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Ipswich Attractions
Listed below are attractions in Ipswich:
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Clifford Road Air Raid Shelter Museum is a fascinating voyage of discovery for those who visit. It explores a time in the darkest days of Europe when it was necessary for people to gather in air raid shelters for...
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Alexandra Park, in Ipswich, is a modest sized area of public open space that overlooks much of the town including the docks and the nearby Orwell Bridge. The history of the park can be traced back to 1903 when the...
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Latest Ipswich Review
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Between my last two visits to Ipswich there must have been 20 years or so and I was pleasantly surprised to see how things had changed. In the past it was a mostly industrial port city but with the decline in traditional industries the port area today is a lovely cosmopolitan area full of motor boats, restaurants, clubs and attractive quayside cafes. Inside the city there are hundreds of fascinating shops, theatres, football clubs and leisure centres. I loved my return visit and totally recommend it. 
- Kimberley Smith
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[ Click here to add your own review ]
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Alf Ramsey is a name forever associated with England’s successful 1966 football World Cup triumph, less well known is his association with Ipswich Town Football Club, where a life size bronze statue of the man takes pride of place outside...
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The façade of this Grade I listed house is one of Suffolk's best examples of Pargeting. Here, four panels of this elaborate plasterwork represent the world: Africa, Asia, Europe and America. Not Australasia though, which had yet to be discovered....
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We breed rare cattle, sheep, pygmy goats, alpacas, poultry and pigs, including Maori pigs called Kune Kunes. Today’s children lack close contact with animals and Baylham House Farm aims to rectify this deficiency. School parties are very welcome. The farm...
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Bethesda Baptist Church in Ipswich is housed in a splendid old Georgian building that overlooks Christchurch Park towards the north of the town. The church, in addition to offering normal religious services also works within the local community and offers...
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Buttermarket's 280,000 square feet is a shopper's paradise. It is packed with well-known brands, such as TK Maxx and TJ Hughes, and unique independent traders. Other aids to shopping include a 300-seater food court, offering every thing from baked potatoes...
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There has been a Baptist congregation in Ipswich since 1686, and the first meeting house in Tacket Street opened in 1720. In 1858, it was replaced by this church. Gothic Revival in style, it’s built from Kentish Rag, originally with...
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Christchurch Park is one of the crown jewels of Ipswich, comprising of a huge amount of open green space inside the busy town. The park was opened in 1895 but in 2008 £4.5 million was spent on improving Christchurch Park...
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This Tudor mansion minutes from Ipswich town centre houses the largest collection of Constable and Gainsborough paintings outside London. Other attractions include Victorian toys and dolls’ houses, paintings by Suffolk artists and rooms packed with four centuries of furniture, pottery...
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Christchurch Park was opened to the public in 1895, the first public park in Ipswich. Today, its 33 hectares contain aboreta, ornamental gardens, tennis courts, croquet lawns, bowling greens and a café. In addition, its extensive bird reserve is a...
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Movie lovers in Ipswich can enjoy the latest films in comfort at the modern and comfortable Cineworld complex located near to the River Orwell. The cinema in Ipswich is located within the town’s Cardinal Park Riverside leisure development alongside gyms,...
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Crown Pools is one of the best leisure centres in Suffolk. Facilities include an eight-lane 25-metre competition pool, one of the best in Europe, a leisure pool with a beach area, a wave machine and water fountains, and a teaching...
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Elim Pentacostal Church is located towards the edge of Ipswich town centre. The church preaches basic Christian values taken directly from the Bible. The church welcomes people of all nationalities with over thirty five nationalities represented within the congregation all...
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Felaw Maltings have been central to the life of Ipswich waterfront for over 100 years. Built in 1904 and 1911, they were in use until right up to 1981, but, by 1984, they were on the buildings at-risk register. Since...
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Fore Street Swimming Pool is a 25-yard swimming pool housed in a handsome Victorian stone building. Originally opened on March 1 1894, the pool is today used mainly by clubs, schools and for professional courses, but it is also available...
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Gym and Trim in Ipswich is a modern purpose designed health and fitness centre with a most imposing façade made of steel and glass. The centre is located on Cardinal Park near to the town’s principal entertainment venues and offers...
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Holy Trinity Church in Ipswich has quickly been overshadowed by the multi million pound redevelop of the town’s docklands district. When first built as an Anglican church in 1836, Holy Trinity was the tallest building in the region as well...
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Holywells Park in Ipswich is one of the crown jewels of this Suffolk town. In addition to being a place of natural beauty it has a history that goes back to Bronze Age and Roman times. During an archaeological...
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The Hope Church in Ipswich is housed in a modern, if slightly plain, looking building just outside the centre of the town. Inside worshippers are led during religious services by a number of preachers who extol the virtues of a...
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One of two Ipswich based Virgin hot air balloon flight locations. Fynn Valley is just to the north of the city offering panoramic views of both Ipswich, Woodbridge and the Suffolk countryside. Ultimately the wind decides your unique journey path,...
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For well over 100 years the residents of Ipswich have enjoyed a game of croquet at Ipswich Croquet Club. The club house and two immaculately manicured lawns can be found to one side of Christchurch Park in the centre of...
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Ipswich Haven Marina was built in 2000. Since then, it has been so popular that it has been enlarged twice, bringing the total number of berths to 250. Its popularity probably owes much to its location at the head of...
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Ipswich Museum is one of the oldest publicly funded museums in Britain outside London. Founded in 1847, it moved to its present home in 1881, where a Victorian Natural History Gallery is still among its many attractions. Others include the...
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This spectacular Victorian building was built in 1868. Today it is home to The Town Hall Galleries, opened in 2006. Gallery One offers a programme of contemporary arts, featuring local and foreign artists. Gallery Two showcases contemporary design in collaboration...
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Ipswich Transport Museum offers a first class experience to any visitor who is interested in learning more about the transport industry and its development in the 20th Century. Focussing much of its attention on public transport, the collection has...
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When Ipswich Wet Dock opened in 1842, its area of enclosed water was the largest of its kind in Europe. Today, the old maritime buildings are being restored and modern new ones built as part of an exciting regeneration programme....
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For ten years, this was the home of Jean Ingelow. Poet, novelist, and children’s writer, she was one of the best selling and most acclaimed authors of the second half of the 19th century, with Tennyson and Ruskin among her...
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During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, many Protestants died for their beliefs and The Martyrs Memorial in Ipswich was erected to honour 9 such Protestants who were burned at the stake in the town. The killings took place between...
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Fans of Bingo in the town of Ipswich have an excellent Mecca Gala Bingo venue. Built in the Art Deco style in keeping with the beginnings of modern bingo halls, The venue in the centre of town boasts a large...
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Over the last decade or so the benefits of learning a martial art have seen a massive growth in the number of centres offering training including the Millennium Martial Arts Centre in Ipswich. Martial arts offer participants the chance to...
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Methodism was probably brought to Ipswich in 1804 by the William Nunn, a local preacher. The foundation stone for this church was laid some 56 years later, on June 20 1860. The ceremonial trowel used was silver, and it can...
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Theatre lovers in Ipswich have a wonderful facility in the Wolsey Theatre which is located near to the Civic Centre of the town. The theatre opened for the first time in 1979 but eventually ran into financial difficulties in 1999....
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One of Ipswich’s oldest and best timber-framed buildings, Oak House dates from the 15th Century. It has been much restored and now contains elements from other Ipswich houses. Look out for the fine carving on many of the timbers, particularly...
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The Old Custom House is one of Ipswich Wet Dock's finest buildings. Built in 1844 by JM Clark, this classical building is now fully restored. Interesting features include a striking red and cream brick design and a raised four-column portico...
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Some of the finest views of the River Orwell in Suffolk can be seen from the Orwell Country Park, a short drive outside the centre of Ipswich. The country park was established in 1995 to protect and enhance the natural...
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The Orwell Lady carries passengers from Ipswich Wet Dock down the beautiful River Orwell to Harwich Harbour and other historic sites along the river. This luxurious 14-foot vessel features an enclosed cabin and an open viewing deck, both offering panoramic...
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Now the home of Ipswich Town Football Club, this site was first used to play football in 1884. In 1890, when it was still surrounded by countryside, it was one of the first pitches to use goal nets. Since then,...
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This striking piece of street sculpture was unveiled in 2009 by sculptor Harry Gray and depicts Russian Prince Alexander Obolensky who fled to Britain following the Russian Revolution in 1917. He is depicted on the statue as a successful rugby...
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In the 15th Century Archdeacon Pykenham was one of Ipswich's most powerful men. He became Archdeacon of Suffolk in 1471 and his mansion and this gateway in front of it reflected his status. Standing near the town centre, it has...
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The Quaker movement has a strong presence in the Suffolk town of Ipswich at the Quakers Meeting Place. The Meeting Place is located a short distance from the centre of town and offers a place of quiet observance of worship...
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The Salvation Army has had a presence in Ipswich since 1881 when a number of Christian workers in the Suffolk town first thought about creating a Salvation Army chapter. Today the town’s centre has a strong and growing team of...
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St Clement Church in Ipswich had when built an almost uninterrupted view of the River Orwell and the associated docklands. Over the years new developments have seen the view disappear as well as the construction of the inner ring road...
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The current St Helen’s Church in Ipswich was built on the site of an earlier Medieval 15th Century church and actually retained the originals porch. The reconstruction process was carried out on an ad hoc basis over fifty years from...
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The tower of St Lawrence Church is its best feature. Pink, yellow and grey stonework interlaced with flint designs, different on every side, make it one of the best Victorian towers in Suffolk. The work was carried out by Barnes...
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St Margaret's is just about the prettiest church in Ipswich. Built around 1300, its outstanding features include a 13th Century coffin lid, a 15th century font, and, the church's crowning glory, a double hammerbeam nave roof, which was added in...
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St Margaret’s Green used to be the site of Ipswich's Holy Rood Fair. Spanning six hundred years, the fair took place from the 13th Century to the 19th Century, on September 25 to 28 each year. Over time, its control...
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St Mary at the Elms Church is located near to Ipswich town centre and is one of the prettiest churches in the town set against high rise modern office blocks. The origins of the church can be traced back to...
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When first built in the 13th Century, St Mary at the Quay Church's builders could not have foreseen the high rise constructions of the 20th Century that blight the view of this beautiful medieval church. The church was originally known...
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This church goes back at least as far as the Domesday Book, although it was largely rebuilt in the 1800s. At that time, the church was made taller and wider and a new 176-foot spire was added. St Mary...
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The striking flint edifice of St Matthew’s Church in the heart of Ipswich is at least seven hundred years old but perhaps even older. Documents seem to indicate that the church was already established by 1190 during the reign of...
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The former St Nicholas Church in Ipswich in Suffolk has been innovatively brought back to use after being declared surplus to religious needs as the St Nicholas Centre. The Centre is a modern, light and comfortable conference and event space...
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One of Ipswich's smaller churches, St Pancras was meant to be much bigger. In fact, the church is actually the chancel of what was meant to be a cathedral but never finished. It was started in 1861 by George Goldie....
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St Peter's Church has England's finest Tournai Font. Made from blue-black marble dug from the banks of the River Scheldt in Belgium, it dates from the 12th century. It is one of only nine in the country. The Church is...
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St Stephen's Church dates from the 1400s, but like many of Ipswich's medieval churches, it was redundant by 1975. The following decades saw it vandalized and derelict. Thankfully, it was rescued and restored in 1994 and is now home to...
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St. Mary at Stoke Church is located across the River Orwell from the town centre of modern day Ipswich. When the first religious site was established at the mouth of the River Orwell over 1500 years ago the site chosen...
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Following on from the success of the 2012 London Olympics Ipswich City Council instituted their Tennis in the Park initiative utilising the slightly underused facilities located within Christchurch Park. Throughout the summer months Ipswich Leisure Centre staff will be encouraging...
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The Basement Gallery is dedicated to the display and development of photography and digital art. The good looking gallery space is located close to the centre of Ipswich and has gained a reputation for showing some of the most...
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Another of Ipswich's fine Victorian buildings, The Corn Exchange was completed in 1882. Its grand hall is now an arts, entertainment and conference venue and the place to see West End shows, international music, comedy and amateur productions. Also here...
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This grand square is as central to the life of Ipswich today as it's always been. For hundreds of years, it has hosted fairs, markets, meetings, and, in 1556, public burnings. That year, the Ipswich Martyrs were burned at the...
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East Anglia's largest theatre, The Regent opened in 1929 as a cinema and a variety hall. In 1991, it was relaunched after Ipswich Borough Council bought it from the Rank organization. Today, the council manages it along with the Corn...
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Founded in 1980, The John Russell Gallery moved to its current home, beside Ipswich Waterfront, in 1994. Specializing in the work of the many contemporary artists living in East Anglia, the gallery has featured, among others, Jan Pawlowicz, Michael Coulter,...
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Tower Ramparts' three floors are packed with shops, restaurants and cafés. Shops include Top Shop, Vision Express, Dorothy Perkins and Vodafone. Refreshments can be had at BB’s Coffee and Muffins, Reflections Restaurant and Carmen’s Bakery. Events include mini concerts featuring...
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Grade I listed, this is one of the finest Meeting Houses in Britain, and, it is thought, the only surviving timber-framed one from the early 1700s. Much admired when it was built, it is outstanding inside and out. Surviving features...
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One of two hot air balloon flight locations close to Ipswich, each guaranteed to create a magical once in a lifetime experience. Based at the Elmsett Aerodrome to the west of Ipswich, your hour long flight will take in some...
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The magnificent and imposing white curved war memorial within Ipswich’s Christchurch Park justly commands attention from visitors and has done since it was first unveiled in March 1924. It lists the names of all of the city’s men and women...
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A former barley warehouse, Waterfront House was one of the first derelict dockside buildings to be given a new lease of life. Built around 1880, some 50 years after the docks first opened in 1842, it was converted into state-of-the-art...
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In 1991, the Willis Building was the youngest in Britain to be given Grade I listed status. Designed by Sir Norman Foster and completed in 1975, this high-tech curvaceous building has 890 tinted windows, which reflect the much older buildings...
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| Any distances shown here are a guide only based on general road information. |
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