Ipswich

[mydogsandme]

Thinking about having a holiday in the Ipswich area. Can anyone tell me what Ipswich is like please?

[Buenchico]

I was born and brought up in Ipswich. I now live a few miles away but I still work in Ipswich.

Ipswich is a town which has got plenty of history but it doesn't 'leap out at you' in the same way that it does in places like York. You have to go looking for it.

The town has quite a large shopping centre with two indoor shopping centres (both of 'small-to-moderate' size). Like so many towns, the big multiples tend to dominate the shopping scene but, if you explore, there are still lots of independent traders with interesting shops.

You can probably 'do' Ipswich in a day. The main tourist attraction is probably Christchurch Mansion which is set in a park just off the town centre but, with an inquisitive mind, there's a lot more to see. (The old docks area has undergone a great deal of renovation in recent years and there are some good bars, restaurants and commercial art galleries in the area).

Where Ipswich really scores for tourism is as a base for exploring East Anglia. A �10 rail ticket will get you a day's unlimited travel (after 0845 weekdays, no restrictions at weekends) in an area which includes the delightful town of Bury St Edmunds, historic Cambridge, the cathedral town of Ely, historic and bustling Norwich, and the varied seaside delights of Felixstowe, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, Cromer and Sheringham. (You can also buy a simliar ticket which lets you travel on any 3 days of your choice within a 7 day period. This works out even cheaper).

By car you can also easily access delightful villages like Lavenham or beautiful seaside places like Southwold and Walberswick.

Ipswich tourism link here:
http://www.visit-ipswich.com/

If you need further information, just post again and I'll try to tell you what you need to know.

Chris

[mydogsandme]

great post- thanks Chris!

[qapmoc]

Buenchico, you dont work for the Ipswich tourist board do you?

[stoo_pid]

Very little to add to Chris's excellent post.  Being an ex-pat tractor boy meself, I personally associate 3 things with that part of the world: The coastline, Mediaevel churches & wildlife.  If any of these interest you these links might be of some use

Coast
http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/tourism
http://www.shford.fslife.co.uk/ShingleSt/
http://www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org/index.asp

Churches
http://www.syllysuffolk.co.uk/default.asp

Wildlife
http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/suffolk/nr/index.htm
http://www.rspb.org.uk/england/eastanglia/reserves/index.asp

Won't be long before you're Suffolkated ; - )