Ipswich
Ipswich (/ˈɪpswɪtʃ/ ⓘ) is a large port town and borough in the county of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk and is the largest settlement in the county, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds. It is situated in East Anglia. Ipswich is the second-largest population centre in East Anglia, Norwich being the largest. It is 67 miles (108 km) northeast of London. In 2011 it had a population of 144,957. The Ipswich built-up area is the fourth-largest in the East of England region and the 42nd-largest in England and Wales. It includes the towns and villages of Kesgrave, Woodbridge, Bramford and Martlesham Heath.
Ipswich
Borough of Ipswich | |
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Town and borough | |
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Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): Munia civitatis decus civium (The functions of citizenship are the glory of the citizens) | |
Location within Suffolk | |
Ipswich Location within England Ipswich Location within the United Kingdom | |
| Coordinates: 52°3′34″N 1°9′20″E | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Region | East Anglia |
| County | Suffolk |
| District | Ipswich |
| Government | |
| • Type | Leader and Cabinet |
| • Body | Ipswich Borough Council |
| • MPs | Tom Hunt Dan Poulter |
| Area – District ranked 262nd | |
| • Total | 15.22 sq mi (39.42 km2) |
| Population | |
| • Total | District ranked 163rd 133,384 |
| • Density | 9,150/sq mi (3,534/km2) |
| • The town, 2011 census | 144,957 |
| • Built up area, 2011 census | 178,835 |
| Ethnicity (2021) | |
| • Ethnic groups | |
| Religion (2021) | |
| • Religion | List
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| Postcode | |
| Area code | 01473 |
| Vehicle registration area code | AV, AW, AX, AY |
| ONS code | 42UD |
| Website | ipswich |
Ipswich was first recorded during the medieval period as Gippeswic, the town has also been recorded as Gyppewicus and Yppswyche. It has been continuously inhabited since the Saxon period, and is believed to be one of the oldest towns in the United Kingdom. The settlement was of great economic importance to the Kingdom of England throughout its history, particularly in trade, with the town's historical dock, Ipswich Waterfront, known as the largest and most important dock in the Kingdom.
Ipswich is divided into various quarters, with the town centre and the waterfront drawing the most footfall. The town centre features the retail shopping district and the historic town square, known as the Cornhill. The waterfront, south of the town centre on a meander of the River Orwell, offers a picturesque setting with a marina, luxury yachts, high-rise apartment buildings, and a variety of restaurants and cafes. The waterfront is also home to the University of Suffolk campus.
Ipswich is surrounded by two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB): the Suffolk Coast and Heaths and Dedham Vale. The town has a tourist sector, with 3.5 million people reported to have visited the town in 2016. In 2020, Ipswich was ranked as an emerging global tourist destination by TripAdvisor.