The UNOFFICIAL Web Site

Enthusiast's Guide to Ipswich

Click map to enlarge

I'll assume that the would-be visitor to Ipswich has the sense to use one of the two Park & Ride services from the North West (801) and South West (800) of the town. The return journey costs £2 (Mon - Fri), £2.20 (Sat) for up to 5 people. Optare Excels operate the 800, while brand-new Optare Spectra low-floor vehicles operate the new 801. What I am about to write is aimed as a guide to allow you to see everything, it invlves quite a lot of walking, unless you buy a DayRover which at £3.00, allows travel on any IB bus (except Park and Ride) within the town boundary.

The Park and Rides stop at the purple squares on the map. Please note that only service 800 serves the ones by the Football Ground, and St.Matthews Street is only served by service 801. On Saturdays when Ipswich Town are at home, Volvo Olympians or Leyland Olympian 47 (purple peril), often run as reliefs on the 800.

To find out more on the Park & Ride, visit the official site here

Tower Ramparts Bus Station (Marked 1 on map)

Tower Ramparts (or Electric House as was), is the main departure point for all Ipswich Town Services, as well as a few passing country services. The following table shows you the routes passing TR, and what "should" be operating on each:

One thing I should point out here is that certain routes are "linked" across town, so a 2 journey to Priory Heath, comes back as a 10 journey to Castle Hill. The route "cycles" are; 1 (stand alone), 2/9/10, 4 (stand alone), 5/15, 6/8B, 7/11, 8/12/16, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22 (stand alone)

Consequently, you should be able to see nearly everything within an hour and a half. The best position for photographs is next to the red "superloo" opposite the swimming pool. An example of a shot possible is shown below:

Photo: Peter Horrex

Old Cattle Market Bus Station (marked 2 on map)

The main departure point for "out-of-town" services, one whole side of the Bus Station is dedicated to First Eastern Counties services. I will not attempt to list the types of vehicle as the fleet status is very fluid and almost changes weekly! Needless to say, there are a lot of NBC and FirstGroup standards here, with the award winning Superoute 66 passing the top with brand new Scania L94s. Ipswich Buses operate their "Suffolkbus" country services out of here (not for much longer!) to exotic destinations like Debenham, Hitcham and Framlingham. Also in many ways a town route, the 18 runs to Claydon using Falcons, B21s and the occasional Olympian (15.20 ex-OCM Schooldays)

Other operators to use the station are National Express services to Liverpool and London, Jetlink Cambridge to Heathrow with its Plaxton Premieres, Country Travel to East Suffolk destinations using a variety of minibuses, Galloway on the 107 using new Mercedes Varios and various independants on Market-Day (Tuesday) only services.

The best places for photography here are either the top or bottom of the station, an example of both being provided by Peter Horrex, who spends most of his time driving for FEC out of this place!

View from the bottom of the station	View from the top outside the pub.

Eastern Counties Depot (marked 3 on the map)

A short walk from the Old Cattle Market, FEC's depot is photographer friendly with most areas being able to view from the pavement. WORD OF WARNING: Do not enter compound unless invited by member of staff or you have written permission.

Ipswich Buses Depot (marked 4 on map)

The Ipswich depot is about 10 minutes walk from the main shopping area, near the football ground. Indeed if you come in on Park and Ride 800, you will pass it on the way in. Times to avoid here are when Ipswich Town are at home, as the depot is right next to the football ground!

Most of the school buses and contract buses are stabled here during the day, as well as those in for repairs. Jetlink and Suffolk County Councils Education Department both use the depot also so a variety of coaches can be seen, as well as visiting vehicles for steam cleaning and maintenance such as MoD, Carters, Eastern Counties and even Suffolk Fire Service!!

Rail Station (marked 5 on map)

Regular train services run to Ipswich from London, Essex, Norfolk, Lowestoft, Cambridge and Peterborough. Unfortunately, if its a very sunny morning, photos on the forecourt are nearly impossible. However, the Superoute 66 as well as most of Ipswich's low floor bus services serve this important feature.

Ipswich Transport Museum (off map)

No visit to Ipswich would be complete without a trip down Memory Lane (or Cobham Road to be exact!) to the Ipswich Transport Museum, based at the former trolleybus depot in Priory Heath. The Museum is open every Sunday and Bank Holiday from late April to September, as well as various weekday afternoons in the summer. See the lovingly restored AEC Regents, Trolleybuses and Eastern Counties vehicles on display as well as smaller items of interest such as the trolleybus generator room.

Click here to visit the official site, and remember that service 2 runs every 15 minutes outside the museum on weekdays (Sundays catch service 4 to St.Augustines bridge or circular service 30 (summer))

Parks, Docks & Brewery Circular 30 (not on map)

On Sundays from May till September and during the summer school holidays, Ipswich Buses provide a open-top circular tour of the town using their Leyland Atlantean number 9. The service takes you out into the country past Sproughton (and incidentally past where I'm sitting at the minute!) then back via the Station, Orwell Bridge and ITM to Town. For those drinkers of the alcoholic variety, the bus also serves Tolly Cobbolds Brewery Tap pub, recommended to say the least! For more information contact Ipswich Buses.