Ipswich Museums and Art Galleries

(Ipswich, Suffolk, England, UK)

There are several museums of note within the town, which appeal to most visitors. Celebrating the area's natural heritage and rich culture, the Ipswich Museum is easy to be found, being located on the High Street and close to the Tower Ramparts Shopping Centre. Lying on the south-eastern side of the town centre and just off Felixstowe Road, the Ipswich Transport Museum is another safe bet.

A magnificent Grade I listed stately home standing on the northerly outskirts of Ipswich, Christchurch Mansion is typically Tudor in character and dates back to the 16th century. Set within the 25-hectare / 62-acre Christchurch Park and now owned by the town, Christchurch Mansion operates as both a museum and gallery, and is home to a large collection of paintings, including works by both Constable and Gainsborough.


If you are an art lover, then do make time to walk along the renowned Ipswich Sculpture Trail, where many wonderful commissioned art works are displayed in areas such as the Riverside, Ravenswood and the town centre.

Christchurch Mansion, Park and Wolsey Art Gallery

Address: Soane Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 2BE, England, UK
Tel: +44 01473 433554
The facade of Christchurch Mansion is known for its abundance of Dutch-style gables, while the interior is brimming with antiques and period furnishings. Regular contemporary art exhibitions are staged at the onsite Wolsey Art Gallery. To reach the Christchurch Mansion from the town centre, you will need to walk northwards from the Tourist Information Centre, along St. Stephen's Lane and Tower Street, before turning right into St. Margaret's Street and finally reaching Soane Street on the left. Guided tours of Christchurch Mansion take in all of the main attractions, which include the Tudor kitchen, the Victorian scullery, the music room, and the historic collection of toys and dolls.
Open hours: March to September, Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 14:30 to 16:30; October to February, Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 14:30 to 16:30
Admission: free

Ipswich Transport Museum

Address: Old Trolleybus Depot, Cobham Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 9JD, England, UK
Tel: +44 01473 715666
A visit to the Ipswich Transport Museum really is like stepping back in time, being home to more than 100 exhibits, with plenty of vehicles to remind you of bygone days and the advances of travel. Located within the 1937 Trolleybus Depot on Cobham Road, this attraction is operated entirely by a team of enthusiast volunteers and is actually now a registered charity. Highlights include traditional horse-drawn carriages, an electric tramcar, a number of historic trolley buses, restored public buses, fire engines, bicycles, motorbikes, lorries and even lawnmowers. All of the exhibits on display have connections to the town itself, either being built here or operated here in the past. Each year, the Transport Museum plays host to many popular events to raise money for restoration projects, with the most noteworthy being the Ipswich to Felixstowe Historic Vehicle Run each May, the Engineering Day in July, as the 'Ride a Fire Engine' day every August.
Open hours: Sunday - 11:00 to 16:00, also open on public holidays and during school holidays
Admission: charge, discounts for children under 14 years old, families (two adults and up to three children) and seniors, children four years old and under are free

Ipswich Museum

Address: High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3QH, England, UK
Tel: +44 01473 433550
Opened in the middle of the 19th century, this notable attraction merged with the Colchester Museum as recently as 2007, becoming the biggest of its kind in Suffolk. Exhibits at the Ipswich Museum include various Suffolk artefacts dating back to both Roman and Saxon times, together with collections of archaeological relics, fossils and geology, and a Suffolk Wildlife Gallery, which illustrates how the surrounding countryside has evolved over the centuries. There are also some Egyptian treasures, an array of British birds and various similar animal displays, which await visitors at the Victorian Natural History Gallery.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Town Hall Galleries

Address: Cornhill, Ipswich, Suffolk, England, UK
Tel: +44 01473 432863
Filled with art works in all kinds of different mediums, the Town Hall Galleries are situated within the very heart of the town centre and showcases works by mainly local Suffolk artists. Many of the exhibitions here are often of a contemporary nature and are displayed in a series of different gallery spaces, such as those dedicated to Visual Arts and the Suffolk Craft Society, with the latter comprising jewellery, glass works, pottery, sculptures and textiles, all of which are available for purchase at the gift shop.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free