Explore Ipswich Visitor guide
www.exploreipswich.com @allaboutipswich
#ExploreIpswich
WELCOME TO
IPSWICH... England’s oldest continuously inhabited town, East Anglia’s Waterfront Town and home to worldclass culture, food and drink - all surrounded by beautiful Suffolk countryside and coastline. Explore Ipswich and be amazed by over 1,000 years of history, be uplifted by internationally-acclaimed dance, theatre and comedy, be entertained by great festivals and events, be unique and shop a mix of the old and the new, the traditional and the global.
CONTENTS 4 CULTURE 6 HISTORY & HERITAGE 8 FOOD & DRINK 10 FESTIVALS & EVENTS 12 SPORTS & HEALTH 14 RETAIL 16 GATEWAY TO SUFFOLK 18 WHERE TO STAY 20 GETTING HERE 22 MAP Keep an eye out for the Editor's TOP 5 PICKS throughout!
For the latest things to do, events, blogs and treats from across Ipswich - visit Christchurch Park
www.exploreipswich.com
4 CULTURE
5
EXPLORE IPSWICH
& BE UPLIFTED Ipswich is a powerhouse of culture in the East of England, with some of the best dance, drama, comedy and arts centres in the region. DanceEast leads the way in cuttingedge dance and performance, regularly hosting top dance companies from across the globe and worldpremieres.
The Wolsey Art Gallery (part of Christchurch Mansion) is home to the most significant collection of Constable and Gainsborough paintings and drawings outside of London. Whilst the Ipswich Art Gallery holds regular contemporary art exhibitions and work from local talent.
The New Wolsey Theatre provides contemporary theatre and drama from local drama groups and national touring shows. Ipswich Regent Theatre regularly brings big-name comedians and blockbuster musicals into town. Red Rose Chain are responsible for Theatre In The Forest and work closely within the local community.
Top 5 Picks • DanceEast • New Wolsey Theatre
Performance at the New Wolsey
• The Ipswich Regent Theatre • Ipswich Art Gallery • The Wolsey Art Gallery
New Wolsey Theatre
Performance at DanceEast
6
HISTORY & HERITAGE
7
EXPLORE IPSWICH
& BE AMAZED Ipswich is the oldest Anglo-Saxon town in England and has a rich heritage and a proud history. The glorious Christchurch Mansion is set in a beautiful park right by the town centre and is open as a museum with period rooms, collections of china and clothes and artworks by Gainsborough and Constable. Not far from the mansion is Ipswich Museum which has wonderful collections of local Anglo-Saxon artefacts, Ancient Egyptian mummies, natural history specimens and Ipswich’s famous woolly mammoth.
There is also Ipswich School, Wolsey’s Gate and the Wolsey Statue; all important landmarks in the history of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey - Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor who was born in Ipswich. Across the town centre are many beautiful Tudor buildings including the Ancient House, White Horse Hotel and Unitarian Meeting House. On the waterfront there are more outstanding buildings to look out for including the Old Custom House. You can also board a river cruise down the River Orwell to enjoy the views, the wildlife and maritime heritage.
Christchurch Mansion Ancient House, Buttermarket
The Walk, Town Centre
Top 5 Picks • Christchurch Mansion • Ipswich Museum • Wolsey Gate • Historical walk with the Ipswich Tourist Guides • A trip on the River Orwell
Old Custom House, Waterfront
8
FOOD & DRINK
9
Ipswich Market
The Salthouse Harbour Hotel
Authentic global food
EXPLORE IPSWICH
& eat and drink Top 5 Picks • @Twenty5 • The Salthouse Harbour Hotel • Suffolk Food Hall • Isaacs on the Quay and Briarbank Brewery • Traditional Suffolk pubs
Suffolk is celebrated for a range of truly local food and drink, from fishing to farming and locally brewed beer. The county really is home to some of East Anglia’s best producers and restaurants.
Ipswich once traded as a market town on a river with a bustling port, bringing an original supply of goods, both local and from further afield. This heritage has instilled Ipswich with a diverse food and drink culture, perhaps unique to Ipswich and its part of Suffolk. There are a diverse range of outlets along the Waterfront and in the Saints. Through the traditional pubs around Christchurch Park, the contemporary and long-established venues in the
town centre and the local producers of high quality food and drink available through both shops in the town centre and venues on the outskirts. Ipswich has a uniquely local and international style. Ipswich Market
10 FESTIVALS & EVENTS
11
EXPLORE IPSWICH
& BE ENTERTAINED Every year Ipswich hosts an exciting calendar of festivals and events across the town celebrating music, food, local history and global cultures.
theatre and performance. Out of town, Jimmy’s Festival at Jimmy’s Farm brings great food and popular musicians together in a unique setting.
Christchurch Park is the venue for many festivals and events; from Ipswich Music day (the country’s biggest free music festival) to Bonfire Night, beer festivals to theatre in the park, gin festivals and tribute festivals - there is something for everyone!
Ipswich is a diverse town and regularly celebrates cultures from around the world; from the Holi Festival in Spring, and Asian and African events in summer celebrating food, music and dance, to the German beer festivals in Autumn.
Ipswich Maritime Festival is held every two years along the waterfront celebrating Ipswich’s historic marinas with boat trips and a fairground. New Wolsey Theatre offers the annual PULSE Festival celebrating local and international
looking for entertainment? Visit www.exploreipswich.com to discover the latest festivals and events.
Top 5 Picks • Ipswich Music Day • Maritime Festival • PULSE Festival • Beer&Co events • Jimmy’s Festival
St. Peter’s Street
12 SPORTS & HEALTH
13
EXPLORE IPSWICH
& BE HEALTHY In 2017, Ipswich hosts the Great East Swim, the Great East Run and a range of running, cycling and other sporting activities to raise your heart-rate and leave you feeling healthy and energised. For something more relaxed, join the weekly Park Runs or go for a relaxed jog through one of Ipswich’s numerous parks or walk along the waterfront. There’s also the River Orwell to explore and open water swimming at Felixstowe and the River Deben if you’re feeling brave!
Hire a bike and cycle out to the countryside, go canoeing through the Dedham Vale or along the River Deben or Gipping. Grab a map and just explore the countryside surrounding the town or watch a match at Ipswich Town football ground. Labelled as “the year of wellness”, now is the perfect time to prioritise your mental well-being. There are plenty of places in Ipswich to enjoy yoga, learn mindfulness techniques and meditate to help de-stress and improve mental health.
Christchurch Park Great East Run
Ipswich Cycling Weekend
Alton Water
Top 5 Picks • Cycle to Felixstowe • Wild swim in the River Deben • Water sports and activities at Alton Water • Relax in one of the beautiful parks • Anglia Karting Cycle routes in Ipswich
14 RETAIL
15
EXPLORE IPSWICH
& BE UNIQUE With a mix of high-street favourites, high-end brands and quirky independents across Ipswich town centre, there really is something for everyone...
1. The Buttermarket
4. Tavern Street/Westgate street
Shopping centre and street
Main high street
High-end fashion brands like Joules and Fat Face with favourites like Waterstones, New Look and TK Maxx plus Empire Cinema.
The heart of the town with all your high-street favourites; Jack Wills, Lush, Debenhams, OFFICE, Whittard, Paperchase, H&M and loads more! You’ll also find the town hall and The Cornhill with regular markets.
2. The Saints Historic Streets Break from the norm! St. Peter’s Street and St. Nicholas Street are filled with quirky independent stores with everything from musical instruments to artist-led gifts, trendy homewares and craft materials.
3. Sailmakers Shopping Centre Contemporary shopping centre with fashion brands like Topshop, Topman and River Island along with high-street staples such as Boots, Ryman and The Perfume Shop.
The Buttermarket
5. The Walk Hidden Tudor alleyway A beautiful little street between Tudor buildings, housing Thorntons, White Stuff and Ohh Deer plus independent stores selling jewellery, vintage wares and local food and drink. ...and there is lots more for you to discover across the town! The Saints, St Peters Street
Looking for something? Ipswichhighstreetonline.com allows you to search the high street with just one click! Buy online, reserve for later or browse ahead of going into town. Tavern Street
Giles Statue
Sailmakers
16 GATEWAY TO SUFFOLK
17
Ipswich & Beyond With great connections to London, Cambridge and the coast; Ipswich is the perfect base to explore the rest of Suffolk. Suffolk has stunning Blue Flag beaches and coastline with some of the richest wildlife in the country and beautiful open countryside sprinkled with quaint little villages that are full of surprises. Visit thesuffolkcoast.co.uk for inspiration for trips along the Suffolk coast and visitsuffolk.com for information on where to stay, where to go and what to do across Suffolk.
BEACHES & COASTLINE
COUNTRYSIDE & FORESTS
VILLAGES & TOWNS
• Shotley Peninsula - 7 miles Secret beaches and coastline rich with history - home of Robert Ransome.
• Dedham Vale - 10.5 miles Constable country, an enchanting English valley.
• Hadleigh - 9 miles Ancient market town; quaint shops and traditional Suffolk pubs.
• Felixstowe - 12 miles Vibrant port town with seaside family fun.
• Rendlesham Forest - 15 miles Coniferous Woodland famous for UFO sightings.
• Woodbridge - 9 miles Charming English harbour-town along the River Deben.
• Aldeburgh - 25 miles Long stretch of beach, great food and ‘The Scallop’ sculpture.
• Lackford Lakes & West Stow - 28 miles Beautiful lakes, forest and Anglo-Saxon village and museum.
• Lavenham - 18 miles Beautiful medieval village and 16th Century Guildhall.
• Dunwich - 32 miles Rugged heathland escape with cliffs and rare wildlife.
• Ickworth House - 29.5 miles Stunning Italianate estate with woodland and rolling fields.
• Framlingham - 18.5 miles Peaceful market town and castle; Ed Sheeran’s hometown.
• Southwold - 35 miles Classic English seaside; beach huts, pier and lighthouse.
• Thetford Forest - 36 miles Spectacular pine forest with Go Ape and bike hire.
• Long Melford - 23 miles Historic village, home to Kentwell Hall and Melford Hall. • Bury St. Edmunds - 28 miles Unique, historic town with a glorious Cathedral and Abbey.
Hadleigh
Thetford Forest
Framlingham Castle
Southwold
18 WHERE TO STAY
19
Sweet dreams Ipswich has a choice of beautiful and trendy hotels across the town for you to stay in, whether it’s just for one night or for a longer trip. Make Ipswich your base when exploring the rest of Suffolk and enjoy the culture, restaurants and nightlife of the town in the evenings.
Hotels
B&Bs & SELF-CATERING
JUST OUT OF TOWN
The Salthouse Harbour Hotel
Lattice Lodge Guest House
Milsom’s Kesgrave Hall, Kesgrave
salthouseharbour.co.uk 01473 226789
latticelodge.co.uk 01473 712474
milsomhotels.com/kesgrave-hall 01473 333741
Pentahotel
The Giraffe House
Best Western Ipswich Hotel, Copdock
thegiraffehouse.co.uk 07764 212451
bestwestern.co.uk 08443 876 224
An artsy, luxury hotel overlooking the waterfront with individually designed rooms and an award-winning restaurant.
Stylish hotel just 5 mins from the train station with a restaurant, bar and lounge. pentahotels.com 01473 694600
Novotel
A bright and modern hotel between the town centre and the waterfront with a contemporary bar and terrace. novotel.com 01473 232558
Premier Inn Quayside Milsom’s Kesgrave Hall
The Salthouse Harbour Hotel
A comfortable, modern hotel near the waterfront with great access to the bars and restaurants along the marina. premierinn.com 01473 321107
Belstead Brook Muthu Hotel
A hotel in urban Ipswich, close to the A14, set on extensive lawns with its own restaurant, bar, leisure centre and indoor pool. muthuhotels.com
01473 684241
B&B and large group self-catering. Eco-award winning and just out of the town centre, perfect for a quieter stay.
A perfect home from home. This giraffethemed, private self-catering house is a short walk from the town centre.
ToothbrUsh Apartments
High quality, fully-furnished apartments in and around Ipswich. You only need your toothbrush. toothbrushapartments.co.uk 01473 373372
Seven Property
Fully-serviced, individual apartments along St. Peters Street; between the waterfront and the town centre. sevenpropertygroup.co.uk 01473 261771
Innocence Rooms
Luxury boutique-style accommodation offering self-catering facilities just to the east and west of central Ipswich. innocencerooms.co.uk 07584 310710
A luxurious boutique hotel set in the Suffolk countryside with a restaurant and bar looking out across the hotel grounds.
Set in quiet countryside surroundings yet just a stone’s throw from Ipswich and the A12 and A14.
Ufford Park, Woodbridge
A luxury hotel with spa resort and golf course. Relax in style in the heart of Suffolk’s countryside. uffordpark.co.uk 01394 432029
Mollett’s Farm, Saxmundham
Luxury cottages and studio apartments set in charming farmland near the Suffolk Coast. molletts.com 01473 604547
20 GETTING HERE
21
Travelling to IPSWICH?
it’s easy
Located on the main London rail line and at the intersection of the A12 and A14, Ipswich is accessible no matter which mode of transport you choose.
London
Ipswich Station
Framlingham
81.9 miles
Holbrook
18.3 miles
Aldeburgh 25.4 miles
Isaac’s, Waterfront
IPSWICH
Norwich
Lavenham
6.5 miles
45.1 miles
18.5 miles
Woodbridge
Felixstowe
9.2 miles
12.2 miles
DISS
24.9 miles
Cambridge 54.4 miles
By TRAIN
By Car
By Bus
By Foot
Direct rail services can get you from London to Ipswich in around an hour. Other lines branching across Suffolk and surrounding counties make getting to Ipswich from Cambridge, Norwich, Woodbridge and Felixstowe a breeze.
If you’re driving, the A12 from London and Essex takes you straight to Ipswich as does the A14 from Cambridge and Felixstowe and the A140 from Diss and Norwich, via the A14.
Live in a town or village around Ipswich? Getting a bus is a great option! There are bus services running across the county that can get you into Ipswich. The two key bus stations are Tower Ramparts by Sailmakers Shopping Centre and Cattle Market opposite the south side of the Buttermarket.
Feeling adventurous? If you live on the outskirts of Ipswich you can always walk into town! Meander through one of Ipswich’s beautiful parks on the way.
Once you’re in Ipswich, the town centre is just a 15-minute walk from the station and the waterfront is only a 10-minute walk. Check live rail times online to get the best out of your journey and book online in advance to get the best deals!
Check www.ipswich.gov.uk/parking for car parks accross town Alternatively, park up at Copdock or Martlesham Heath and use the Park & Ride for a quick and easy way to get in and out of the town centre.
Distances shown in the diagram above are driving distances. For illustrative purposes only, does not depict travel routes.
Check www.ipswichbuses.co.uk for the latest timetables and maps.
If you’re an avid walker, there are some wonderful rural routes you can take to get into Ipswich. Walk the Gipping River route from Needham Market and Stowmarket or follow the River Orwell from Holbrook and the Shotley Peninsula.
Visit the Tourist Information Centre where the friendly team can offer advice and guidance on getting the most out of your time in Ipswich. They can also book you tickets for local attractions and theatre showings.
22 MAP
23 Christchurch mansion
5 minute walk
New Wolsey theatre
University of Suffolk
For a full Ipswich map visit the Tourist Information Centre.
Train Station
Waterfront
Copyright 2012 Ipswich Borough Council, using map design and source data supplied under license. All rights reserved. Designed by Applied Information Group. Correct at time of print. July 2017.
Ipswich Waterfront
www.exploreipswich.com