Explore Ipswich on foot and you’ll really get beneath the skin of Suffolk’s county town and its 1500 year history.
A great place to start is The Waterfront, popular for its bars, cafés, bistros and Salthouse Harbour Hotel, and perched along the water’s edge with great views over the marinas. The campus of the University of Suffolk gives the place a youthful vibe and festivals and events are held here throughout the year, including the Ipswich Music Day and biennial SPILL Festival.
Ipswich Marina from the Purple Lounge at the Salthouse Hotel.
If you want to head out on the water, there are trips on the Orwell Lady and Sailing Barge Victor into the Orwell estuary and its iconic bridge.
Pay a visit to The Hold, Suffolk Archive’s new cutting-edge visitor centre, which until April 14, is hosting ‘Arrivals: Celebrating Migration to Suffolk’, exploring through community and culture the historical and contemporary experiences of migration to Suffolk.
Highlights
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Top ten things to do in Ipswich
Ipswich
There are so many great things to do in Suffolk's county town, but here we've chosen our top ten favourites...
History oozes from the town centre buildings, including medieval churches, higgledy-piggledy Tudor houses and grand Victorian buildings. Look out for the 5th century Ancient House, notable for its fine pargeting, a decorative façade, and the Grade II listed Regent Theatre.
Have a tipple at The Swan and Hedgehog, a popular live music pub where Ed Sheeran cut his musical teeth.
Like vintage trams, buses, milk floats and fire engines? Then you’ll love the Ipswich Transport Museum. Look out for the Sinclair C5 electric car, long before Tesla came along.
Christchurch Mansion and gardens.
Set in 33 acres of wonderful parkland, the handsome and much-restored Tudor Christchurch Mansion with Wolsey Art Gallery has a large collection of Constables and Gainsboroughs.
Grade I listed Ancient House, dating from the 15th century, has elaborate wood carvings called pargeting.
Nearby, enjoy the buzz of Norwich Road, Ipswich’s most diverse street, with its mix of independent shops, bakers, bistros, ethnic food stores and music venues.
Ipswich station is a short walk from the town centre and there’s good public transport. See the Greater Anglia route map here.
Lovely waterfront
Vibrant town centre
Festivals & culture
River boat trips
Brilliant museums
Wonderful parkland
Ancient buildings
all the above
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