Experience England’s Oldest Anglo Saxon Town
Ipswich has a rich and varied culture with over 1,500 years of history mixing seamlessly with modern life.
The high street offers a plethora of great shops from the main high street retailers to smaller independents, as well as a regular market. There is also a vibrant arts culture and a vast number of high-quality pubs, bars and restaurants. Within each reach are great sporting facilities including the newly renovated Crown Pools, a host of gyms and Ipswich Town football stadium.
The Waterfront provides an ideal haven of tranquillity away from the bustle of the town centre. The historic port provides the perfect backdrop for many eateries with idyllic views over the water and marina.
If you prefer to get away from it there are numerous open spaces including Christchurch Park, Chantry Park and Holywells Park just a short walk away. Ipswich is centrally located within the beautiful county of Suffolk meaning there are numerous beaches to visit, a host of local attractions including zoo’s, museums and farm parks to name just a few.
OVER 1,500 YEARS OF MARITIME INDUSTRY AND AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE
Anglo-Saxon settlers, Vikings invasions, royal visits, global trade, emigration, refugees, war and culture; a lot has happened in Ipswich over the past millennium and half and so much of it is still here for you to explore.
Whether it’s visiting one of the town’s museums, following the Blue Plaque trail or simply wandering the Tudor and Victorian streets; discover old English sights, sounds and stories throughout Ipswich.
From early Saxon settlers and Viking invasions, to global maritime trade and luxury yacht building; the Waterfront has been the at the heart of Ipswich’s transformations over the town’s 1,500 year history.
Today, the Ipswich Waterfront is one of the most recognisable areas of the town, popular for the many bars, cafes and bistros perched along the waters edge, and with views over the marinas. Festivals and events are held along Waterfront throughout the year including Ipswich Maritime Festival in the summer and biennial festivals SPILL and PhotoEast.
The Waterfront is also home to DanceEast (a national centre for dance), the University of Suffolk’s Ipswich Campus, the Suffolk Archives’ new, cutting-edge visitor centre The Hold and two river trip operators: Orwell Lady and Sailing Barge Victor.
Southwold is a charming north Suffolk seaside town on the Suffolk Heritage Coast. Almost an island, being bounded by the North Sea to the East, by the River Blyth and Southwold harbour to the South–West and by Buss Creek to the North, there is just the one road in to and out of Southwold, approached through neighbouring Reydon.
Southwold seafront with the pier in distance.Southwold seafront with the pier in distance. The town offers much of interest, but it is the sea and Southwold’s links with it that make this a wonderful destination at any time of the year. Come and sample the Southwold sea air! All the attractions of the working lighthouse, beach huts, award-winning pier, busy harbour, cliff top cannon and of course the beach, combine to make Southwold a quintessentially English resort town.
Take a look at Southwold from a different viewpoint and learn a little about it from the photo captions on our Panorama feature.
Surrounded by parkland and a picturesque lake, Framlingham Castle was once at the centre of a vast network of power and influence. Muster your courage,walk the spectacular wall walk and explore the towering walls behind which Mary Tudor was proclaimed Queen of England. From the remarkable 10.5 metres high curtain wall, take in breath-taking views of the Suffolk landscape and imagine life over 500 years ago.
You don’t need to book your ticket in advance, but you will always get the best price and guaranteed entry by booking online ahead of your visit. If you are a Member and wish to book, your ticket is still free.