Bus from Chelmsford City Centre to Colchester
7 direct routes · 59–99 min · first bus 06:05, last bus 20:45 (weekdays).
Next buses to Colchester as of 11:15
Scheduled times at the boarding stop in Chelmsford City Centre, from the operators' timetables — they update automatically. Open the stop for live tracking.
Direct routes
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 371 | First Essex | ~93 min | 22 | Sat 19 · Sun 12 | 06:20 | 19:15 | Bus Station (Stand 9) | Head Street (Stop Ea) | Boreham, Hatfield Peverel, Witham, Kelvedon, Feering, Marks Tey & 1 more |
| 375 | First Essex | ~99 min | 13 | Sat 12 · no Sunday buses | 06:05 | 18:21 | Parkway (Stop Ea) | Head Street (Stop Ea) | Sandon, Danbury, Woodham Mortimer, Maldon, Langford, Maldon & 7 more |
5 occasional services — once or twice a day · 71, UK007, 525, 676, X71
Often school, college or market-day journeys — check the route before relying on one.
| Route | Operator | Journey time | Weekday journeys | Days | First | Last | Board at | Get off at | Calls at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | First Essex | ~78 min | 2 | Sat 3 · no Sunday buses | 18:40 | 20:45 | Bus Station (Stand 9) | Head Street (Stop Ea) | Boreham, Hatfield Peverel, Witham, Kelvedon, Feering, Marks Tey & 1 more |
| UK007 | FlixBus | ~60 min | 1 | Sat 1 · Sun 1 | 21:20 | 21:20 | Coach Stop (NE-bound) | Stanwell Street (Stop Bc) | — |
| 525 | First Essex | ~59 min | 1 | weekdays only | 07:26 | 07:26 | Station (o/s) | Essex County Hospital (o/s) | Witham, Kelvedon & Feering |
| 676 | Stephensons of Essex | ~63 min | 1 | weekdays only | 07:20 | 07:20 | County Hotel (opp) | Beverley Road (opp) | Boreham & Hatfield Peverel |
| X71 | First Essex | ~66 min | 1 | Sat 1 · no Sunday buses | 19:45 | 19:45 | Bus Station (Stand 9) | Head Street (Stop Ea) | Witham, Marks Tey & Copford |
Times are for the first boarding point in Chelmsford City Centre on each route's weekday timetable — open the route for the full timetable, live map and every stop.
The same number runs elsewhere in the UK — see every 371 bus, 375 bus, 71 bus, 525 bus, 676 bus or X71 bus timetable.
Fares from Chelmsford City Centre to Colchester
- £3.00 adult single on the 371, 375, 71 and X71 (First Essex)
- £9.00 adult single on the 525 (First Essex)
Between the stops in the table above. The operators' own published fares, from the Bus Open Data Service; check with the operator before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Which bus goes from Chelmsford City Centre to Colchester?
7 routes run directly from Chelmsford City Centre to Colchester: the 371 (First Essex), the 375 (First Essex), the 71 (First Essex), the UK007 (FlixBus), the 525 (First Essex), the 676 (Stephensons of Essex), the X71 (First Essex). The most frequent is the 371, 22 times each weekday — board at Bus Station (Stand 9) and get off at Head Street (Stop Ea), about 93 minutes.
How long does the bus take from Chelmsford City Centre to Colchester?
Between 59 minutes on the 525 and 99 on the 375, depending on which route you catch and on traffic. It calls at Boreham, Hatfield Peverel, Witham, Kelvedon and other stops on the way.
What time is the first and last bus from Chelmsford City Centre to Colchester?
On weekdays the first direct bus leaves around 06:05 and the last around 20:45. Check the route timetables for weekends.
How much is the bus from Chelmsford City Centre to Colchester?
Adult singles from Chelmsford City Centre to Colchester: £3.00 on the 371, 375, 71 and X71 (First Essex); £9.00 on the 525 (First Essex). Prices are the operators' own published fares on the Bus Open Data Service — check with the operator before you travel. Most single fares in England are capped at £3 until 31 December 2026, then £2 from 1 January 2027.
Same journey, other stops
The same trip, starting or ending at a town centre that has its own page here.