Plan your visit to Ipswich, United Kingdom
Built on a strong trading past, this port town retains historic charm and has grown to be an appealing cultural center.
Understand the reason for Ipswich’s long history as you stand at the Waterfront where shipbuilding and trading began nearly 1,000 years ago. The rather stern-looking Customs House is a reminder of the town’s mercantile past. Today this area has excellent shopping and dining just a short walk from the University of Suffolk.
Celebrating its long history, Ipswich’s museums appeal to varied interests. Bring kids to the Ipswich Museum to see taxidermied animals and learn about 70 millions years of history in the local area and other countries. Climb aboard all types of vehicles at the Transport Museum. The Ancient House, built in the late 1500s, displays fascinating exterior plaster decoration known as pargeting. Christchurch Mansion, of the same vintage, offers a peek into the past in a Tudor home now containing the Wolsey Art Gallery.
New Wolsey Theatre is much more modern, offering original plays, music, pantomime and other performances. See the Willis Building, constructed in 1975, with a sleek modern appearance but walls curved to match the path of the town’s medieval streets.
Thomas Wolsey, whose name appears throughout the town, is one of Ipswich’s most famous former residents. Wolsey’s Gate is the only remaining part of a school that he founded in the early 1500s. See the Cardinal Thomas Wolsey statue depicting this educator seated in flowing robes and extending a hand to encourage students.
The Question Mark sculpture is a more modern work of art, also intended to serve as motivation for students in its position outside the Waterfront Building of the University Campus Suffolk. Surrounding the university area, look for lively pubs and cafés serving students and faculty.
Ipswich is a Suffolk County port town on the River Orwell, leading to the North Sea. Drive here from London in less than 2 hours or take a train in 2 to 3 hours. While you’re here delve into the town’s fascinating past and enjoy all the amenities of a thriving modern city and cultural center.
Ipswich Waterfront - Now a lively district with a harmonious blend of historical landmarks, bars, restaurants and cultural centers, this area was formerly an industrial dockyard.
Custom House - Set amid the gentrified buildings of Ipswich Waterfront, this classical landmark stands as a reminder of the town’s importance as a maritime trading center.
Ipswich Museum - Displays of exotic animals, ancient Egyptian artifacts and millennia-old fossils showcase ethnographic and natural history from countries around the world.
University Campus Suffolk - Student life in Ipswich is everywhere as you wander between the modern faculty buildings of this institution of higher education.
The Question Mark Sculpture - Create your own opinion about a sculpture that has received mixed reviews. It stands outside the waterfront campus building of the University of Suffolk.
Ipswich Regent Theatre - Enjoy a performance at Ipswich Regent Theatre, a storied theater in Ipswich. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.
Foxhall Stadium - Catch an event at Foxhall Stadium during your trip to Ipswich. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the top-notch restaurants while you're in the area.
Jimmy's Farm - Enjoy an outing to Jimmy's Farm during your stay in Ipswich. Check out the spas and lively bars in this relaxing area.
Onehouse Village: Ramble the backroads on a self-guided audio tour - This self guided audio tour opens the door to get an insider's view about living in Onehouse as we walk round. The presence of a powerful land owner prevented urban growth swamping the area.
Aldeburgh: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Historical Seaside Town - Enjoy an easy self guided audio tour along the coast starting down on Orford Ness, then up as far as the Moot Hall. Find out about the different ways that the people along this coast have made their living from the sea. On the way, we will hear about
Medieval Lavenham: A Self-Guided Audio Tour - This is THE walk for those people who have always wanted to walk along enough medieval streets to make up a whole medieval village. Maybe your interest in old timbered buildings was awakened by Tolkien or Harry Potter? Every street leads to the Market Square and every street has timbered houses along the route.
The Stories behind the Village Green: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Long Melford - Visit Long Melford with this self-guided audio tour for anyone who wants to discover more of the village than just it’s views. Join me on this walk around the green, get to know the village like a local and hear how it got its start in the wool trade.
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