10 Best Things To Do In Ipswich According To Tripadvisor

POSTED ON: 11/05/2018

Exciting and inspiring culture, fascinating yet humble history, beautiful parks and the stunning waterfront; Ipswich is full of character, quirks and stories to tell.

No matter what you're interested in or what the weather is doing, we're sure you can find something new to discover in Ipswich; or something you love to rediscover! To help you start exploring, here are the 10 best things to do in Ipswich according to TripAdvisor...

1. New Wolsey Theatre

New Wolsey Theatre is a 400 seat theatre and production company with a dynamic programme of drama, comedy, contemporary theatre and, of course, their famous panto! The theatre is nationally renowned for the quality and diversity, with a particular reputation for their incredible musicals, often employing actor-musicians, the New Wolsey is a leading player in the development of new musicals in the UK along with regularly staging world premieres. New Wolsey are also the creators of PULSE Festival; a bright and inspiring annual festival of contemporary theatre from established artists and emerging talent.
See the upcoming shows from New Wolsey Theatre.

2. Christchurch Park

The most prominent park in Ipswich, Christchurch Park is home to Christchurch Mansion, The Wolsey Art Gallery and is the venue for big entertainment events from Ipswich Music Day to Bonfire Night fireworks, Open Air Cinema to the Indian Summer Mela festival. As well as having plenty to see, do and enjoy; the park is also a wonderful place to wander and relax in with gardens, woodland, an arboretum and tennis courts that are free to the public!
Find out more about Christchurch Park

3. Ipswich Transport Museum

With a fabulous collection of transport and engineering objects relating to Ipswich and the surround area, the Ipswich Transport Museum has preserved over 100 buses, lorries, bikes, cranes, carriages and more for more than 50 years.
The Museum also has a large model railway for children to control and play with, a gift shop and their Sunbeam Tea room. 
Find out more on their website.

4. Christchurch Mansion

This beautiful Tudor mansion is the jewel in the crown of Ipswich's historic past boasting over 500 years of history. Explore the period rooms from the Tudor kitchen to the sumptuous Georgian saloon and the beautifully detailed Victorian wing and much more! Gaze at the fine collection of art from Suffolk artists including the biggest collection of Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable paintings outside of London in the Wolsey Art Gallery wing. There's also a cafe on site where you can relax over tea or coffee, cakes or lunch or grab a picnic to eat in the park.
Discover more about Christchurch Mansion.

5. Holywells Park

Holywells Park is a beautiful open space just a 5 minute walk from the University with a spectacular Victorian conservatory, a walled garden, a quirky cafe and plenty of green open space, mature trees and woodland. There's also the water park, playground and the fitness 'Trim Trail'; and in the summer the park hosts the Holi Festival of Colour and the Nearly tribute Festival PLUS open air theatre events throughout the year.
Discover more about Holywells Park.

6. Ipswich Museum

Explore Ipswich's past with stories that will inspire you. This fascinating and unique museum – with FREE entry - gives you the opportunity to meet the famous Wool-I-AM, the woolly mammoth, Rosie the Rhino, the elegant towering giraffe and other wonderful curiosities from the natural world. Go on a journey through Suffolk's past from the Iron Age to the Romans and Saxons. This museum gives a fascinating insight into the town and surrounding area's intriguing past.  Discover more about past civilisations across the globe, you can even take a trip down the Nile in the Egyptian Gallery.
Find out more about Ipswich Museum.

7. Ipswich Waterfront

This iconic area is what makes Ipswich 'East Anglia's Waterfront Town'. This vibrant area of the town is alive with restaurants, cafes, bars and home to the University of Suffolk; all perched on the waters edge. A great place day and night; watch world-class contemporary dance and performance at DanceEast, relax on river cruise down the Orwell River or enjoy the nightlife with drinks and live music.
Find out what's happening along the Waterfront.

8. The Ancient House

Also known as Sparrowe’s House, The Ancient House is a Grade 1 listed building dating from the 14th Century that was owned by a string of local merchants throughout the 15th and 16th Centuries. The decorative plasterwork and carving on the outside of the building was added in the 17th Century and is one of the finest examples in the UK and the interior is still has many of the original features including the staircases, paintings and secret courtyard! 
Find out more about The Ancient House.

9. The Giles Statue

One of the most popular landmarks in Ipswich, the Giles Statue depicts the 'Giles Family', famous cartoon characters created by Ipswich-based cartoonist Carl Giles. Also known as the 'Grandma Statue' the landmark features the infamous Grandma character, the naught twins Lawrence and Ralph, Rush the dog and the oldest sister Vera. The statue is positioned so that Grandma is looking up at the studio window of where Giles used to create his cartoons for Daily Express and Sunday Express; above what is now a Costa Coffee shop.
Find out more about The Giles Statue.

10. Regent Theatre

East Anglia's largest theatre, the Regent Theatre is the biggest theatre in Ipswich with over 1,500 seats and a long history of bringing the latest entertainment to the people of Ipswich. The theatre opened in 1929 and was one of the first UK theatres to play films with sound. Now, the theatre hosts touring musicals and productions, big-name comedians and popular singers and bands along with family entertainment shows.
See the Regent Theatre's upcoming list of shows and events.

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