Hylands House and Park, Essex

Details

Accessibility

2025: There are three car parks at Hylands Estate: London Road car park, Writtle car park, and The Stables Visitor Centre car park. If you are a blue badge holder, you can park for free all day when displaying a valid blue badge.

If you are visiting Hylands House for an Open Estate Day, or another private hire event, you can access the house in the following ways:  

• There is step-free entry to the house via the front door ramp. The door to the house is a heavy wooden door. Some assistance may be needed to help open and close this door. 
• When you enter the house through the front door, you will be in the entrance hall. This large space has a smooth marble floor where you can access either the West or East wings of the house. 
• There is a lift in the West Wing of the house to access the first-floor rooms and basement. The first floor is not available to access on Open Estate Days unless there is a special event. 
• The lift has capacity for up to one wheelchair. It measures 1.4m by 1.1m and has a weight limit of 825kgs or 11 persons. 
• There is an accessible toilet in the West Wing on the ground floor and basement. 
• As standard, there is no accessible route out to the back lawn, and you will need to exit the house via the front door and travel around the house on the gravel through the gate to the Terrace. From there, there is a step-free route to the back lawn.  
• Depending on the event, The Terrace Room, Banqueting Room, and Saloon have a ramp available. Please ask a member of staff for help to see if it is available for use. 

• The Grand Pavilion next door to Hylands House has accessible ramp access via the decking. There is an accessible toilet in the Grand Pavilion, and the surface is smooth wooden floors in the main space.  

There are toilets available at the nearby Stables, including an accessible toilet. These are open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm at weekends.  

There are also public toilets at the Writtle car park entrance near the Adventure Castle playground and Go Ape.  

A Changing Places toilet is also available at the Writtle car park entrance for people with disabilities who need help from the carer to use the toilet. You will need a Changing Places access key to use this facility.

A mobility scooter for use around the park can be hired for free from The Stables Information point. You will need to book this in advance of your visit by contacting us on 01245 605523 (10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm at weekends) or on hylands.stables@chelmsford.gov.uk  

A majority of the pathways around Hylands Estate are flat hard standing surfaces, though some areas may not be accessible due to the weather or works in the park. We advise contacting the Chelmsford City Council parks team to check before you visit. Our walking routes map can be found as a PDF on our website and we are working to make this more accessible to read.  

For those visiting with young families, the Adventure Castle play area in Hylands Park is now officially accredited by PiPA (Planning Inclusive Play Areas). Much of the playground was specifically designed in conjunction with the special needs school Columbus School and College with disabled children. Inclusive features comprise an acoustic roller providing musical stimulation and a cradle swing to whoosh through the air. There are only 18 sites nationally with PiPA accreditation and the play area in Hylands Park is one of only nine that have the top-level ‘Destination’ status.

Assistance and guide dogs are welcome at Hylands Estate. There is a water available for dogs at The Deli Doghouse at The Stables, as well as dog treats such as Puppaccinos, dog sausages and dog chews. Hylands Park is ideal for dog walking and exercise. Please note that in certain areas of the park, dogs must be kept on leads. 

There is an induction loop at Hylands Estate for events which can be used by staff members with visitors wearing an induction loop necklace. If you are attending an event at Hylands House or the Grand Pavilion, please contact us via the details above so we can arrange use of this service with our team or the company who has hired us.   

Hylands Estate is in the process of adding more events that are British Sign Language interpreted.

https://hylandsestate.co.uk/access/#toggle-id-11 

Brief description

2025- "Hylands Estate is a prestigious Grade II* listed public park encompassing 574 acres of historic parkland. The beautifully renovated Neo-Classical elegant villa Hylands House can be hired for any occasion including Weddings, Celebrations, and Business Events, and is open to the public on select days. The Stables house a café, second-hand bookshop, information point, and resident artist studios. Within the park, there are formal Victorian Gardens and ancient woodlands that are accessible as well as an award-winning accessible children’s Adventure Playground. With a list of seasonal events both within the House and the Park, Hylands Estate is the perfect place to visit and explore."

https://hylandsestate.co.uk/ 

Address

Hylands House
Hylands Estate
Chelmsford
Essex
CM2 8WQ

Email

2025-

Hylands House:

hylands@chelmsford.gov.uk

Phone

2025-

Hylands House:

Monday to Friday
9am to 5pm

01245 605500

Hylands Parks:

Website

http://hylandsestate.co.uk/explore/hylands-house/

Directions

"Hylands Estate has two entrances. The Hylands Park entrance, CM2 8FS, is closest to The Adventure Playground and to visit the park. The Hylands House entrance, CM2 8WQ,  is closest to the house and The Stables which includes The Stables Cafe and the Resident Artists Studios."

https://hylandsestate.co.uk/explore/#location 

Opening Times

2025-

"Starting in 2025, our Open Estate Days will be on the second Sunday of every month.

14 September
12 October
9 November
14 December

https://hylandsestate.co.uk/explore/openestate/ 

Hylands Park is open every day of the year. Gates open at 7:30am, and close at:

January – 5pm

February & March – 6pm

April – 8pm

May – 9pm

June & July – 10pm

August – 9pm

September – 8pm

October – 7pm

November & December – 5pm

Hylands House opens its doors free of charge to the public every 3rd Sunday of the month* to reveal the secrets of its fascinating history.

The house is open from 10am to 3pm and features a different exhibition each month displayed in the library. In our Stables Courtyard you will find live music and our Artists’ Studios doors open for you to browse as well as purchasing items from our new Artists shop.

Hylands House is a popular events venue, so please note that gate access may be closed on your visit at other times of the year."

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

Transport

2025: By Bus:

Hylands Park can be reached by bus using route C4 First Buses, alighting at Lodge Road and walking down Paradise Road through to the underpass and into the park via the Writtle car park entrance. Route 351 will also take you to Hylands Park via London Road from the city centre, however, use this route with caution as it involves crossing a busy dual carriage way.

By Train:

The nearest train station to Hylands is Chelmsford Station.

You can look at Greater Anglia or Trainline to check which trains stop at Chelmsford Station.

The station is approximately a 10 minute drive from Hylands Estate.

https://hylandsestate.co.uk/explore/#location 

Amenities

2025: "There are car parks at each entrance to Hylands Estate. One is located next to the Hylands House entrance off London Road and the other is located next to the Hylands Park entrance off Greenbury Way. Parking charges apply between 9am and 6pm. As a Chelmsford resident you are entitled to a discount, click here to find out more and what need to prepare.

Charging points for electric vehicles are currently not available at Hylands Estate. However, you can check the Chelmsford For You website for the nearest points available."

https://hylandsestate.co.uk/explore/#location 

"If you are looking to purchase food at Hylands, we can recommend The Deli, which is situated at the Stables and by the Writtle car park.  

Hylands Park is the perfect place for a picnic! There are benches dotted around the park closer to the house and in the Pleasure Gardens. Hold onto your lunch, some wildlife by be interested in what you have! "

https://hylandsestate.co.uk/access/#toggle-id-11