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Ipswich Museum

What you can seePlan your visit

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:

  • Bass Rock display of taxidermied birds
  • 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

Family Yoga: Inspired by Sculpture

21/04/2019
Ipswich Museum
Special

Mini Mammoths - Flying

07/05/2019
Ipswich Museum
Arts and Craft, History, Science and Nature, Storytelling, Handling objects

Museum Secrets - Saxons, Swords and Serpents

19/05/2019
Ipswich Museum
History, Handling objects, Talks and Tours

Ask the Expert

29/05/2019
Ipswich Museum
History, Science and Nature, Handling objects
View All Events

Plan Your Visit

Opening Times

Tuesday – Saturday
10.00am – 5.00pm

Sunday
11.00am – 5.00pm

Mondays closed

Directions

Free admission

Access

Ipswich Museum has a ramp at the main entrance leading to double doors that can be opened to allow access for wider wheelchairs or scooters.

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

We also offer the following:

  • 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.
  • All areas of the ground floor are either level or have ramped access.
  • 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.

Resources

Ipswich Museum Access Guide
Ipswich Museum Map
Ipswich Museum Visual Story

Where will your adventure start?