| Ipswich 18:53 - Sep 11 with 7660 views | KungfuBlue |
I’ve heard repeatedly both in person and on here just how crap Ipswich is as a place.
Possibly an unpopular opinion but I disagree. Having come into the area from a small nothing town in Cambridgeshire I really appreciate all that the town offers, from the array of shops (could always be more of course) to the stunning parks - Christchurch is a gem in the towns crown, to the waterside and all bars / restaurants for both my generation and the younger generation. You have lovely areas down St Peter’s and St Nicholas street with independent shops, bars and restaurants, many other park areas and some great pubs. Plus the mighty Portman Rd.
I get some areas are better than others and a lot have their issues but for me Ipswich is a great town and has a lot going for it.
What annoys me a little is some of the people that tell me Ipswich is S**t don’t even go there or have never lived elsewhere.
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| Ipswich on 11:42 - Sep 12 with 963 views | gainsboroughblue |
Like mentioned, most of the people who slag the place off are inhabitants of the town. Whenever you read of an incident, such as a mugging, a stabbing etc, you see the comments on social media of 'typical Ipswich', 'That's Ipswich for you' etc etc as if these sort of problems are unique to us.
i personally like the town. Lots of history to it,the parks are lovely We're ten minutes away from coast or countryside and can be in the big smoke in an hour by train if you really want to. |  |
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| Ipswich on 11:47 - Sep 12 with 939 views | Steve_M |
| Ipswich on 11:25 - Sep 12 by monytowbray |
Students will give Ipswich the same progressive push that makes places like N*rwich, Brighton and Manc so lively and cultured.
No one tell Tom Hunt this though, he’ll start screaming about Cultural Marxism again. |
Yep, and some of those will stay in the town when they graduate which counteracts those of us who grew up in Ipswich and didn't go back after university.
And that's in addition to the fact that just having people who go out regularly during the week is a good thing for all sorts of venues. |  |
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| Ipswich on 11:50 - Sep 12 with 933 views | itfcjoe |
| Ipswich on 09:53 - Sep 12 by monytowbray |
Coes is arguably an Ipswich institution.
Got the Brewers and the Smokehouse too just round the corner. There’s that shop that sells band merch too.
We all know Norwich Road is a dog whistle code for something else people won’t commit to saying out loud. |
The problem with Norwich Road is you have loads of groups of men who stand around perving on every woman that walks past and makes it uncomfortable - I know charity people who have done work down there who have tried to explain that big groups of men standing blocking roads etc is a really bad look and it seems to go in waves of getting better and getting worse. |  |
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| Ipswich on 11:53 - Sep 12 with 918 views | itfcjoe |
| Ipswich on 09:55 - Sep 12 by clive_baker |
People that slate Ipswich too hard generally either do so with some degree of bias (Norwich folk) or they're lived pretty sheltered lives and have zero idea what a true sh1t hole looks like. Ipswich is by no means bad, for all the reasons you mention. It's the oldest continually inhabited settlment in England and as a result some of the architecture is stunning. Of course like all big towns it has it's less nice areas but the public spaces are brilliantly maintained, the waterfront regeneration has really improved that area too. Think I said it before on here if you think about central Ipswich there's that rectangle down from Christchurch Park, through Lloyds avenue, Museum Street are and the Town centre, through Cromwell square and St Nicholas St down to the water / docks that has loads to offer.
Another factor that makes it a good place to live for me is you're about 10 minutes out to the lovels Suffolk Countryside, 20 minutes to the beach and busiest commercial port in the UK, got the more twee Aldeburgh, Woodbridge, Southwold relatively close too and can jump on a train from Ipswich station and be in the City of London in 59 minutes.
Bath or Cambridge it isn't but it's certainly above average for the UK IMO. |
I think relegation to League 1 should wake a few people up as to what the town is like for it's size - we've been used to going to Sheffield, Nottingham and the like and erroneously compare a market town with 150k people to cities with 1m people and 2 thriving universities
We go to Gillingham, and Rochdale, and Peterborough, and Fleetwood and see what other small towns look like and we are miles ahead | |
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| Ipswich on 11:53 - Sep 12 with 912 views | MattinLondon |
| Ipswich on 19:34 - Sep 11 by judespiveyg |
My take is that for most people in Suffolk, the only comparably sized places that make sense to go to are Cambridge and Norwich, both of which are seriously above average places, so Ipswich seems less good than it actually is. It's definitely a nice place to live, even if its maybe a little bit dull in some regards.
I moved to Sheffield in 2020 for uni and while the city itself confirmed to me that Ipswich definitely has its shortcomings, (maybe a bit unfair because I absolutely love Sheff) the surrounding towns I've visited (Rotherham, Doncaster etc) have made me really appreciate that Ipswich is perfectly nice and far from a sh*thole.
Ipswich is a 6 maybe 7 out of 10 place, and there's absolutely no shame in that. [Post edited 11 Sep 2022 19:37]
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Never meant to downvote this. Apologies. |  | | |
| Ipswich on 13:20 - Sep 12 with 852 views | leitrimblue |
| Ipswich on 09:55 - Sep 12 by clive_baker |
People that slate Ipswich too hard generally either do so with some degree of bias (Norwich folk) or they're lived pretty sheltered lives and have zero idea what a true sh1t hole looks like. Ipswich is by no means bad, for all the reasons you mention. It's the oldest continually inhabited settlment in England and as a result some of the architecture is stunning. Of course like all big towns it has it's less nice areas but the public spaces are brilliantly maintained, the waterfront regeneration has really improved that area too. Think I said it before on here if you think about central Ipswich there's that rectangle down from Christchurch Park, through Lloyds avenue, Museum Street are and the Town centre, through Cromwell square and St Nicholas St down to the water / docks that has loads to offer.
Another factor that makes it a good place to live for me is you're about 10 minutes out to the lovels Suffolk Countryside, 20 minutes to the beach and busiest commercial port in the UK, got the more twee Aldeburgh, Woodbridge, Southwold relatively close too and can jump on a train from Ipswich station and be in the City of London in 59 minutes.
Bath or Cambridge it isn't but it's certainly above average for the UK IMO. |
'It's the oldest continually inhabited settlement in England'. Im not to sure about that. How would you even start to go about proving such a thing? I would suggest Haverhill is older as well as having even more culture and history |  | | |
| Ipswich on 13:32 - Sep 12 with 837 views | JakeITFC |
My plan for the town when I win the lottery is to build one or two small music venues (Norwich's Waterfront and UEA sized ideally) somewhere on or around the waterfront, and to reclaim one of the car parks/abandoned buildings there to create a Pop/Boxpark type street food and music type place. |  | | |
| Ipswich on 13:33 - Sep 12 with 835 views | Mookamoo |
| Ipswich on 13:20 - Sep 12 by leitrimblue |
'It's the oldest continually inhabited settlement in England'. Im not to sure about that. How would you even start to go about proving such a thing? I would suggest Haverhill is older as well as having even more culture and history |
There was talk, pre-pandemic, about highlighting on the history of this area and plans for a visitor centre at the Woodhenge to promote the Saxon/viking settlements
https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2018/06/neolithic-henge-site-unearth |  | | |
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| Ipswich on 13:35 - Sep 12 with 829 views | ITFCson |
| Ipswich on 09:55 - Sep 12 by clive_baker |
People that slate Ipswich too hard generally either do so with some degree of bias (Norwich folk) or they're lived pretty sheltered lives and have zero idea what a true sh1t hole looks like. Ipswich is by no means bad, for all the reasons you mention. It's the oldest continually inhabited settlment in England and as a result some of the architecture is stunning. Of course like all big towns it has it's less nice areas but the public spaces are brilliantly maintained, the waterfront regeneration has really improved that area too. Think I said it before on here if you think about central Ipswich there's that rectangle down from Christchurch Park, through Lloyds avenue, Museum Street are and the Town centre, through Cromwell square and St Nicholas St down to the water / docks that has loads to offer.
Another factor that makes it a good place to live for me is you're about 10 minutes out to the lovels Suffolk Countryside, 20 minutes to the beach and busiest commercial port in the UK, got the more twee Aldeburgh, Woodbridge, Southwold relatively close too and can jump on a train from Ipswich station and be in the City of London in 59 minutes.
Bath or Cambridge it isn't but it's certainly above average for the UK IMO. |
I can assure you I have not lived a sheltered life and it is because of my extensive travels that I can easily put Ipswich into the s~@thole category. However if we are comparing Ipswich to other places in the UK then yes indeed it is average. Unfortunately that speaks volumes for how this country has gone the last 20 years while many others have flourished and prospered. |  | | |
| Ipswich on 13:41 - Sep 12 with 814 views | leitrimblue |
Interesting enough. Looks like Woodbridge would claim to be much older then Ipswich  . Is that site what they call Woodhenge or is that something completely separate? I remember sea henge being discovered somewhere on Suffolk Coast there 20 odd years ago | | | |
| Ipswich on 13:46 - Sep 12 with 805 views | Mookamoo |
| Ipswich on 13:41 - Sep 12 by leitrimblue |
Interesting enough. Looks like Woodbridge would claim to be much older then Ipswich . Is that site what they call Woodhenge or is that something completely separate? I remember sea henge being discovered somewhere on Suffolk Coast there 20 odd years ago |
Think Woodbridge comes from Woden's Bridge.
Or I might have made that up. | | | |
| Ipswich on 13:49 - Sep 12 with 800 views | itfcjoe |
| Ipswich on 13:32 - Sep 12 by JakeITFC |
My plan for the town when I win the lottery is to build one or two small music venues (Norwich's Waterfront and UEA sized ideally) somewhere on or around the waterfront, and to reclaim one of the car parks/abandoned buildings there to create a Pop/Boxpark type street food and music type place. |
There is talk that the land the club have purchased at the old Churchmans End is to be a BoxPark equivalent thing | |
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| Ipswich on 13:54 - Sep 12 with 788 views | PrideOfTheEast |
| Ipswich on 13:49 - Sep 12 by itfcjoe |
There is talk that the land the club have purchased at the old Churchmans End is to be a BoxPark equivalent thing |
Seems such an obvious use for much of it. Relatively cheap to construct, great for football days etc | | | |
| Ipswich on 14:01 - Sep 12 with 778 views | JakeITFC |
| Ipswich on 13:49 - Sep 12 by itfcjoe |
There is talk that the land the club have purchased at the old Churchmans End is to be a BoxPark equivalent thing |
Saves me a couple of quid this weekend. | | | |
| Ipswich on 14:07 - Sep 12 with 771 views | SonOfSpock |
There are many worse places to live in and around - if the place was so bad then you would not get so many ex players remaining after they finish.
I think if people keep saying the place isnt great it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and people become less engaged.
The town centre does need help and this is through a combination of high rates (not encouraging independents), places closing through pandemic, and IBC wasting money on projects that add nothing e.g. Cornhill |  | | |
| Ipswich on 14:09 - Sep 12 with 771 views | leitrimblue |
| Ipswich on 13:46 - Sep 12 by Mookamoo |
Think Woodbridge comes from Woden's Bridge.
Or I might have made that up. |
Sounds plausible. I think you would do well to find any part of the UK that doesn't have Neolithic, Bronze age, iron age etc monuments, sites or artifacts within a 4-5 mile radius. Why I always find claims of oldest town in UK etc intriguing enough | | | |
| Ipswich on 14:09 - Sep 12 with 771 views | clive_baker |
| Ipswich on 13:20 - Sep 12 by leitrimblue |
'It's the oldest continually inhabited settlement in England'. Im not to sure about that. How would you even start to go about proving such a thing? I would suggest Haverhill is older as well as having even more culture and history |
You're quite right in that it's a very difficult thing to reliably measure, perhaps claims to be would've been more appropriate. I think to a large extent it depends on the definition. Eg. what constitutes English? Some would argue Anglo Saxon settlements, and Ipswich or Gippeswic was early 600's. If a Roman town qualifies, ie. Colchester then it's a different question, but it wouldn't be continually inhabted after the Romans withdrew.
All a bit messy, but either way Ipswich is old. |  |
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| Ipswich on 14:12 - Sep 12 with 762 views | unbelievablue |
Years ago I wouldn't have said this, but nowadays I think I could live in Ipswich.
I don't mind it and I'd avoid areas I didn't like (much like I do in East London currently) but in my line of work I would struggle to find as (relatively) lucrative a position unless I was fully remote or decided to run my own business. For that selfish reason I feel it is a bit lacking in opportunity.
EDIT - fwiw I live in a real dive (Belvedere, Bexley) and do about 90% of my shopping, work, socialising and other activities outside of the area - usually at least 20 mins drive/train away. [Post edited 12 Sep 2022 14:17]
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| Ipswich on 14:15 - Sep 12 with 753 views | baxterbasics |
| Ipswich on 10:54 - Sep 12 by textbackup |
Ipswich is seriously lacking in nightclubs.
i went by Revs saturday night, and the queue was mental, but there is literally only there to go to (if a certain age, and liking that kind of thing) |
I remember as a young'un you had the choice of Liberties and Hollywoods. I got into going to 'Woods alternative night on a Monday night (£1 entry with a flyer and £1 drinks!) just as I started having A level maths on a Tuesday morning. Didn't do much for my exam prospects but boy did I have some fun. Then Libs became Fire and Ice, Woods became Kartouche and whatever it was before they closed for good. I think even 'Unit' is closed now, right?
So agree nightlife is poor, though at my current age this doesn't affect me so much - I'm getting to the age where an evening on the town is either intimidating, or results in me tutting at how little the ladies are wearing.  |  |
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| Ipswich on 14:21 - Sep 12 with 737 views | MattinLondon |
| Ipswich on 14:15 - Sep 12 by baxterbasics |
I remember as a young'un you had the choice of Liberties and Hollywoods. I got into going to 'Woods alternative night on a Monday night (£1 entry with a flyer and £1 drinks!) just as I started having A level maths on a Tuesday morning. Didn't do much for my exam prospects but boy did I have some fun. Then Libs became Fire and Ice, Woods became Kartouche and whatever it was before they closed for good. I think even 'Unit' is closed now, right?
So agree nightlife is poor, though at my current age this doesn't affect me so much - I'm getting to the age where an evening on the town is either intimidating, or results in me tutting at how little the ladies are wearing. |
£1 for a pint of Millers. Perfect. Back then there was also Simon Flower, Harry Palmers and a mod night that I can’t remember the name of. Haven’t a clue if things like that exist now for Ipswich youngsters. | | | |
| Ipswich on 14:23 - Sep 12 with 733 views | MattinLondon |
| Ipswich on 13:35 - Sep 12 by ITFCson |
I can assure you I have not lived a sheltered life and it is because of my extensive travels that I can easily put Ipswich into the s~@thole category. However if we are comparing Ipswich to other places in the UK then yes indeed it is average. Unfortunately that speaks volumes for how this country has gone the last 20 years while many others have flourished and prospered. |
Ipswich is definitely not a s**thole but it needs more funding as well as a clear vision. It’s a very underrated town surrounded by very overrated countryside. | | | |
| Ipswich on 14:25 - Sep 12 with 732 views | clive_baker |
| Ipswich on 14:15 - Sep 12 by baxterbasics |
I remember as a young'un you had the choice of Liberties and Hollywoods. I got into going to 'Woods alternative night on a Monday night (£1 entry with a flyer and £1 drinks!) just as I started having A level maths on a Tuesday morning. Didn't do much for my exam prospects but boy did I have some fun. Then Libs became Fire and Ice, Woods became Kartouche and whatever it was before they closed for good. I think even 'Unit' is closed now, right?
So agree nightlife is poor, though at my current age this doesn't affect me so much - I'm getting to the age where an evening on the town is either intimidating, or results in me tutting at how little the ladies are wearing. |
Wasn't Kartouche closed down because someone got shot dead in there? Later became Zest didn't it? That place was sh1t. | |
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| Ipswich on 14:26 - Sep 12 with 730 views | leitrimblue |
| Ipswich on 14:09 - Sep 12 by clive_baker |
You're quite right in that it's a very difficult thing to reliably measure, perhaps claims to be would've been more appropriate. I think to a large extent it depends on the definition. Eg. what constitutes English? Some would argue Anglo Saxon settlements, and Ipswich or Gippeswic was early 600's. If a Roman town qualifies, ie. Colchester then it's a different question, but it wouldn't be continually inhabted after the Romans withdrew.
All a bit messy, but either way Ipswich is old. |
Exactly, it's all down to definition. Ipswich is definitely old and it's geographical position (coastal and riverside) would definitely give it a good shout at being one of the oldest towns. I worked on a site on a river crossing just outside Duxford 20 odd years ago that had Neolithic all the way down to Medieval archaeology. (including a very fancy iron age warrior cemetery). I imagine a lot of our towns and cities have histories going back long before they developed into what we would now recognise as towns and cities. Hope that makes sense? | | | |
| Ipswich on 14:28 - Sep 12 with 726 views | SomethingBlue |
| Ipswich on 14:25 - Sep 12 by clive_baker |
Wasn't Kartouche closed down because someone got shot dead in there? Later became Zest didn't it? That place was sh1t. |
I think it was already Zest, and going downhill, when the shooting happened but others may correct me.
Kartouche on Monday and Thursday nights in the late 90s/early 2000s was ace. | |
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| Ipswich on 14:30 - Sep 12 with 715 views | baxterbasics |
| Ipswich on 14:25 - Sep 12 by clive_baker |
Wasn't Kartouche closed down because someone got shot dead in there? Later became Zest didn't it? That place was sh1t. |
Zest! That's the one I forgot.
Yes it lost its license over that stabbing and the general problem that these places now become overspills for London based gang activity. A long term issue it seems. | |
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