Ipswich Branch

Points of Interest: Ipswich

During the Roman Empire, Ipswich was part of an important inland route to other rural towns & settlements, which could be accessed via two rivers, Orwell& Gipping.

There was a large Roman fort which stood in Walton and was used as part of Britain’s coastal defence. Ipswich is one of Britain’s oldest towns and houses a wide range of cultural buildings, some of which include the New Wolsey Theatre.

Ipswich sits on the meandering River Orwell, possibly why it’s been given the title of ‘East Anglia’s premier waterfront town’. For many centuries, the river has stood as the lifeblood of Ipswich. Today it’s a social meeting point for both residents and visitors to the area.

Located close to the waterfront, there are a number of moored yachts, a working port, the iconic University building, a variety of contemporary apartments and the celebrated Jerwood Dance House.

Also in the area are a variety of bars, restaurants, big brand shops and independent boutiques. Yet despite its thriving retail image, the region is also home to a wide and intriguing selection of architectural sites and historic buildings across the whole of Suffolk.

The region’s culture and heritage is extremely strong and the area is, in fact, home to an abundance of famous artists and galleries which hold their respective works. The most popular gallery is located at Christchurch Mansion and it’s a particularly popular spot with the locals due to the unrivalled selection of artwork on offer. The venue is also home to some of the largest collections of work by John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough to be featured outside of London.

The town is famous for its exhibitions and past events include two internationally renowned Saatchi exhibitions, which proved hugely popular with the locals and earned Ipswich a place on the cultural map.