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Ipswich Museum

What you can seePlan your visit
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Coronavirus (COVID-19)

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Closure of Ipswich Borough Council buildings

Ipswich Museum, Ipswich Art Gallery and Christchurch Mansion will remain shut until at least 30 April. Customers with tickets to events that are cancelled will be contacted to discuss their options. Please do not contact the venues or box office directly. Find out more at www.ipswich.gov.uk

 

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

The Building

Ipswich Museum opened in 1881 and was dedicated to the study of science and art, represented by the plaster faces of Isaac Newton and William Hogarth above the Museum’s doors.

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.

Upcoming Events

Saturday Art Club

02/05/2020
Ipswich Museum
Arts and Craft

Object of the Month - Suffolk Boxstones

02/05/2020
Ipswich Museum
Science and Nature, Talks and Tours

Relaxed Openings at Ipswich Museum

02/05/2020
Ipswich Museum
Special

Mini Mammoths - Boats

05/05/2020 - 06/05/2020
Ipswich Museum
Arts and Craft, Science and Nature, Storytelling, Handling objects
View All Events

Plan Your Visit

Opening Times

Tuesday – Saturday
10.00am – 5.00pm

Sunday
11.00am – 5.00pm

Mondays closed

Free admission

What can you do?

 

Directions

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

Every effort has been made to make Ipswich Museum a great place to visit for everybody.

If you have any access queries please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Facilities include:

  • All areas of the ground floor, including the entrance, are either level or have ramped access.
  • A manual wheelchair available for use. Please ask at reception.
  • All galleries are accessible via a lift or stairs.
  • Ear defenders available on request.
  • Twiddlemuffs (sensory aids) available on request.
  • Guide and helping dogs are welcome.
  • An accessible toilet is located on the ground floor.
  • There are hands-on and sensory experiences at various points throughout the museum.
  • We provide British Sign Language interpretation at selected events – please see our events section for more details.
  • Vending facilities for drinks.
  • Free drinking water available on request.

Resources

Ipswich Museum Access Guide

Ipswich Museum Map

Ipswich Museum Sensory Map

Ipswich Museum Visual Story

Ipswich Museum Sensory Map

Ipswich Museum Autism-Friendly Tour

This short film will highlight some of the key sensory features of your visit to Ipswich Museum. We recommend visitors with particular sensory needs, such as people with ASD or dementia, watch this film before they come. It is also useful for anyone who could benefit seeing what the venue is like before making a visit. 

Where will your adventure start?