Ipswich

Properties and events in Ipswich

Before heading out for your Heritage Open Days visit, please check entries for last-minute changes.

Print selected events below

Art Trail

Friars Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1TD
In person
Pre-booking not required

A grand selection of creative work by a variety of Ipswich based artists - both in the Unitarian Meeting House and in a marquee beside it.

Bethesda Baptist Church

Bethesda Baptist Church, 9 St. Margarets Plain, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 2BB
In person
Pre-booking not required

Bethesda is an evangelical Baptist Church made up of around 120 people. We are a landmark building in the heart of Ipswich town centre, but the Church is the people who have long-established relationships in Ipswich.

Buildings in the Ipswich Charter Hangings

13 Tower St., Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3BE
In person
Pre-booking required

Discover some of the architecture featured in embroidered panels designed to illustrate the 1400-year history of Ipswich. At the end of the walk there will be a chance to view the eight hangings in St Peter's Church.

Christchurch Mansion

Christchurch Mansion, Soane Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 2BE
In person
Pre-booking not required

Meet our guides in period costume from the Tudors to the Victorians at Christchurch Mansion 13 and 14th Sept 11 - 3

Fore Street Pool

Fore Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1JZ
In person
Pre-booking not required

An elegant Victorian design with a fully glazed roof. Officially opened on the 1st March 1894 by the Mayor of Ipswich Samuel Anness. The first year saw over 42,000 people use the facility. The population of Ipswich was only 57,000 at the time.

Ipswich Institute Reading Room and Library

Reading Room & Library, 15 Tavern Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3AA
In person
Pre-booking not required

Have you ever walked past the blue door hidden on Tavern Street in Ipswich and wondered what was behind it? Now is your chance! We will be opening our buildings to non-members to explore the Ipswich Institute, local history and heritage.

Ipswich Maritime Trust festivities at Ipswich Heritage Harbour

Outside Old Custom House, Common Quay, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1BY
In person
Pre-booking not required

Come on board the iconic Sailing Barge Victor and other vessels, discover our amazing early photos of Ipswich, explore the maritime exhibition in the Old Custom House, and peek into our Window Museum.

Ipswich Masonic Hall

8-10 Soane Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 2BG
In person
Pre-booking not required

Our beautiful Grade II listed building is open to all. Take a look around the temple and museum, find out all about freemasonry from some of Suffolk's freemasons, and why not grab a drink from our licenced bar, hot and cold drinks will be available.

Ipswich School

25 Henley Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3SG
In person
Pre-booking not required

Ipswich School will be opening its doors for a fascinating tour of the school’s long history on Saturday 13 September, as part of Heritage Open Days 2025.

Isaacs & Isaac Lord Machine Room Tours

7 Wherry Quay, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1AS
In person
Pre-booking not required

Isaacs on the Quay is a selection of Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings situated on the Ipswich Waterfront. Visit us on our selected tour dates to learn more about the history of our buildings and see our fully restored machine room in action.

Mutual House - Suffolk Building Society

Suffolk Building Society, 2 Princes Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1QT
In person
Pre-booking not required

A chance to have a look behind the scenes at this Grade II listed building, originally built as the Ipswich branch of Parr's bank in 1901. Take a peek at the original bank vault in the basement.

Pykenham's Gatehouse

Pykenham's Gatehouse, Northgate Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3BX
In person
Pre-booking not required

A rare opportunity to visit Pykenham's Gatehouse, a medieval gem with its carved beams, hidden staircase and jettied first floor.

Sea Shanty Flash Mob at Ipswich Heritage Harbour

Sailing Barge Victor, Common Quay, Key Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1BY
In person
Pre-booking not required

For the first time ever, local shanty groups will be performing a flash mob at Ipswich's Heritage Harbour! Led by The Orwellermen, and the Shefarers of Pin Mill, and organised by the Ipswich Maritime Trust as part of the maritime festivities.

St Margaret's Church, Ipswich

Soane Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 2BE
In person
Pre-booking not required

For over 700 years, St Margaret’s has been at the heart of Ipswich. See our magnificent 15th century roof and our 21st century bellringing gallery. Self-guide with a leaflet (including one for children) and see our exhibit of the roof carvings.

St Peter's by the Waterfront & The Ipswich Charter Hangings

College Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1BF
In person
Pre-booking not required

Visit this historic mariner's church which has links to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, view our heritage displays and the Ipswich Charter Hangings.

Stone Conservation - what happens behind the scenes

Friars Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1TD
In person
Pre-booking not required

Stone conservator Antonia Hockton will share her experience and her stories of her conservation work giving examples and photos of a variety of stonework projects she has worked on. Antonia is also an artistic stone sculptor.

Suffolk Archives - Archive showcase

131 Fore Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 1LR
In person
Pre-booking not required

We are opening our doors for a drop in session to explore our local studies library. We will also be showcasing a range of original archives and be on hand to help with your family history/house history research.

Suffolk Archives - Behind the scenes tour of The Hold

131 Fore Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1LR
In person
Pre-booking required

A free behind-the-scenes tour showcasing the amazing collections at The Hold, Ipswich.

The Ipswich Society - Photography Exhibition

St. Clement's Art Centre, Fore Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1JZ
In person
Pre-booking not required

The Ipswich Society will run a photography exhibition with themes around Ipswich architecture. An exhibition of the submitted images will take place in St. Clements' Art Centre over the weekend of 20-21 September 2025

The Magnificent Architecture of Ipswich

13 Tower St, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3BE
In person
Pre-booking required

Walk through the history of England’s oldest town and discover some of our architectural highlights of town and Waterfront. See the magnificent churches, fine timber framed houses, Victorian public buildings and modern masterpieces.