Ipswich Museum

Visiting Ipswich Museum

Ipswich Museum will be welcoming visitors from Wednesday 2nd December.

Please note, we will be closed for Christmas from the 24th – 28th December, as well as on New Years Day.

We are working hard and following Government guidance to protect our visitors and staff. Please follow the link below for the latest updates.

More Information + Booking

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

Where's Wally?

Join the search for Wally with your family this December!

Explore the galleries and see if you can you find him hidden in our collections. Pick up an activity sheet and get a spooky bookmark if you do!

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.

Travelers Choice Award 2020 from Tripadvisor

Plan Your Visit

Opening Times

Tuesday – Saturday
10.00am – 5.00pm

Sunday
11.00am – 5.00pm

Mondays closed

Free admission

More Information + Booking

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.

Please note, we are only able to accept card and contactless payments at present.

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.

The Museum is typically busy between 10am – 12noon. If you are looking for a quieter time to visit, we recommend the afternoon.

Our regular facilities are listed below. Please note, following our closure due to Covid-19, some things may be temporarily unavailable. For further details, please click here.

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.
For information on nearby Blue badge parking, visit the Ipswich Borough Council website.

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.