Ipswich

Greater Anglia provides train services to Ipswich from all over East Anglia and London.

Ipswich train station is a 15 minute walk away from the waterfront, the University of Suffolk and just a short walk to Portman Road, home to Ipswich Town FC. Below are some of the most popular train journeys to Ipswich. You won't find a cheaper train ticket. In fact, you will save money on your train ticket if you book directly through us as you don't have to pay a booking fee.

Popular trains to Ipswich

Journey Ticket Price Journey Time
London Liverpool Street To Ipswich From £10.00 each way From 59m
Norwich To Ipswich From £10.25 each way From 37m

Plan your day out in Ipswich

From its fascinating maritime heritage to its cool riverside cafés, Suffolk's County Town is packed with pleasures. The compact town centre makes all the attractions easily walkable and there are plenty of places to drop into for a drink or a bite to eat.

The Market

The town's traditional street market operates every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday on the Cornhill. There's a good selection of stalls selling fruit and veg, fresh fish, artisan food and more. The market's loyalty card scheme offers you the chance to win up to £50 in vouchers in a monthly draw.

Spreading out from the historic Cornhill, Ipswich town centre has a wide range of stores of all kinds, from major chains to interesting independents. Above the modern shop fronts are reminders of the town's historic past: splendid facades such as the pargeting and carving on the famous Grade I listed 'Ancient House', once a bookshop, now a branch of Lakeland. For a more contemporary retail experience, visit the Sailmakers or Buttermarket shopping centres where you'll find many high street brands, including Boots, TK Maxx, Topshop and Virgin Media.

Connecting the town centre with the waterfront, St Nicholas Street and St Peter's Street are lined with independent establishments, mostly housed in lovely old buildings. You can browse for art or antiques, buy designer fashions, enjoy a frozen treat from I-Scream and more.

Christchurch Mansion

Set right at the heart of the town, this handsome stately home has been its most iconic building for over 500 years. Extremely well preserved, it has several fascinating rooms to visit, including the Tudor kitchen and the sumptuous Georgian saloon. It's also home to a wealth of work by famous Suffolk artists, including the biggest collection of Constables and Gainsboroughs outside London.

Find out more about Christchurch Mansion

Free to visit, this Victorian gem is everything a museum should be: fascinating, inspiring and educational. Exhibits include a huge variety of stuffed animals, a replica of a woolly mammoth and a gallery tracing the geology of Suffolk from 70 million to 10,000 years ago.

Visit Ipswich Museum website

From bicycles and fire engines to trams and trolleybuses, the 90 vehicles in this brilliant museum form the largest collection in Britain devoted to one town. There's also a big collection of material associated with local engineering companies and transport memorabilia.

Visit Ipswich Transport Museum website

This delightful 15th century church was once Cardinal Wolsey's College chapel. Today it's a lively performance venue and heritage centre with many retained features, including the Victorian pulpit, the magnificent tournai marble font and the stained glass windows. It's also home to the Ipswich Charter Hangings, created to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the granting of the Royal Charter to the town.

Find out more about St Peter's by the Waterfront

Opened in 1700, this historic building is believed to be the only remaining example of a purpose-built, timber-framed Dissenting Meeting House of its period. Furnished with a magnificent hexagonal pulpit and box pews, it's still in use today as a place of worship.

Visit the Unitarian Meeting House website
Corn Exchange

Housed in a magnificent 19th century market building, the Corn Exchange was converted to a performance venue in 1975. It hosts all kinds of events, including big names on the comedy circuit, live music and the annual CAMRA beer festival.

Find out more about Corn Exchange

Based in the Jerwood DanceHouse on the waterfront, DanceEast is a world-class dance training and performance venue. A diverse range of activities on the site include shows, community outreach initiatives, dance classes and exhibitions.

Visit DanceEast website

Many respected artists are associated with Ipswich Art School, including Maggi Hambling, Brian Eno, Leonard Squirrell, Bernard Reynolds and Lawrence Self. The gallery presents major international exhibitions, as well as showcasing the work of local painters, sculptors and designers.

Find out more about Ipswich Art School Gallery

This independent cinema offers film fans the opportunity to see classic, cult and international movies which are often not screened by the big multiplex chains.

Visit King Street Cinema website

A much-loved Ipswich institution since 1979, the Wolsey presents a year-round programme of drama, musicals, comedy and live music, including West End hits on tour. It's particularly well regarded for its home-grown actor-musician productions, including a rock 'n' roll panto.

Visit New Wolsey Theatre website

Opened in 1929 as a cine-variety hall, this handsome art deco building seats 1500 people and is the largest performance venue in East Anglia. The varied programme ranges from touring West End plays and musicals to gigs by chart-topping bands and solo artists.

Find out more about Regent Theatre

This is the home of community theatre company Eastern Angles. Performing here and in venues across the region, they specialise in original, commissioned plays and musicals, often on East Anglian themes. Their annual Christmas show is always bags of fun.

Find out more about Sir John Mills Theatre
Ipswich parks

The town has some wonderful parks where you can wander, chill out or enjoy an al fresco feast. Opened in 1895, Christchurch was the town's first public park and is still the most popular, playing host to major events including the annual Music in the Park festival. Other inviting green spaces include Holywells Park, which was 're-launched' in 2015, following a huge make-over funded by a £3.5 million lottery grant. Excellent facilities include a beautifully refurbished visitor centre with café in the former stables, the stunning renovated orangery and a state-of-the-art children's play area.

Why not take a leisurely boat trip on one of East Anglia's most beautiful waterways? The Orwell Lady is a two-deck motor cruiser that offers short trips to the Orwell Bridge or longer excursions down to Harwich harbour. Alternatively, step back in time aboard the traditional Sailing Barge Victor, built in Ipswich in 1895.

River Orwell boat trips
Cafes, tea rooms and coffee houses

Fancy a cup of Earl Grey and a cream cake or a chocolate-dusted cappuccino and a biscuit? There are plenty of places around the town to celebrate the great British tea ceremony or revive yourself with a shot of caffeine, ranging from traditional tea rooms to coffee house chains. Popular town centre establishments include Patisserie Valerie in the Buttermarket, as well as the café above Berridges jewellers and Pickwicks, both in Dial Lane. There are also several attractive options down at the waterfront, including Coffeelink, Theta Café, Cafe Neptune and Dance Eats in the Jerwood DanceHouse.

Ipswich has all kinds of eateries, from traditional inns to trendy restaurants, including Indian, Chinese and Asian-fusion venues such as the Mizu noodle bar on Cornhill and KwanThai in St Nicholas Street. Several national chains are also represented, including Nandos, Zizzi, Pizza Express and Ask. Many of the best places to eat are along the waterfront, combining great food with superb views of the marina, full to the gills with rows of smart yachts and motor cruisers. Gourmet options include the Bistro on the Quay, the Waterfront Bar Bistro, the Salthouse Harbour Hotel, Aurora Bar and Restaurant, and Mariners, a unique floating restaurant on a refurbished former gunboat and hospital ship moored in the dock.

Load stations
Last updated:
Loading...
Staffing level Full time
CCTV Yes
Information systems
  • DepartureScreens
  • ArrivalScreens
  • Announcements
Station operator Greater Anglia
Ticket office opening times

The ticket office at this station has recently moved, and is now located at the front of the station to the left, near the multi-storey car park, and is accessible directly from the station forecourt.

  • Monday to Friday: 05:00 - 21:20
  • Saturday: 05:00 - 21:20
  • Sunday: 07:15 - 22:00
Pre-purchase collection Yes
Ticket machine Yes
Smartcards issued here Yes
Top up Smartcards here Yes
Validate Smartcards here Yes
Smartcards information

Greater Anglia Smartcards can be obtained from www.greateranglia.co.uk/smart

Penalty fares LE
Top up Smartcards here Yes
Customer service information

Monday-Saturday 08:00-20:00Sunday 10:00-20:00Bank Holidays 09:00-18:00

The hours shown are for the Customer Relations team on 0345 600 7245 (option 8).

Closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Left luggage

Available: No

Lost property
  • Monday to Sunday and All bank holidays: 24 hours
First class lounge opening times
Yes
Seated area
Yes
Waiting room

There is a large waiting area in the main station concourse, as well as a waiting room on Platform 2 which is close to the secure cycle parking area. In addition, a waiting room is also available on Platforms 3 and 4, close to the steps for the older footbridge.

  • Monday to Friday: 04:30 - 01:00
  • Saturday: 04:30 - 01:00
  • Sunday: 07:00 - 01:00
Trolleys
Yes
Station buffet

Costa Coffee

Greggs

Starbucks

Self-service vending machines providing hot drinks, cold drinks, and snacks

Free water refill point located on the station concourse, next to the customer service office

Yes
Toilets
Yes

There are male and female toilets located in the station buildings on Platform 2 (for Intercity trains towards London), towards the tunnel-end of the platform. An accessible toilet is available for radar key holders. All toilets at this station are scheduled to be open at the following times:

Monday - Friday 04:00 - 22:00Saturday 04:00 - 22:00Sunday 07:00 - 22:00

Baby changing facilities
Yes

Female toilets,Male toilets

Wifi
Yes
Post box
Yes
ATM machine
Yes
Shops
Yes
Helpline

We want everyone to travel with confidence. That is why, if you are planning on travelling on Greater Anglia services, you can request an assistance booking in advance - now up to 2 hours before your journey is due to start, any time of the day. For more information about Passenger Assist and how to request an assistance booking via Passenger Assist, please click here.

  • Monday to Sunday: 08:00 - 20:00
Staff help

Assistance is provided by station staff during the hours of train service operation. Booking is recommended.

What assistance is available for customers using this station?

  • Board and alight
  • Ramp assistance
  • Luggage (on and off train only)
  • Ticket sale on board

How can Turn Up And Go (TUAG) assistance be requested by customers using this station?

  • By speaking with a member of station staff
  • By calling 0345 600 7245 (option 4)
  • By selecting the help button on one of the ticket machines at this station
  • Monday to Sunday: 24 hours
Induction loop available Yes
Ticket machine
Yes
Ramp for train access available
Yes
Accessible taxis information

Details of nearest taxis are shown on station information poster

National Key toilets available
Yes
Step free access

This station has step free access to all platforms via lifts.

This station is a category A station according to ORR station classification system. https://www.orr.gov.uk/media/10955

Assistance meeting point is the customer service office on the main concourse.

Ticket gates

Ipswich station has Secure Station Acreditation

Yes
Impaired mobility set down available
Yes
Wheelchairs
Yes
Car park 1 Station Car Park
Car park 1 operator National Car Parks Ltd
Car park 1 spaces 444
Car park 1 opening times
  • Monday to Friday: 24 hours
  • Saturday: 24 hours
  • Sunday: 24 hours
Car park 1 charges
  • Off-peak: £8.40
  • Per hour: £1.00
  • Daily: £9.40
  • Weekly: £50.00
  • Monthly: £222.00
  • Three monthly: £636.00
  • Annual: £2,228.00
Car park 1 contact details

Telephone: 0345 050 7080

URL: https://www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park/car-parks/ipswich-station-g-anglia/

Car park 2 Premium Bay
Car park 2 operator National Car Parks
Car park 2 spaces 36
Car park 2 charges
  • Annual: £2,625.00
Car park 2 contact details

Telephone: 0345 050 7080

URL: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Onward travel

'First' and 'Ipswich Buses' operate a network of daily, frequent bus routes around the city and also to nearby towns and villages. For route maps and timetables: www.firstgroup.com/ukbus and www.ipswichbuses.co.uk

'Ipswich Buses' route 16 and 'First' route 66 link the rail station forecourt with the town centre. 'Ipswich Buses' routes 12, 13, and 14 stop close by in Ranelagh Road.

Buy an Ipswich PLUSBUS ticket with your train ticket, for discount price unlimited bus travel around town. For details: www.plusbus.info

Cycle storage available Yes
Cycle storage spaces 200
Cycle storage sheltered Yes
Cycle storage CCTV Yes
Cycle storage location

There are 12 cycle stands and 70 cycle parking spaces located in the West End car park, adjacent to Platform 1. A secure cycle parking compound providing 106 spaces is near the lifts on Platforms 1 and 2. The secure cycle parking area requires smartcard access - please speak with station staff for further details.

Cycle storage types
  • Compounds
  • Stands
  • Racks
Rail replacement information

Rail replacement bus services pick up and drop off at the bus stops on the station forecourt, outside the station entrance.

Where to stay

Book your accommodation online with our partner Booking.com