Ipswich Attractions: 10 more things to do in Ipswich.
Are you ready for more fun activities? Here are 10 more suggestions for places to visit or activities to do In Ipswich.
Let Loose at Jerwood Dance House
If you are ever in the mood for music and dance, you will be in for a treat at the iconic Jerwood Dance House, on the waterfront. This striking building is home to previously mentioned DanceEast, which is a progressive and pioneering company that is bringing world-class dance to Suffolk. DanceEast has provided a stage for some of the best dancers for the last 30 years, including top ranking French ballet dancer Sylvie Guillem, and Israeli-born Hofesh Schecher, who is one of the most talked about choreographers of his generation
Festivals Galore
Apart from the Ipswich Maritime Festival that deserved a distinguished mention (in our previous compilation), there are also other festivals that centre around various themes such as food, art, music and even Indian and Brazilian culture. The wider region of Suffolk hosts one fo the largest range of festivals in the UK. Latitude Festival was one of the biggest music events in the UK. It was the winner of the Best Major Festival Award in 2017. It features a mix of literature, comedy, theatre, dance, poetry and some great musicians. The festival simply has it all. One of the newest foods and drink event is Newmarket Food and Drink Festival in the centre of Newmarket. The festival offers displays of celebrity chefs, tastings, live music and plenty of foods and drinks that you can hardly come by elsewhere.
Get Your Grub On
As part of the ‘foodie county’, Ipswich is a good place to indulge your tastebuds, not only during festive periods but at all times. The town has something for every taste, and dietary preference. You will truly be spoilt for choice with a range of waterfront bistros, local independents, popular big-chain brands, traditional Suffolk pubs and quirky restaurants. The town also boasts appetising and mouth-watering street food from traditional burgers and sausages to Indian, vegan cuisine and fried chicken on offer at the Food Quarter . What’s more, with over 30 stalls there is a wide range of goods from clothing and bags, plants and flowers, fresh fish and local fruit and vegetables available for sale next to the town hall in Princes Street, Giles Circus and Queens Street. There is also a floating brasserie on a boat in Neptune Quay, known as Mariners.
In addition, there is a farmer’s market that has been running for over 700 years that sells fresh fruits and vegetables, locally grown flowers, freshly caught fish and seafood, along with artisan Suffolk chutney and jams. The usual supermarket giants such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose are also on hand for the essentials.
Enjoy Pleasant Water Sceneries
The port of Ipswich is situated at the head of River Orwell, 12 miles from the sea. It can be dated to c.625. It manages over three million tonnes of cargo each year, so it is a very busy water way and it is important to the economy of the area. The port is backed by a programme of ongoing investments so it presents pleasant water sceneries.
Cycle Heaven
Apart from bike friendly parks, there are several different bicycle clubs within Ipswich, as well as, a wide range of routes all the way up to 100-mile cycle around stunning Suffolk scenery. The most popular of the bicycle clubs is the Ipswich Bicycle Club, which provides training to children, off road and various other cycling traditions. There is also a popular Ipswich Cycling Weekend that occurs every August- Ipswich and the surrounding areas are truly any cycling enthusiast’s idea of heaven.
Make a Run for it!
With a wide range of both urban and rural landscape only a stone’s throne away, there are plenty of great locations to explore, especially if you prefer changing scenery and fresh air when exercising.
Animal Farm
From humble beginnings, Jimmy's Farm has developed into a major attraction with award-winning restaurants, an extraordinary farm shop, nature trail and a butterfly house. There are also several festivals throughout the year at the farm, celebrating science, food, drink and music.
Not Your Typical Church
Christchurch Mansion deserves a special mention. It was built in the 16th century as a gentleman’s town residence, but now Christchurch houses an eclectic range of wonderful artworks. It has a striking china and glass gallery and a fascinating collection of Victorian toys and games. Entry to the museum is free and many events take place in the grounds throughout the year.
Home Sweet Home
Thinking about where you’ll live in Ipswich? Get this- both house prices and rents in Ipswich are very cheap by comparison with the rest of the immediate area, and laughably cheap compared to London. This is in fact one of the main attractions of the town. The houses on offer include Victorian terraces, luxury penthouse apartments and picturesque family homes. There are also many contemporary shared apartments to choose from.
Getting About
Getting about is easy even if you don’t drive. Ipswich is a place with great transport links. There’s a regular, fast and inexpensive train service to London or the Southeast (which is relatively speedy too). London Stansted Airport is not far away and there’s a regular bus service to the airport.
There are two train stations in the town: Ipswich Station and Derby Road. Ipswich Station is on the London to Norwich train line, with a commute time of about 1 hour 15 minutes to London Liverpool Street. There are also other direct train services to Colchester, Peterborough, Cambridge, Felixstowe and Lowestoft amongst others
The town also has a good local bus network, as well as a regular direct bus to London and other UK Towns and cities. There is also a free shuttle bus that runs in a loop around the town centre every 15 minutes on weekdays. On average, the direct service to London takes approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes from Ipswich to London Bridge. The fastest journey by bus from Ipswich to London Bridge is 3 hours 5 minutes- your journey time will heavily depend on traffic conditions.
Live large under a reasonable budget unlike the big cities and enjoy all the trimmings of living in a cool place like Ipswich! Check out our other compilation of Things To do In Ipswich- 10 Reasons to Move to Ipswich.
