Ipswich is one of the oldest towns in the UK: a Roman settlement that became a great port of the Kingdom of East Anglia, then a Viking town, a pilgrimage destination, a home of early bookselling, the departure point for the New World, and now a very memorable place to visit, both for its fascinating history, its mishmash of architecture, and its lively arts and cultural scene. We recommend staying in the waterfront area, which has recently been entirely regenerated from its industrial past, and is now an impressive marina, surrounded by places to eat and drink, and some of the best places to stay in Ipswich.
Ipswich’s architecture is one of the things that makes this city so memorable. You can’t quite see all the layers of human history going back to the Romans, but there are many fascinating ruins and remains, along with medieval survivors, Victorian terraces, warehouses, 1960s tower blocks, and one of the UK’s youngest Grade I listed buildings, the Willis Building which was Norman Foster’s first major project. In addition, there are a number of excellent museums and art galleries, great markets, some beautifully arranged urban parks, and great theatre and dance spaces.