Chelmsford is an English city and the main area of the City of Chelmsford district, and the county town of Essex, in the East of England. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately 30 mi northeast of the notional centre of London at Charing Cross and approximately 22 mi from Colchester. The urban area of the city has a population of approximately 112,000, whilst the district has a population of 168,310.