Ipswich Museum

Visiting Ipswich Museum

We're Good To Go logo

For the continued safety and comfort of our visitors and staff we request the wearing of face coverings whilst visiting, unless you are exempt.

Please respect others’ personal space whilst visiting our sites, and be mindful when in ‘tighter’ spaces.

Please be mindful that our interactives are for the enjoyment of everyone, so use hand sanitiser before and after use.

Welcome

Enjoy a fun-filled day out and make lasting memories with us at Ipswich Museum. Come and meet animals from around the world in the Victorian Natural History Gallery, from gorillas to lions and even a rare sub-species of giraffe.

Why not travel the globe, step back 70 million years in the Geology Gallery or follow The Ipswich Story to see how the area has changed since the Stone Age.

History

What You Can See

A map of Ipswich with several stared pins dotted around

Local History

Ever wondered about the history of a particular part of Ipswich? Or what sorts of things have been collected to show the town’s evolution?

Why not explore our interactive map and find out!

Interactive Map

The Collections

The Museum is home to a wide range of collections, from natural science to Egyptology, social history to world cultures. Highlights include:

The Ogilvie Bird collection
Rendlesham archaeology collections
Death mask of Titos Flavious Demetrios

The Ipswich Story

Step back in time to when Ipswich was a vast area of grassland and our ancestors used stone tools.

Continue on and discover how we learnt how to use bronze and iron and became a medieval town.

Then explore Cardinal Wolsey’s birthplace and see how it survived through Civil war, World wars and into a modern era.

Victorian Natural History Gallery

See the world through Victorian eyes and take a trip around a global zoo.

Meet gorillas, lions and wild animals from around the globe in our historic natural history gallery.

Ipswich Museum Re-development Project

Ipswich Borough Council, in partnership with The Friends of the Ipswich Museums and the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) are embarking on an ambitious project that aims to breathe new life into the museum, transforming it into an exciting cultural hub filled with energy, activity and debate.

Find Out More

Travelers Choice Award 2020 from Tripadvisor

Plan Your Visit

Opening Times

Tuesday – Saturday
10am – 5pm

Sunday
11am – 5pm

Mondays closed

Children

Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult

Free admission

Booking not required

Getting around

Directions

Museum floorplan

Shop

Our museum shop offers a wide range of products, from activity books for children to Egyptian figures, cuddly woolly mammoths to beautiful homeware. Whether you’re looking for a memento or the perfect gift, we have something for all tastes and budgets.

Access

Whether you want to know when the Museum is quieter, what to expect when you arrive or what facilities we have, simply follow the link below to find out more.

If you cannot find the answers you are looking for, please contact us on 01206 282939 or email museums@colchester.gov.uk and our team will be happy to help.

More Information