Thursday 18 January - Wednesday 25 April
Tourist Information Centre
Various
£8.00 (unless otherwise stated)
Guided Walks around Ipswich
Our entertaining and informative Ipswich guided walks are available throughout the summer, with occasional evening and weekend walks. Unless stated, walks will start from Ipswich Borough Council’s Tourist Information Centre at 2.15pm, last about an hour and a half and cost £4.00 per person. Tuesday and Thursday walks can be attended without booking, just bring your entry fee and your walking shoes!
Additional walks during special events, celebrations and for children during school holidays are available throughout the year.
Walks that require pre-booking have tickets available through the Tourist Information Centre or online via the Ipswich Regent website.
Contact the Tourist Information Centre for further details.
Tuesday Walks
These afternoon walks will be a great chance to get out in the sunshine and discover the lesser know stories of Ipswich.
£4.00/per walk
1 May – The Secret Diary of Ipswich Ages 1500 1/2 Discover some key (and a few quirky) events and happenings from Ipswich’s long and varied history and heritage – from an ancient Royal Charter, the opening of the ‘new’ Town Hall and the Tudors’ attempts to install street lighting.8 May – Crime & Punishment Walk through central Ipswich and discover the places where our ancestors were publicly humiliated, imprisoned and executed. What were their crimes? And how did the forces of law and order seek to combat crime?15 May – Colourful Characters & Fascinationg Facts Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the town centre streets and hear tales of interesting characters from Ipswich’s past, plus entertaining facts about various buildings, streets and street names.22 May – Good Afternoon, Mr Dickens Celebrate Dickens’ connection with Ipswich. See the places he visited and described, and consider the themes that he explored in his writing.29 May – In Pilgrims’ Footsteps In the Middle Ages, Ipswich was a renowned place of pilgrimage visited by Royalty and prominent statesmen. Follow in their footsteps and discover what they came to see.5 June – Iconic Buildings of Ipswich Come and see some of our most exciting architecture, from medieval churches and Tudor houses, to modern masterpieces, Ipswich has it all!12 June – The Backwaters of Ipswich Explore the hidden backwaters of Ipswich to discover the story of Smart Street School, Cavendish Lodge and two of our less well-known sculptures, ‘The Spirit of Youth’ and ‘Tam’.- 19 June – Ipswich Medics Stroll around the sites linked with inspirational medical men and women and their pioneering advances. Hear about Nobel Prize winner Sir Charles Sherrington and his ground breaking medical discoveries.
- 26 June – Explorers and Entertainers A walk from the town centre to the Waterfront, exploring amazing tales of brave adventurers and explorers including early Anglo-Saxon invaders, a daring female pilot and the builders of China’s first railway.
- 3 July – Independence Day Yes, it’s a day early but come along and discover Ipswich’s fascinating connections with the USA; from the sailors who became the first permanent settlers at Jamestown to the American forces stationed here during WW II, via Flathead Native American performers on stage in Ipswich and correspondence from George Washington.
- 10 July – The Worst Job In Town Discover how some of our ancestors scratched out a living – including the Tanner, the Executioner and the thankless task of being a member of the ‘Nuisance Removal Committee’ – as we decide who had the worst job in town.
- 17 July – Ipswich Entertains Explore the stories and history of the theatres, halls and cinemas in Ipswich, in both their heyday and decline. Recall the memories of colourful characters and places, and visits of Shakespeare and Garrick to the town.
- 24 July – Six of Our Best Building Ipswich has a wonderful architectural heritage, from modern masterpieces to medieval churches. Join us as we introduce you to (at least) six of our most significant and iconic buildings.
- 31 July – Introducing Ipswich Visit some of the best sights in Ipswich, including two architectural treasures, genuine Tudor houses, memorials of our famous sons and daughters and lots of remains from our boom time in Victoria’s reign, although she herself took against us!
- 7 August – Docks to Designer Developments Discover the changing face of Ipswich Waterfront, from its historic beginnings to the creation of the wet dock. Along the way we’ll explore Dance East, Isaacs on the Quay and The James Hehir Building.
- 14 August – Yes, We Can! One hundred years after the vote was first given to women come and hear about the Ipswich suffrage campaigners and many more daring and successful Ipswich women, including England’s first female pilot.
- 21 August – Friaries, Prioires, Churches and Chapels Ipswich was a major religious centre during the Middle Ages. Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims to visit some of the town’s magnificent medieval churches and other interesting sites, including the ruins of Blackfriars and a Grade One Listed Meeting House.
- 28 August – Wolsey: The Man Behind the King Was Ipswich’s most famous son the real power during Henry VIII’s early reign? Could he have become Pope? Come with us to find out more about Thomas Wolsey, including his clash with the ‘James Bond’ of the day.
- 4 September – A Waterfront Wander Discover medieval churches, a Victorian dock, a unique survival of a Tudor Merchant’s home and workplace and the continuing development of Ipswich Waterfront.
- 11 September – Barley, Beer & Brewing Ipswich has many links with the brewing trade. This walk explores some of the main sites connected with a trade that brought so much prosperity to the town.
- 18 September – Corn & Corpolite Discover what coprolite really is and how wheat and barley once made this town wealthy. Hear about the firms who milled, malted, brewed and made the machinery to produce our daily bread and a well-earned pot of beer.
- 25 September – Rags and Bones A walk to honour the memory of author Frank Grace and to explore the Fore Street area that he wrote about in his popular book ‘Rags and Bones’.
Thursday Walks
As the days get warmer and longer, discover the colourful history of our town with these regular walks.
£4.00/per walk
3 May – Heart of Ipswich See some of the finest buildings in Ipswich, a Norman Foster masterpiece, the spectacular Ancient House and a beautiful early Meeting House. Discover the town’s connections with Charles Dickens and Lord Nelson.10 May – Saints To Waterfront Discover the Saxon origins of Ipswich and Cardinal Wolsey’s College. Explore Henry Tooley’s tomb and find out how the Victorian dock made Ipswich nationally important.17 May – West Side Story Follow in the footsteps of Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon to the Shrine of Our Lady of Ipswich, and on the way meet Charles Darwin, Professor Henslow and the Giles family.24 May – Blackfrairs to Waterfront Visit the old commercial quarter of Ipswich with its fine medieval churches, Jewish Cemetery and merchants’ houses; See how the Waterfront has adapted becoming a bustling and modern centre of leisure and education.31 May – Northern Highlights See two of our historic churches and a 15th century Gatehouse whilst learning about engineer Robert Ransome, the legacies of Edmund Withipoll and the Fonnereau family.7 June – Heart of Ipswich See some of the finest buildings in Ipswich, a Norman Foster masterpiece, the spectacular Ancient House and a beautiful early Meeting House. Discover the town’s connections with Charles Dickens and Lord Nelson.14 June – Saints To Waterfront Discover the Saxon origins of Ipswich and Cardinal Wolsey’s College. Explore Henry Tooley’s tomb and find out how the Victorian dock made Ipswich nationally important.- 21 June – West Side Story Follow in the footsteps of Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon to the Shrine of Our Lady of Ipswich, and on the way meet Charles Darwin, Professor Henslow and the Giles family.
- 28 June – Blackfrairs to Waterfront Visit the old commercial quarter of Ipswich with its fine medieval churches, Jewish Cemetery and merchants’ houses; See how the Waterfront has adapted becoming a bustling and modern centre of leisure and education.
- 5 July – Northern Highlights See two of our historic churches and a 15th century Gatehouse whilst learning about engineer Robert Ransome, the legacies of Edmund Withipoll and the Fonnereau family.
- 12 July – Heart of Ipswich See some of the finest buildings in Ipswich, a Norman Foster masterpiece, the spectacular Ancient House and a beautiful early Meeting House. Discover the town’s connections with Charles Dickens and Lord Nelson.
- 19 July – Saints To Waterfront Discover the Saxon origins of Ipswich and Cardinal Wolsey’s College. Explore Henry Tooley’s tomb and find out how the Victorian dock made Ipswich nationally important.
- 26 July – West Side Story Follow in the footsteps of Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon to the Shrine of Our Lady of Ipswich, and on the way meet Charles Darwin, Professor Henslow and the Giles family.
- 2 August – Blackfrairs to Waterfront Visit the old commercial quarter of Ipswich with its fine medieval churches, Jewish Cemetery and merchants’ houses; See how the Waterfront has adapted becoming a bustling and modern centre of leisure and education.
- 9 August – Northern Highlights See two of our historic churches and a 15th century Gatehouse whilst learning about engineer Robert Ransome, the legacies of Edmund Withipoll and the Fonnereau family.
- 16 August – Heart of Ipswich See some of the finest buildings in Ipswich, a Norman Foster masterpiece, the spectacular Ancient House and a beautiful early Meeting House. Discover the town’s connections with Charles Dickens and Lord Nelson.
- 23 August – Saints To Waterfront Discover the Saxon origins of Ipswich and Cardinal Wolsey’s College. Explore Henry Tooley’s tomb and find out how the Victorian dock made Ipswich nationally important.
- 30 August – West Side Story Follow in the footsteps of Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon to the Shrine of Our Lady of Ipswich, and on the way meet Charles Darwin, Professor Henslow and the Giles family.
- 6 September – Blackfrairs to Waterfront Visit the old commercial quarter of Ipswich with its fine medieval churches, Jewish Cemetery and merchants’ houses; See how the Waterfront has adapted becoming a bustling and modern centre of leisure and education.
- 13 September – Northern Highlights See two of our historic churches and a 15th century Gatehouse whilst learning about engineer Robert Ransome, the legacies of Edmund Withipoll and the Fonnereau family.
- 20 September – Heart of Ipswich See some of the finest buildings in Ipswich, a Norman Foster masterpiece, the spectacular Ancient House and a beautiful early Meeting House. Discover the town’s connections with Charles Dickens and Lord Nelson.
- 27 September – Saints To Waterfront Discover the Saxon origins of Ipswich and Cardinal Wolsey’s College. Explore Henry Tooley’s tomb and find out how the Victorian dock made Ipswich nationally important.
