UK - Ipswich - What to do?
 

Hi all,

I'll be in Ipswich for about 2 weeks on business, may have a little time to do some exploring on the weekend. I've already been to London several times, but know nothing of the Ipswich area. Any suggestions for sightseeing, dining, pub crawling, etc? Thanks!!

My sister lived in Ipswich for 3 months when her husband worked there. It was a wonderful corner of the UK, I visited her and the family while they were there, unfortunately I can't remember what we did. I will contact her and get back to you in a few days with some suggestions.

thanks, I'll look forward to it. Hopefully, I'll get more replies....

Hi
I would take time to visit Cambridge.
There are direct trains that take just under 1 & 1/2 hours.
Lovely city.
Jo

There's not much in Ipswich itself although Christchurch Park and Mansion are quite nice.
A lot of the historic centre was destroyed in the sixties although the Buttermarket still remains.
There is a rather nice fish restaurant in the dock area and a popular pub at Pin Mill which is just outside the town.
Suffolk is a beautiful county although you are going to need a car.
I suggest going to Lavenham which is a very picturesque small town. The houses were built using unseasoned oak and so are crooked.
Southwold is an unspoiled little seaside town, very popular with writers and media folk. P.D. James lives there and some of her novels are set in the area.
Dunwich and Walberswick are well worth a visit.
The county is full of really picturesque villages such as Kersey where the river runs across the road and ducks stroll around.
If you go to Saxmundham, I can recommend the Bell hotel for a meal.
It's run by an Anglo/French couple and the food is very good and not too expensive.

Another vote for Southwold.
The Crown has good food and so does the Swan. They are both owned by Adnams, the local small brewer.
If you are fairly energetic, you can walk to Walberswick from Southwold across the common and across a Bailey bridge to a lovely old pub The Bell. It's 600 years old and looks as though rooms have just been added to it from time to time, you go up and down steps into tiny rooms.
A ferry also goes between Southwold and Walberswick. It is a rowing boat and has been in the same family for generations.
Suffolk and Norfolk are quite as picturesque as the Cotswolds IMHO but without the tourist buses.
Let's hope that Rick Wotsisface doesn't discover the area.

ditto to everything oldie and MissPrism say. You will definitely want a car. Getting to any of the interesting villages by train is basically not possible

Second to all above, besides the lovely towns suggested, Colochester, Bury St.Edmunds, Woodbridge(Sutton Hoo site nearby)are all interesting.

if you don't want to drive, it is possible to visit these places by bus ( I have tried for one week). The local tourist centre offers a free detailed map with all the bus routes and numbers.

Southwold is not to be missed, it's a time warp in which you expect to meet Miss Marple on her bike. It's also the home of Adnams brewery and their beer is superb, much better than Greene King (another local).

If by pubs you mean pubs rather than chintzy eateries and can get someone else to drive be sure to get to Laxfield and go to the King's Head (known locally as The Low House). The main part has hardly changed in 150 years and all beer is served from the wood by gravity. Meals OK, too.

Also consider Bury St Edmunds (abbey) and Framlingham (castle, church) for a visit. The prehistoric flint mines at Grimes Graves are fascinating.

If into birds there is Minsmere near Leiston.

Perhaps the Old World name travel to America: If I can believe the genealogy, my family came to America - to Ipswich Mass- in 1634. Ten years later, in 1644, it is said they went to Long Island and founded Southhold LI. Got to be from the same area.

Go to www.visiteastofengland.com for more suggestions and details.

I think the Mansion House in Christchurch Park is worth a visit.

I'll second Cambridge as a day out and easily reached by train.

Sutton Hoo, where an Anglo-Saxon burial ship was found filed with treasure is very interesting but check out the visiting hours for this time of the year.

Norwich castle is another possibility.

Sandy

I would also recommend Norwich --not sure of the train connections however, never having been to Ipswich.

The highlight of the city is the cathedral. (You might read a bit on Julian of Norwich beforehand -- a medieval mystic.)
I was a bit disappointed by the castle when compared to Lincoln but it is still very nice. Norwich supposedly has a church for every week of the year and a pub for every night of the year, that appeared to be true! The heart of the city was nice, including the river walk.

The city is famous for its lavender and also Coleman's Mustard. When I lived there, Coleman's had a shop in town.

Anyway, a nice day trip.