About Ipswich and the Surrounding Area

Ipswich Marina. Photograph by shadow governor James Fletcher.

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk, steeped in history yet full of life. The town provides a vibrant mix of heritage, arts, theatre, cinema, clubs, bars and restaurants.

An hour and a quarter by train from London, and an hour’s drive from Stansted Airport, Ipswich provides easy access to major cities, yet peace and tranquility can be found only five minutes away, in one of the many pretty villages surrounding the town.

A traffic-free town centre, surprising open spaces, heritage representing over 800 years, a newly regenerated waterfront area, along with a successful business community, makes Ipswich a diverse place to live.

Suffolk has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. There is an excellent choice of both state and private schools in the region. Ipswich is also home to the newest university in England – University Campus Suffolk (UCS).

Out and about in Ipswich Ipswich waterfront has undergone regeneration and now boasts a busy marina with a good selection of restaurants, bars and cafés as well as being the setting for the Jerwood DanceHouse and UCS campus.

Only minutes from the town centre, set in over 65 acres of attractive parkland is the beautiful Christchurch Mansion. Best known for having the most important collection outside London of works by John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough, it houses an extensive collection of oil paintings, water colours, drawings, prints and sculpture.

Ipswich Museum houses a wide range of displays including Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich. the Bird Gallery, which houses the famous Ogilvie Collection of British birds and the Suffolk Archaeology Gallery, including a reconstruction of a Roman villa and replicas of the treasure from the Anglo-Saxon burial site at Sutton Hoo.

www.ipswichhospital.nhs.uk Our Passion, Your Care. The annual Ip-Art Festival is an eclectic mix of music, drama, dance and visual arts which include open-air cinema, opera, concerts and other cultural events. The town is home to four theatres attracting top names from the stage, music and comedy, as well as local theatre groups.

Ipswich and district caters for many different sports and recreational activities including first class golf courses and marinas. There are several sports centres providing access to a range of sporting activities.

There is an excellent opportunity for sailing and fishing. The town also offers year round skiing on its artificial dry ski slope.

Ipswich Town Football Club is the town’s Ipswich waterfront. professional football club. The club prides itself on being a friendly, family club and its ground is situated on Portman Road, just two minutes’ walk from the town centre.

The town also has clubs in Rugby Union and League as well as an American football team and speedway team.

Ipswich is also home to the Ipswich Gymnastic Centre one of only three fully accredited Olympic gymnastic facilities in the UK.

Ipswich offers a great choice of places to eat, from traditional favourites to international cuisine including floating restaurants, intimate independents, pavement cafés and a former brewery. The town also offers the Suffolk Food Hall for local The Moot Hall, Aldeburgh. produce and several farmers’ markets.

Out and about in the region Aldeburgh is an unspoilt town possessing a fascinating shingle beach and a totally infectious charm, while being internationally famous as a result of its association with the late Benjamin Britten and the annual Festival of Music.

There are many places to visit and things to do in Aldeburgh. The 16th century Moot Hall is well worth viewing. The wide high street offers a range of interesting shops and galleries, along with a locally famous fish and chip shop.

Snape Maltings is a uniquely attractive collection of 19th century buildings situated on the River Alde. It is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and is a designated conservation area, the river and marshes surrounding it being a haven for wildlife.

The bulk of the buildings date from 1850 onwards. The site comprises shops, galleries and restaurants as well as the world famous concert hall. Snape Maltings, Snape.

Our Passion, Your Care. Southwold with its world famous lighthouse and Adnams Brewery is a wonderful day out.

The beach is a regular winner of the acclaimed ‘blue flag’ award, with its golden sands providing exquisite summer relaxation or long walks all year round. The Pier Pavillion provides an ideal place to get ice creams or hot drinks, depending on the time of year, or to just sit and pass the time away.

Lavenham is described as one of the finest medieval villages in England with its historic buildings and streets. Fine Tudor townhouses mingle with small crooked cottages. The splendid 16th century Guildhall of Corpus Christi (National Trust) dominates the Market Place Southwold. and now contains a local history exhibition. A variety of interesting antique and gift shops, art galleries, tea rooms, restaurants and country walks complement the historic sites and much-acclaimed tour.

Woodbridge is an historic market town just outside of Ipswich. Its close proximity to the River Deben makes it very popular for nautical pursuits.

Those with an interest in archaeology, history and the arts will discover that Woodbridge has much to offer. On the opposite bank of the River Deben is the Anglo-Saxon site at Suttton Hoo. This marks the grave of Raedwald, the Wuffinga King who ruled Anglia and was buried in his ship in 615 AD. A visit to the site, now managed by the National Trust, is highly recommended.

Felixstowe is a thriving town, home to Britain’s biggest and busiest container terminal. Its five-mile coastline The River Deben at Woodbridge. features one of the country’s most important coastal nature reserves, tranquil sandy beaches, a fishing village and bustling seafront with all the attractions expected of a seaside holiday.

Ten miles inland from Ipswich you will find ‘Constable country’, with Flatford Mill and Dedham. This peaceful landscape was made famous by England’s finest landscape artist, John Constable. You can mess about on the river, take a walk through the beautiful landscape or just sit under the trees and watch the world go by.

A little further afield is the cathedral town of Bury St Edmunds and a further 20 minutes drive up the A14 will bring you to Newmarket and the excitement of horse racing.

Felixstowe.

Our Passion, Your Care. Lowestoft

Bungay Beccles Brandon Thetford Diss Halesworth Southwold Eye Mildenhall

Newmarket Bury St Edmunds Debenham Saxmundham Framlingham Leiston Stowmarket Aldeburgh Needham Market Lavenham Haverhill Woodbridge Ipswich Hadleigh Sudbury

Felixstowe

Map of Suffolk.

Produced by: The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust Heath Road Ipswich Suffolk IP4 5PD Switchboard: 01473 712233