Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

Life in Writtle

The picturesque village of Writtle is centred around a village green, complete with a duck pond and a Norman church as its backdrop.

In existence since Roman times, Writtle is home to an array of traditional cottages and was once described as 'one of the loveliest villages in England'.

Food and drink

You'll find several several pubs and restaurants in Writtle, as well as a Co-op food store for everyday groceries.

Sport and fitness

On campus there’s lots of social sport going on, where you can simply turn up and have fun. There's also a campus gym, recreation centre, and a number of clubs that make good use of the extensive sports fields. You'll find horse-riding routes on and around the Writtle campus too.

Nearby, Chelmsford offers a range of sporting facilities including an ice rink, swimming pool, athletics centre, canoe club, and the Essex Country Cricket ground.

The great outdoors

Writtle village is surrounded by open countryside and small villages, making it really easy to get outside.

There are cycle and horse-riding routes on and around campus.

Hylands Park, which boasts 574 acres of rolling greenery, is about 1.5 miles away and a perfect place to relax. It also hosts a number of events throughout the year, including outdoor cinema and food and music festivals.

Slightly further afield you'll find a number of country parks including Danbury, Great Notley and the Flitch Way. There's also Hanningfield Reservoir, which is maintained by Essex Wildlife Trust and a great spot to go walking and wildlife-spotting.

Finchingfield, Tillingham, Dedham, Tiptree and Castle Hedingham are just a few of Essex’s famous beauty spots. There are relaxing coastal views too at Clacton, Frinton and Walton-on-the-Naze.

Chelmsford city

The nearest city is Chelmsford which has lots to offer students. See Living in Chelmsford for some of the highlights, including food and drink, culture, and entertainment.

Chelmsford is about ten minutes away from Writtle if you're using a car or the free campus shuttle bus. Allow about 20-30 minutes if you're catching a local bus.

From Chelmsford you can also catch a train into London; the journey takes about 35 minutes with trains departing regularly throughout the day.