January - November 2019
Tourist Information Centre
Various
£9.00 (unless otherwise stated)
Guided Walks around Ipswich
Our entertaining and informative Ipswich guided walks are available periodically, with occasional evening and weekend walks.
Our 2019 Spring/Summer walks are now available to book. Unless stated, walks will start from Ipswich Borough Council’s Tourist Information Centre and last about an hour and a half.
Additional walks during special events, celebrations and for children during school holidays are available throughout the year.
The Gory Story of Ipswich for Families – now booking for summer holidays 2019. Book online here.
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.
2 May - 20 June
£4.00/per walk
- Heart of Ipswich – Thursday 2 May 2.15pm A walk that explores some of the finest buildings in the centre of Ipswich.
- The Life and Times of Thomas Wolsey – Tuesday 7 May 2.15pm Discover what Ipswich was like in the late medieval times. Visit sites associated with Wolesy’s early life in the town.
- Saints to Waterfront – Thursday 9 May 2.15pm Explore the the Saxon origins of Ipswich, Cardinal Wolsey’s College, and Henry Tooley’s tomb, and find out how the Victorian dock made Ipswich nationally important.
- Victorian Ipswich – Tuesday 14 May 2.15pm Explore how, during the Victorian period, the benefactors of Ipswich introduced important improvements to the town and built some of our greatest buildings.
- West Side Story – Thursday 16 May 2.15pm A walk following in the footsteps of Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon to the Shrine of Our Lady of Ipswich.
- Blackfriars to Waterfront – Thursday 23 May 2.15pm Explore the old commercial quarter of Ipswich and see how the Waterfront has adapted, becoming a bustling and modern centre of leisure and education.
- Iconic Buildings of Ipswich – Tuesday 28 May 2.15pm A walk exploring some of our most exciting architecture; from medieval churches and Tudor houses to modern masterpieces.
- Northern Highlights – Thursday 30 May 2.15pm Discover 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.
- Charles II in Ipswich – Tuesday 4 June 2.15pm Find out about Charles II ceremonial visit to Ipswich. Through his wars and his policies, he changed the life of the town.
- Heart of Ipswich – Thursday 6 June 2.15pm A walk that explores some of the finest buildings in the centre of Ipswich.
- Behind Closed Doors – Tuesday 11 June 2.15pm Many of Ipswich’s ancient buildings have seen numerous changes of ownership and use over time. Discover some of the history and characters that have been part of these buildings.
- Saints to Waterfront – Thursday 13 June 2.15pm Explore the the Saxon origins of Ipswich, Cardinal Wolsey’s College, and Henry Tooley’s tomb, and find out how the Victorian dock made Ipswich nationally important.
- Ramble Round the Ramparts – Tuesday 18 June 2.15pm For centuries, the centre of Ipswich was encircled by a defensive rampart. The position of these ancient defences can still be seen on the streets of 21st century Ipswich.
- West Side Story – Thursday 20 June 2.15pm A walk following in the footsteps of Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon to the Shrine of Our Lady of Ipswich.
25 June - 8 Aug
£4.00/per walk
- Martyrs and Victims – Tuesday 25 June 2.15pm You may think you know about the Ipswich Martyrs, but do you know how they link to our most famous son?
- Blackfriars to Waterfront – Thursday 27 June 2.15pm Explore the old commercial quarter of Ipswich and see how the Waterfront has adapted, becoming a bustling and modern centre of leisure and education.
- Tales from the Tudor Town – Tuesday 2 July 2.15pm Discover fine Tudor buildings and some of the local characters who were key players at the court of Henry VIII.
- Northern Highlights – Thursday 4 July 2.15pm Discover 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.
- Old Industries in an Old Town – Tuesday 9 July 2.15pm Many of the great industrial complexes that developed in Ipswich started as small businesses in the Centre of town. Discover potteries, iron founders, brewers and more.
- Heart of Ipswich – Thursday 11 July 2.15pm A walk that explores some of the finest buildings in the centre of Ipswich.
- A Waterfront Wander – Tuesday 16 July 2.15pm Explore medieval churches, a Victorian dock, a unique survival of a Tudor Merchant’s home and workplace, and the continuing development of Ipswich Waterfront.
- Saints to Waterfront – Thursday 18 July 2.15pm Explore the the Saxon origins of Ipswich, Cardinal Wolsey’s College, and Henry Tooley’s tomb, and find out how the Victorian dock made Ipswich nationally important.
- Secret Diary of Ipswich Aged 1500 1/2 Years – Tuesday 23 July 2.15pm A walk exploring some key (and a few quirky) events and happenings from Ipswich’s long and varied history and heritage.
- West Side Story – Thursday 25 July 2.15pm A walk following in the footsteps of Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon to the Shrine of Our Lady of Ipswich.
- Marvels of Medieval Ipswich – Tuesday 30 July 2.15pm Discover Ipswich’s buildings, both medieval and secular, and hear tales of characters and events that shaped the town.
- Blackfriars to Waterfront – Thursday 1 August 2.15pm Explore the old commercial quarter of Ipswich and see how the Waterfront has adapted.
- Corn and Coprolite – Tuesday 6 August 2.15pm Discover what coprolite really is and how wheat and barley once made this town wealthy.
- Northern Highlights – Thursday 8 August 2.15pm Discover 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.
13 Aug - 26 Sept
£4.00/per walk
- Explorers and Adventurers – Tuesday 13 August 2.15pm Explore amazing tales of brave adventurers and explorers including early Anglo-Saxon invaders, a daring female pilot and the builders of China’s first railway.
- Heart of Ipswich – Thursday 15 August 2.15pm A walk that explores some of the finest buildings in the centre of Ipswich.
- Maritime Ipswich – Tuesday 20 August 2.15pm Hear tales of Anglo Saxon settlers, Viking invaders, medieval merchants and Victorian engineers
- Saints to Waterfront – Thursday 22 August 2.15pm Explore the the Saxon origins of Ipswich, Cardinal Wolsey’s College, and Henry Tooley’s tomb, and find out how the Victorian dock made Ipswich nationally important.
- Remarkable Women of Ipswich – Tuesday 27 August 2.15pm Inspired by a daring pioneer female aviator born in the town, go on a walk exploring the lives and times of women in Ipswich.
- West Side Story – Thursday 29 August 2.15pm A walk following in the footsteps of Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon to the Shrine of Our Lady of Ipswich.
- Discover Georgian Ipswich – Tuesday 3 September 2.15pm Discover Georgian Ipswich, a town of hidden architectural gems, with a rich cultural scene of music, literature and painting.
- Blackfriars to Waterfront – Thursday 5 September 2.15pm Explore the old commercial quarter of Ipswich and see how the Waterfront has adapted, becoming a bustling and modern centre of leisure and education.
- Ipswich Writers – Tuesday 10 September 2.15pm Explore the work of eight famous writers connected to Ipswich, two who were born in the town and also Charles Dickens, who famously used the town in his work.
- Northern Highlights – Thursday 12 September 2.15pm Discover 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.
- Colourful Characters and Fascinating Facts – Tuesday 17 September 2.15pm Hear tales of interesting characters from Ipswich’s past, plus entertaining facts about various buildings, streets and street names.
- Heart of Ipswich – Thursday 19 September 2.15pm A walk that explores some of the finest buildings in the centre of Ipswich.
- Entertaining Ipswich – Tuesday 24 September 2.15pm Explore the stories and history of the theatres, halls and cinemas in Ipswich.
- Saints to Waterfront – Thursday 26 September 2.15pm Explore the the Saxon origins of Ipswich, Cardinal Wolsey’s College, and Henry Tooley’s tomb, and find out how the Victorian dock made Ipswich nationally important.
Tea Walks
Wrap up warm and enjoy a themed guided walk around Ipswich followed with refreshments and a relaxed chat with your guide in one of Ipswich’s fantastic local cafes. Unless stated, tea walks will start from Ipswich Borough Council’s Tourist Information Centre and last about an hour and a half.
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.
October-November
£9.00/per walk
- Authors, Artists, Poets & Performers – Wednesday 2 October 2pm This town centre walk explores Ipswich’s artistic associations, from travelling players to theatre and music hall superstars.
- They Came, They Saw, They Stayed Here – Wednesday 9 October 2pm Join us as we explore the story of immigration to Ipswich from earliest times to the 21st Century.
- Docks to Designer Development – Friday 18 October 2pm Discover the changing face of Ipswich Waterfront, from its historic beginnings to the creation of the wet dock.
- Martyrs and Victims – Tuesday 22 October 2pm Burial grounds feature in the walk along with innocent sounding places like the Cornhill!
- Signs and Symbols – Friday 8 November 2pm Seahorses, flying oxen and green men are just a few of the exotic symbols to be found on Ipswich buildings.
- Our Glorious Churches – Thursday 14 November 2pmIpswich is blessed with a large number of excellent churches. This walk will visit some of the most important.
