| Ipswich | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms  | ||
| State | UK | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | England | |
| Territory | East of England | |
| Surface | 39.42 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 138.718 (2011) | |
| Prefix tel | 44 1473 | |
| Time zone | UTC 0 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Ipswich is a city of UK, the county seat of the County of Suffolk in England, in the region ofEast of England.
To know
Ipswich has been one of the UK's most prosperous cities since Saxon times. During its heyday it was an important trading port, being on the estuary of the River Orwell on the east coast. Ipswich fell into rapid decline after the opening of the new ports of Felixstowe and Harwich and remained so until the 1970s when much of London's financial services industry used Ipswich as a hub for their branch offices with names like Royal Bank of Scotland, Willis Group (aka Willis Faber & Dumas), Norwich Union and AXA opening stunning new skyscrapers allowing for a new development of the CBD just north of the river. The new Suffolk University campus has led to rapid development along the waterfront area with many new trendy bars, restaurants and apartments lining the east bank of the river.
Anyone expecting a typical small provincial town will experience a little culture shock when exiting the train station as 1960s mansions, half-timbered Saxon cottages, Victorian homes, and gleaming new skyscrapers sit side by side.
How to orient yourself
Ipswich: full screen map.How to get
By plane
Ipswich is connected by bus to the airports of London-Stansted (STN) and of Norwich (NWI). From Stansted, there is an express bus service (X5) connecting Ipswich Old Cattle Market Bus Station and Stansted Airport Bus Station every 2 hours throughout the day, taking approximately 90 minutes. Expect to pay around £ 75 for a pre-booked minicab and over £ 100 for a metered taxi.
Norwich Airport can be reached in an hour and 30 minutes. From the airport, take a local bus or taxi to Norwich train station and from there a train to Ipswich (journey time approximately 40 minutes). A taxi on the other hand costs £ 50-60.
By car
Ipswich is located at the intersection of the A12 motorways (London - Great Yarmouth) and A14 (Felixstowe - Birmingham) with several exits along both routes. Driving in the city is not easy as traffic congestion is heavy. In addition, there is a very confusing one-way system around the city center, forcing drivers to wade through a maze of narrow streets. Maps and satellite navigators are useless once you pass the inner ring road, so allow yourself plenty of time. Parking is very limited and expensive (in an underground or multi-storey car park in the city center you pay around £ 9 for 3 hours) although some parking areas near the inner ring road charge around £ 2.50 for a day, the latter are not safe . Alternatively, Park & Ride bus services depart from 3 car parks on the edge of town near the A14, costing £ 2.80 per day, including free bus travel to the city center. Look for the blue Park & Ride signs (showing a letter "P" next to a bus) when approaching Ipswich on the motorway.
On the train
- 1 Ipswich Station. Ipswich Station is located on the west bank of the River Orwell, at the intersection of Princes St, Burrell Rd and Ranelagh Rd, 1 mile from the city center. Trains to Norwich (calling at Stowmarket and Diss) depart from platform 3 at 8:44 am. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes. Express trains to London Liverpool station (with a stopover at Manningtree and Colchester) depart from platform 2 at 9:43 am. A third slower train to London (which most stations call) leaves platform 4 53 minutes later. Express services take about 1 hour and 10 minutes to reach the capital, while the train takes about ten minutes longer. There are also services every hour for Cambridge, Felixstowe is Lowestoft, and services every two hours for Peterborough.
- 2 Derby Road Station (Located along Derby Road in the eastern suburb of Rose Hill). There is also a smaller station called Derby Road. It is unmanned and has a link between Ipswich and Felixstowe. It is not advisable to take a train from here at night as the station presents problems: it is unmanned, poorly lit and poorly monitored.
By bus
The Old Cattle Market Bus Station located along Falcon Street serves regional and long-distance buses. Frequent regional buses connect Stowmarket, Sudbury, Woodbridge, Felixstowe, Colchester, Framlingham, etc., while National Express services connect London (3 times a day), Liverpool (once a day) and London Stansted Airport (every 2 hours). Rural bus and minibus services reach surrounding villages, although some are very rare. There is no ticket office at the station, so tickets should be purchased on board (change is usually available but drivers will be reluctant to change large bills), with the exception of National Express services, which must be booked in advance by phone or via the Internet. The electronic signs display the next 20 departures and which stand they will depart from. Times are displayed at each departure gate.
How to get around
On foot
Ipswich city center is very compact and largely pedestrianized, so walking is often the fastest and most pleasant way to get around. However, walking at night in suburban areas and / or public underpasses that cross the inner ring and river is unsafe, so take a taxi.
By bike
Ipswich Borough Council has gone to great lengths to make the city more bike friendly and most of the main roads into the city center have cycle paths, although they are often overlooked by motorists, many of whom are not happy to share. the road with cyclists, so help to have a good level of confidence in urban cycling. Alternatively, there are several signposted cycle paths that lead into quiet residential streets, traffic-free footpaths, many parks, and counter-flow cycle paths that allow cyclists to travel in both directions on a one-way street. National Cycle Network routes 1 and 51 pass through Ipswich and the city council has issued a free cycle map.
By public transport
Local city bus services are provided by Ipswich Buses and First Eastern Counties and depart from Tower Ramparts Bus Station. Ipswich's green and purple buses cover most city routes and connect to surrounding suburbs and business parks. Most services run every 10-20 minutes during the day and every 30-60 minutes in the early morning and late evening - most services start around 5:30 am and finish around 11pm. There is a flat fee of £ 1.80 which is paid in the box next to the driver; if you do not have the exact change you will be issued a voucher which can be used as part payment on your next trip or can be redeemed at the Ipswich Buses customer service office at Tower Ramparts bus station. There are daily, weekly and monthly passes and a rechargeable smart card for regular travelers. Services in the first eastern counties are less frequent with the exception of number 66 which runs every 15 minutes between Bourne Bridge and Martlesham and runs 24 hours a day. Fares on First buses are charged based on distance and return tickets are available, change is also provided but drivers are reluctant to exchange anything larger than a £ 5 note. Tickets are not interchangeable between operators.
A useful and free service for tourists is the number 38 which goes around the city center. This allows you to learn more about how to get around the city. Finally, an open top sightseeing bus operates a circuit of nearby tourist attractions during the summer months.
By taxi
Taxis in Ipswich are cheap by British standards. Metered taxis can be found at taxi ranks outside the train station, Old Cattle Market bus station and on a side street next to Debenhams just off Crown Street. Stopping a taxi on the street is not recommended as most taxi drivers will wait for passengers in the designated parking spaces reserved for taxi drivers. Minicabs booked by phone are cheaper and will take you to more inaccessible places, but it can be difficult to book them late on Friday and Saturday nights. If you want to travel by taxi to a nearby town like Felixstowe or Stowmarket, local minicabs in those towns will usually be cheaper than those in Ipswich.
By car
Driving around Ipswich is not recommended - traffic is often heavy, the mazes of one-way streets are confusing, and parking can be expensive. However, a car is more useful if you go to the suburbs or plan to travel to some more remote attractions away from the city.
What see
Ipswich is located in a beautiful area of East Anglia - Constable Country. In fact, the setting for Constable's most famous painting, "The Haywain", is located a few kilometers along the A12 road (towards London) in nearby Flatford (click here to see what the site looks like today). There is the National Trust center in Flatford which is worth a visit, if only for the good homemade pies that are for sale.
Further from Ipswich, Orford Castle (19km outside Woodbridge on the B1084) is worth a visit in good weather: the castle is over 800 years old and in good condition, plus Orford itself is an attractive village with good fish. and chips available in the pubs and restaurants at the far end of the village.
The main attractions are as follows:
- 1 Christchurch Park and Mansion, IP4 2BX, ☎ 44 1473 252435.
Free admission. 
10:00-16:00. A 0.28 km² park with a palace (dating from 1548) which houses a museum. 
- 2 The Ancient House, 30 Buttermarket, Ipswich IP1 1BT. Now a subsidiary of the Lakelands chain, this place is definitely worth a stroll.
- 3 Willis Building. For architecture enthusiasts, Norman's first commercial building, now Lord Foster. This building has won numerous awards and in 1991 was transformed into a Grade I listed building, the youngest building to ever receive such status. The property is for commercial use and therefore is not open to the public.
- A walk along the quays can be interesting, especially as most of the old grain warehouse buildings on the quay are being demolished and replaced by new luxury apartments, high-rise buildings, and entertainment complexes.
- 4 Ipswich Museum. Free admission. Now merged with the Colchester Museum, which opened in 1847 and although small compared to any other London museum, there are some interesting exhibits here.
- 5 Ipswich School of Art, 1 Upper High St, Ipswich, IP1 3NE (Next to the Ipswich Museum), ☎ 44 1473 433681, @[email protected]. Tue-Sat 10 am-5pm; Sun 11: 00-17: 00. The gallery of the art school in addition to the exhibitions provides a stage for local artists to showcase their work and the artistic talents of the region.
Free admission. 
10:00-16:00. A 0.28 km² park with a palace (dating from 1548) which houses a museum.
Medieval churches
Ipswich ranks third in the UK for the number of medieval churches present, after London and Norwich. The medieval churches are:
- 6 Saint Mary Le Torre (St Mary Le Tower), Tower St, Ipswich, IP1 3BE.
- 7 Saint Peter (St Peter's), College St, Ipswich, IP1 1XF, ☎ 44 1473 225269, @[email protected]. The oldest church in the city. Now undergoing renovations and used as an arts and music venue.
- 8 Santa Margherita (St Margaret's), Soane St, Ipswich IP4 2BT (At the end of Christchurch park).
- 9 Santa Maria degli Olmi (St Mary Elms), 68 Black Horse Lane, Ipswich, IP1 2EF.
- 10 Ipswich Convent (Ipswich Blackfriars), 13th-16th Century Friary Church. Convent of the XIII-XVI century.
Non-Anglican churches
Non-Anglican churches of interest are:
- 11 Unitary house of meetings (Unitarian Meeting House), Friars St, Ipswich, IP1 1TD, ☎ 44 1473 210064. The oldest purpose-built maverick chapel in England.
- 12 Church of San Pancrazio (St Pancras), 1 Orwell Place, Ipswich, IP4 1BD, ☎ 44 1473 252596, @[email protected]. It failed to become the Catholic cathedral of eastern England.
Art gallery
- 13 St Peter's by the Waterfront, College St, Ipswich, IP1 1XF, ☎ 44 1473 225269, @[email protected]. Place of music and art.
Events and parties
What to do
- 1 Ipswich Town FC, Portman Rd IP1 2DA. Here you can watch football and soccer matches. The glory days have passed: Ipswich Town was relegated in 2019, so now playing in League One, the third division of English football. Their home stadium, Portman Road (capacity 30,000 people), is located just west of the city center. Note the statue of Sir Alf Ramsay: as team manager from 1955 to 1962 he led Ipswich Town's rapid rise from the lower divisions to the English champions, then led England to their only World Cup victory in 1966. Another statue commemorates Sir Bobby Robson, who both in Ipswich and with England came closest to emulating Ramsay.
- Ipswich is home to East England's premier dance center, the Jerwood Dance House. Opened in 2009, this gem is already captivating audiences with first-rate shows.
- If architecture is your thing, look for Ancient House, Wolseys Gate, The Willis Building (designed by Sir Norman Foster), St Lawrence Church, St Mary le-tower, Christchurch Mansion and Unitarian Meeting House. There are also buildings with wooden structures throughout the city center.
- 2 Suffolk Leisure Park, Bourne Hill, IP2 8NQ, ☎ 44 1473 602347. At the edge of the city there is a dry ski slope and golf courses. All of this, however, will soon be overshadowed by the huge development of SnOasis on the edge of town. Once completed, this will be the largest indoor ski slope, and will also include an ice skating rink, a snowboard half pipe and many Olympic winter sports facilities. Not to mention many hotels and restaurants.
- 3 Ipswich Market, Princes St, IP1 1PN. A growing attraction, mainly due to food! From roast pork and baked potatoes to Caribbean and Tunisian cuisine, there's never a shortage of food.
- Ipswich has many beautiful parks, but the best is Christchurch Park. On the edge of the city center, this park features beautiful gardens, tennis courts and the Christchurch mansion. It also has two large pond areas and plenty of space for sports.
- 4 S B Thalatta (Thames Barge), Ipswich Haven Marinav New Cut East, Ipswich IP3 0EA, @[email protected].
- 5 River Orwell cruises (Orwell River Cruises) (They start and end at Orwell Quay on the waterfront), ☎ 44 7773 369970, @[email protected].
Shopping
Ipswich was nothing special when it came to shopping; however several independent shops have opened, Urban Vintage is the best choice for men along Queen Street and Blacksheep near the butter market, further on St. Nicholas Street and St. Peters Street there are several choices for women. Other independent men's stores include Jonty's (Tacket Street) and Coes department store along Norwich Road.
A long pedestrianized street (Northgate Street, Tavern Street, Carr Street) runs through the city center and is lined with big name shops like H&M, Gap, Debenhams, Boots, Marks & Spencer etc. Some smaller pedestrian streets are home to a few small retailers and are the best place to find small independent retailers. There are 2 main indoor shopping malls (Buttermarket Center and Tower Ramparts Shopping Center) although neither is anything special, shops like Topshop, Topman and TK Maxx can be found here.
The southeastern part of Norwich Road is a good place to see Ipswich's vibrant ethnic community and the street is lined with shops and restaurants selling local food, snacks and produce from the Middle East, Eastern Europe, India, etc...
Many locals prefer to shop in supermarkets outside the city. The Copdock Interchange shopping park near the intersection of the A12 and A14 motorways southwest of Ipswich is one of the largest with a 24-hour Tesco Extra supermarket, Currys PC World (electronics and appliances store), B&M ( retailer of various products) and several fast-food chains including Burger King, Costa Coffee and Pizza Hut (take bus 13 from Tower Ramparts and get off at the last stop; if you are traveling by car exit at the A12 / A14 Copdock and free parking is available at the end of the A1214 London Road from Ipswich City Center). Anglia Retail Park, northwest of Ipswich, close to the A14 motorway, is also popular and has an Asda supermarket, various shops such as Bounce Ipswich (trampoline center), Go-Outdoors (outside supplier) and the usual furniture stores. and appliances, as well as a McDonalds, Costa Coffee and a KFC (take bus 8 from Tower Ramparts and get off at the last stop; if traveling by car take the Ipswich / Bury Road exit from the A14, at the top end of Norwich Road from the city center).
The main supermarket serving the city center is Sainsbury's along Upper Brook Street. There is a larger Sainsbury's along Hadleigh Road near the train station. Most of the other supermarkets are located outside the city in large business parks - the two largest supermarkets are listed above. Convenience stores like Martins, Co-op, Spar, Tesco Express, and Premier are everywhere - most are open from 6am to 11pm, although many gas station convenience stores are open 24 hours a day.
How to have fun
Shows
Cinema
Ipswich has two cinemas, the Cineworld and the Corn Exchange Arts Cinema.
- 1 Cineworld, Cardinal Park, 11 Grafton Way, IP1 1AX, ☎ 44 330 333 4444.
- 2 Corn Exchange, Cornhill, IP1 1DH, ☎ 44 1473 433465. Mon-Sat 10 am-4pm.
Theaters
The Regent Theater has seen appearances by the Beatles, Jethro Tull, Rufus Wainright, Foo Fighters, Ricky Gervais, Deren Brown and Jimmy Carr among others. The Wolsey Theater hosts productions all year round.
- 3 The Regent Theater, 3 St. Helen's Street, IP4 1HE.
- 4 Wolsey Theater, Civic Dr, IP1 2AS, ☎ 44 1473 295900.
Night clubs
For drinking during the summer the only place to stay is Isaac's along the waterfront, a fantastic facility with a huge outdoor area and 4 separate bars to reduce the queues.
Churches, Zing Bar, Barcoda, The Swan and Keo's are the best bars in the city center.
- 5 Arcade Street Tavern (Located in a beautiful historic Georgian townhouse in the center of Ipswich), ☎ 44 1473 805454, @[email protected]. Over 100 craft beers (mostly bottled) available, plus a wide selection of gins and other spirits. Prices may seem high compared to other public places nearby, but the clientele and surroundings outweigh many in the area. Food is available on some evenings and can get busy on a Friday or Saturday night.
- 6 Where Street Inn (The Dove), 76 St. Helens St, IP4 2LA, ☎ 44 1473 211270. 12:00-22:45. A large selection of well kept beers and regular beer festivals. There is an adjacent B&B as well as a Gin building.
- 7 The Greyhound (About 10 minutes walk from the city center). It is a pub that serves a good range of food and is without a TV.
- 8 Fat Cat, Spring Road (About 15 minutes walk from the center, worth a visit). This pub also has no TV, but most importantly it has a range of around 20 beers on tap at any one time - this pub is indeed a beer drinker's paradise. There is an excellent beer garden and the pub has agreements with local takeaway restaurants that will deliver flat food and pick it up directly from the pub.
Club
- 9 Liquid. It can be a barely legal drinker's paradise, however most evenings are held in the Envy room for those over 21 or over 25.
- Fire and Ice. It's a favorite where the latest dance music is played, as well as a popular indie / alternative night on Mondays with a cheap cover rate and even cheaper drinks.
Where to eat
St Nicholas Street in Ipswich has several restaurants. You can sample Turkish, Italian, French, Thai, Chinese, Indian and modern British cuisine. The best restaurants are Keo's and The Galley for British food, The Ghandi and Zaika for Indian food, Trongs for Chinese and Kwan Thai for Thai.
Another good area to eat in is the seafront with an abundance of local choices, lots of good British cuisine and even a French restaurant. The absolute best here is the Salthouse Harbor Hotel which is highly rated. Others worth checking out are The Bistro on the Quay, Il Punto, The Waterfront and Quayside.
Away from the two main areas there are a lot more options. The Arboretum, near the Ipswich museum, is fast becoming a city favorite with rave reviews. The award-winning Aqua Eight restaurant serves unparalleled Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisine. My Keralam (South Indian) and Mr. Wings (Chinese) offer good food right next to the Ipswich Regent Theater.
Options outside the city center include The Greyhound on Henley Road, The Tuddenham Fountain on Tuddenham Road, and Milsoms in Kesgrave, off Main Kesgrave Road.
Average prices
- 1 Mariners Restaurant, 1900 Neptune Quay, IP4 1AX (A boat moored on the quay), ☎ 44 1473 289748, @[email protected]. Tue-Sat 12: 00-14: 30 and 18: 30-21: 30; Sun 12: 00-14: 30. Despite the name, a good French restaurant. Probably the best restaurant in town, albeit a bit pricey.
- 2 Trongs, ☎ 44 1473 256833. The best Chinese restaurant in Ipswich (even if the owner is Vietnamese); the main problem is that reservations are required at least a week in advance if you want to have dinner on a Friday or Saturday night.
- 3 Kwan Thai Restaurant, 14 St. Nicholas Street, ☎ 44 1473 253106.
- 4 Zaika, 17-21 St Nicholas St, ☎ 44 1473 210110. Zaika is Ipswich's best Indian restaurant. The menu has many of the standard house curry dishes, but also a great range of dishes unique to them. Everything is made on site from raw materials. It's a little more expensive than most of the others, but it's worth it. You will need to book to enter.
- 5 The White Hart, Helmingham Road, Otley (9km north of Ipswich), ☎ 44 1473 890312. Adorably anarchic village pub as it should be. Enjoy good food alongside loyal followers or at the knitting club or group of local crabbers.
- 6 Hintlesham Hall, Hintlesham (8km west of Ipswich), ☎ 44 1473 652268. Dress up for an impressive dinner served in a 16th century manor house. Choose from the most delicious dishes, including Jerusalem artichoke cream and watercress soup, all made with fresh local produce.
Where stay
Average prices
- 1 Belstead Brook Hotel, ☎ 44 1473 684241, @[email protected]. A former hunting lodge converted into a hotel, this property still retains the same intimacy and relaxing charm. It occupies 36 m² of gardens and offers a heated swimming pool, gym, therapeutic spa and restaurant.
- 2 Salthouse Harbor, https://www.salthouseharbour.co.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=hotel (On Ipswich Pier). Highly recommended as a market alternative to the numerous Novotel / Holiday Inns available in the city.
- 3 Lattice Lodge, Woodbridge Road, ☎ 44 1473 712474, @[email protected]. Eco-friendly urban B&B that uses 100% renewable electricity, among a host of other green features. Excellent B&B with very comfortable accommodation that also has free WI-FI broadband.
- 4 Melverley Heights Guest House, 62 Tuddenham Road, ☎ 44 1473 253524. Victorian property offering bed and breakfast based on local produce.
Safety
Despite the sensationalized reports of the Suffolk murders and Ipswich nightclub shootings, crime in Ipswich is no more rampant than in any other city of similar size. Avoid fighting, especially in bars, as it can be dangerous. There are several off-limits areas at night, notably Chantry, Gainsborough and Greenwich, as well as the residential areas around Norwich Road, although the average tourist will not need to go to these areas and if you stay on the main thoroughfare you will stay at the sure. Avoid using Derby Road train station at night as it is poorly lit, isolated and unmanned. Be careful at night when parking your car on quiet residential streets or if your car is parked in a privately run cheap car park like the one on the waterfront, as break-ins and car thefts are common. Use the central city car park operated by Ipswich Borough Council.
There is also a strong rivalry between Ipswich Town FC and Norwich City FC: on match days, avoid wearing football colors or saying things that could lead to a football-related confrontation. That said, the rivalry here is not as serious as it is, for example, between Birmingham City and Aston Villa in Birmingham; or between Chelsea and Arsenal in London and hooliganism in football is rare.
How to keep in touch
Around
- 3 Felixstowe
- 4 Southwold
- 5 Dedham, village 20 minutes drive from Ipswich
- 6 Woodbridge, less than 10 miles from Ipswich. Woodbridge, an attractive market town (on the A12, towards Lowestoft), was once an important port in Tudor times, and the town is still popular with sailors today, with a high population of retired citizens who have settled in this part of the world to "mess around on boats". You can also reach Woodbridge by train from Ipswich, although the service is far from frequent. Woodbridge has many antique shops, tea shops and old pubs and is mostly pedestrianized. Worth a visit, especially if you are traveling with older people. On the outskirts there is a mill (clearly signposted along the A12 motorway), the only survivor of the 10 or more that was used to feed the soldiers barracks in the area during the Napoleonic wars.
- 7 Sutton Hoo, Just outside Woodbridge. An Anglo-Saxon cemetery of royal princes, buried alongside priceless treasures in ship graves. There is a National Trust Exhibition Center. In fairness, while the site is undoubtedly of great historical interest, the exhibit itself is a bit elongated. If you want to see one of the treasures found here, you will have to go to the British Museum in London. It is worth a visit if you are in the area, anyone moving some distance from the site may be disappointed.
- 8 Newbourne, off the A12
- 9 Waldringfield, on the way to Woodbridge. It has a nice view of the Deben River.
- 10 Rendlesham Forest, place of the most notorious UFO crash in the UK, but also great for a bike ride, with rental bikes available during Easter and during the summer school holidays.
- 11 Levington, located between Ipswich and Felixstowe, the village sits on a river estuary and features preserved wetlands that are home to many migratory birds. The pub there, "The Ship", offers wonderful food such as liver, bacon and seafood. Especially recommended, no reservations. Their wine is pretty bad though. Take a short walk before or after visiting the pub to the river-path located in front of the pub which is the only place to park in the village.
