Ipswich Town Centre and surrounding area

Starting just north of the town centre, the magnificent Christchurch Mansion- within the wonderful  Christchurch Park - free entrance and there's a good tearoom too, well worth a visit.

On the west side is the New Wolsey Theatre, next to this pretty roundabout.

Ipswich town centre main street, full of historical buildings, but also lots of modern shops and many places to have a good cuppa!

There are also many churches, scattered all around the town centre, like this one.

One of many famous historical buildings is this one, Ancient House, in The Buttermarket.

Talking ancient .... these are properly ancient ruins from the Ipswich Blackfriars , dating back to 1263AD.

Magnificent town hall in the centre of it all, now housing art galleries amongst others.

One of many side streets, also filled with a good selection of shops for all tastes and budgets.

The Buttermarket, another important shopping area with many historical and modern buildings.

The Buttermarket shopping complex, as seen from the Cattle Market bus station. Hitch a ride on the City Sightseeing Bus , it's fab!

One of Ipswich's oldest buildings, on the corner of St Nicholas and Silent Streets. Dating back to the 15th Century, Cardinal Wolsey was born close by.

A closer look from the other side, showing the ageing buildings taking on a shape all of their own.

On a sunny day - and there are plenty in Ipswich - enjoying the outdoors is easy. Looking along St Nicholas Street, towards the town centre.

Just around the corner are two of the biggest employers in Ipswich, both with grand curved buildings AXA and Willis insurance companies.

New and old side by side - a brand new complex on the right, with modern flats and great shops, including a good restaurant - as seen from St Peter's Street.

A little further still in St Peter's Street reveals historical buildings all around, with amongst others the best ice cream shop you can ever imagine.

Busy Ipswich is surrounded by many roundabouts - making access into the town centre easy from any direction. This one is south of the town, with St Peter's church showing off its lines.

Some more ancient history here, the old Wolsey Gate, with the Coat of Arms nearly eroded away by the passage of time.

Close-up of the plaque in the wall by the Wolsey Gate, also on its way to oblivion.

Also on its way, looking naturally sepia coloured in the setting sunlight in April 2007.

Just south of the town centre is the huge entertainment area of Cardinal Park, with good food, pubs, cinemas and a health centre to stay in shape.

Another angle on Cardinal Park, showing the extent of the area.

Close by is the Ipswich Town Football Club, seen here past the steps to the brand new offices of Suffolk County Council, which in turn is opposite the brand new Civic Courts.

Ipswich Railway Station, across the bridge over the river Orwell, alongside which are well maintained footpaths to enjoy many a pleasant walk.

Following the river in an easterly direction is this magnificent building, dating back to Napoleonic times, when it was used as barracks but now renovated into modern flats.

Time stands still here, St Mary's Church along College Street on a sunny day in June 2007.

Heading towards the Old Customs House is this quaint old house, surviving against the odds.

Alongside the modern wet dock with its many yachts and shops is this beautiful Old Customs House.

Further along the quayside are some great pubs and this lovely coffee house with upstairs reading room.

Thought you might want to see the reading room for yourself, splendid views over Neptune Quay, see below.

Not often that you can get such a grand view of the wet dock, but this one is well worth it.

One of many beautifully renovated buildings on the east side of town, in amongst lots of newbuilds.

There are also plenty parks in Ipswich, this spacious Alexandra Park amongst them.

Another church in the background and a well preserved building with a nobel purpose. Lord Nelson's pub, just east of the town centre, close to the Waterfront area.

Opposite the Nelson pub is this lovely walk-through with an art gallery in this historic building.

If you're hungry, you could do worse then select an eating house in Fore Street, conveniently linking the town centre and the Waterfront area.

Further example of a beautifully maintained original building, the Eagle pub, a little way along Fore Street

Heading south-east, the recently renovated malting buildings, now used for modern offices, including the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce, with a great pub on the corner.

Looking across the wet dock from the other side shows the tremendous developments going on around this area, more extensively illustrated on the Waterfront pages.

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