for children, young people and carers, and the page does not say whether you can visit the shop alone. There is a free car park.

It closes on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Open November to March daily 10am to 4pm
Price museum admission £4 per adult; children, young people and carers free
Parking free car park at the museum
Address Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street, CM2 9AQ
Website museumofchelmsford.co.uk/your-visit
Good for pocket money gifts, keepsakes, children

Hylands Estate

11. Hylands Artists’ Shop

The Stables at Hylands houses the artist studios, and the Information Point doubles as the Artists’ Shop, selling “one-of-a-kind items #MadeAtHylands”, according to the estate. The artists also run demonstrations, workshops and exhibitions.

The Deli cafe is in the same building. The Stables also hosts the Christmas at The Stables evening market from 5pm to 9pm on Thursday 19 November.

Open Mon to Fri 10am to 4pm; Sat and Sun 9am to 4pm
Call 01245 605523
Address The Stables, Hylands Park, London Road, CM2 8WQ
Website hylandsestate.co.uk/explore/the-stables
Good for handmade gifts, local artists, cafe next door

12. Friends of Hylands Bookshop

This second-hand bookshop at The Stables is run entirely by volunteers from the Friends of Hylands House and first opened in March 2008, the estate’s page says. It describes a good stock of second-hand books on many subjects.

Winter hours run from 1 October to 28 February and are shorter than the summer ones, so aim for the morning or early afternoon.

Open daily 10.30am to 3pm until 28 February
Call 01245 605509
Address The Stables, Hylands Park, London Road, CM2 8WQ
Website hylandsestate.co.uk/explore/the-stables
Good for second-hand books, volunteer-run

Farm shops and further out

13. Lathcoats Farm Shop, Galleywood

Lathcoats calls its shop “award-winning” and says it stocks 50 varieties of English apples from its own orchards, plus fresh bread, sausages, farm-made ice cream and local beer, wine and cider. At Christmas it takes orders for turkey, chicken, goose, beef, gammon and ham.

It sells ready-made Essex hampers for collection and builds bespoke ones from a £50 minimum spend. Its Christmas page was still showing 2025’s trail and late evenings when we checked, so the 2026 dates are not confirmed.

Open Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm; closed Sun and bank holidays
Call 01245 353021
Address Lathcoats Farm, Beehive Lane, Galleywood, CM2 8LX
Website eapples.co.uk/shop
Good for hampers, Christmas meat orders, English apples

14. The Hub Farm Shop, Warner’s Farm

The Hub at Warner’s Farm is a cafe and farm shop off the Green Man roundabout. Its Christmas hampers page lists five signature hampers for collection, called Holly at £38, Mistletoe at £60, Tinsel at £95, Cinnamon and Clove at £125 and Winter Thyme at £150.

Bespoke hampers are available too, and signature gift wrapping costs £8. Orders go by phone.

The page carries no year, so confirm the 2026 prices when you ring. The times below are The Hub’s overall hours, and the site does not list separate hours for the shop.

Open Mon to Sat 8.30am to 3.30pm; Sun breakfast 9am to 12pm and roast platters 12.30pm to 3pm
Price hampers £38 to £150 (undated page)
Booking order hampers by phone
Call 01245 527109
Address Warner's Farm, 1 The Courtyard, CM3 1BL
Website thehubfarmshop.com/warners-opening-times
Listing Our listing
Good for Christmas hampers, gift vouchers, lunch stop

15. Battlesbridge Antiques Centre

Battlesbridge says it has more than 80 dealers in a group of old buildings and courtyards on the banks of the River Crouch, just off the A130 midway between Chelmsford and Southend. It has tearooms on site. Its site says the centre is open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but asks you to check with dealers for their individual times, so a stall you want may keep shorter hours.

Open daily 10am to 5pm; closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Address Maltings Road, Battlesbridge, SS11 7RF
Website battlesbridge.com
Good for antiques, reproductions, crafts, tearooms

16. Alistair Black Jewellers, South Woodham Ferrers

Alistair Black describes itself as a family-run independent jeweller, established in 1979, on the square in South Woodham Ferrers. It sells fine jewellery, wedding and engagement rings, pre-owned jewellery, watches and giftware.

It also lists repairs, resizing, valuations, watch batteries and ear piercing among its services on its site.

Open Mon to Wed 9.30am to 5.30pm; Thu to Sat 9.30am to 6pm; closed Sun
Call 01245 322334
Address 22 Queen Elizabeth II Square, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5TD
Website alistairblack.co.uk
Good for jewellery, watches, giftware, repairs

How we chose

We started from OpenStreetMap’s record of Chelmsford’s shops, Bond Street’s shop directory, the council’s market directory and Hylands’ own pages, and kept independents that sell things people give as presents and publish their own details. Chain shops are not listed, though Bond Street, High Chelmer and The Meadows have plenty. We could only read the first page of the council’s stall directory, so the market has more stalls than the ones we name.

Some places are not here for a reason. Chelmer Fine Art’s site says its store has closed, though it still takes calls and emails. We could not confirm current details for Krafft Jewellers on Duke Street, Alistair Stewart Jewellers on New London Road, The Hop Beer Shop on Moulsham Street or Charles Fish’s Chelmsford branch, because their sites would not load or did not give a Chelmsford address. That does not mean any of the four has closed, and we will add them if they get in touch.

Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@chelmsfordtimes.co.uk. Taken a good photograph of any of these places? Email it to newsdesk@chelmsfordtimes.co.uk and we will add it with your name as the credit.

For more of the season, see the Chelmsford Christmas markets, Christmas dinner in Chelmsford, the lights switch-on, Christmas train times and parking in Chelmsford. There is more in what’s on this month, things to do in Chelmsford and the local business directory.

Frequently asked questions

Is there late night shopping in Chelmsford in 2026?

No late-night dates had been published when we checked on 5 November. Bond Street says its Christmas hours will be added closer to the date. High Chelmer has published its festive hours: the centre stays open to 7pm from 14 to 19 December and from 21 to 23 December, though each shop sets its own times.

Which Chelmsford shops open on Sundays before Christmas?

Intense Records at The Meadows opens 10am to 4.30pm, Bubbling Burkes 10.30am to 4.30pm, Number Six 11am to 4pm and Gaia 10.30am to 4pm. The Museum of Chelmsford opens 10am to 4pm, the Hylands Artists’ Shop 9am to 4pm and Battlesbridge Antiques Centre 10am to 5pm. Lathcoats, G Davison and Sons, Alistair Black and the indoor market close on Sundays.

What are High Chelmer’s Christmas opening hours?

The centre opens 7am to 7pm from 14 to 19 December and 21 to 23 December, and 9.30am to 5pm on Sundays 20 and 27 December. It opens 7am to 6.30pm on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and 28 December, closes on Christmas Day, and opens 9.30am to 5pm on 1 January. Shops inside can differ.