There’s no shortage of exhibitions and events throughout the year in Ipswich, from Viking ship battle reenactments to jazz shows in a converted church. Get your fill of culture by visiting museums and galleries that will entertain all ages, and be sure to fill your summer weekends with the many music events on offer.
Culture in Ipswich
Galleries
Ipswich Art School Gallery has been the latest addition to Ipswich Museum, centrally located on the High Street. An impressive launch featured collections straight from the Saatchi Gallery, and the space has since held a variety of temporary exhibitions and artworks. Past displays have included paintings, photography, sculptures and creative writing inspired by the local Suffolk coast.
It’s also worth visiting Wolsey Art Gallery at Christchurch Mansion. The stately Tudor home sits in Christchurch Park to the north of the town centre, providing a beautiful setting for the permanent collection of paintings by John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough, as well as ever-changing exhibitions by talented East Anglian artists.
Art School Gallery
Ipswich Museum
Christchurch Mansion
Museums
Even if the heavens open, there’s plenty of entertainment for the whole family in Ipswich. Explore history and get the kids learning with our guide to Ipswich museums.
Events
Join acclaimed local, national and international jazz artists for a summer weekend of tooting trumpets and tapping toes in Ipswich. A mix of events on offer include workshops, film, performance art and of course live music. Many of the performances are held in the beautiful St. Peter’s by the Waterfront, a 15th-century church-turned-arts-centre by Ipswich’s marina. You can grab tickets online for the various events – usually held in June – and some are even free.
If big-name bands such as Queen, Coldplay and Oasis cater more to your music tastes, be sure to check out the line-up for Ipswich’s annual Fake Festival. And no – Liam and Noel haven’t settled their differences – but the event’s organisers put together the biggest talents in tribute acts all on one stage, so the whole family can enjoy their favourite music anthems within the beautiful Christchurch Park.
Or for a family friendly event which celebrates the town’s seafaring heritage, visit the Ipswich Maritime Festival. The waterfront event runs for a full summer weekend every August, where you can expect a swashbuckling affair with historic vessels, street and food markets, funfair, music, and all things water-related. Pop on a boat to enjoy river cruises along the Orwell, climb aboard the wooden ships and round-off the weekend with a fabulous firework display over the marina.