Ipswich Waterfront — Attraction in Ipswich

My home town, the dock land has been a haunt of mine since I was about 12/13yrs old. I with a friend would talk to the skippers of the Thames barges that ‘lived’ there and they would allow us to use their rowboats to ‘skull’ around the dock basin. I would watch the tug (little more than a row boat with a lister type engine) with a father and son pushing and pulling the lighter barges around for unloading at the roller mill. Little did I know that many years later I would work with both father, and son on the ‘real’ tugs that plied the river Orwell bring up the large ships for grain etc and for the roro ferry. The docks have gone from the dirty working area they once were to a beautiful marina and a place to get a variety of good foods and a very good selection of good beers. I return to the Ipswich area occasionally (a bit expensive from California) when I can and I enjoy, maybe a little too much, to enjoy a beer (or three)visiting the docks where I spent some 11years working. I have family that live literally yards from the quay and in the evenings a walk from the house along the quayside to a place that has become one of my favourite watering holes, named after one of the old coal merchants, and a person I bought my first house from off Foxhall Rd. a ‘few’ years ago now. Every time I come home I wonder at the changes to the town and some of the so called improvements, but the improvements made to the dock basin make me want to return and live in an area that I enjoyed working in...

This waterfront can get busy in the summer with tourists but it’s still a great place to visit. Whether you just want a stroll around the marina to look at the boats or you’re after a coffee or meal. Here there is something for everyone. Further around from the quay is The Aurora which seems to be the place to be seen. I didn’t rate the service or the food but it’s definitely popular with many so maybe it’s just me. The other restaurants on the whole are much of a muchness from the Bistro in the Quay, the Last Anchor, The Waterfront bistro to the Mariners and the Salhouse hotel. All serve excellent quality food with a price that matches it but I would suggest you book to secure a table. You won’t be disappointed with whichever you visit. There are three or so cafes on the Quay too and their food is clearly a lot simpler but equally good. There is a pizza express restaurant that has a lovely view of the harbour but be warned the service is rubbish and the manager is rude and probably doesn’t deserve your custom. There is Isaacs which serve pub grub and fish and chips to takeaway if you wish. All in all, it’s a hive...

The Waterfront is a pleasant place for an easy stroll and there is a wide selection of cafés (I like the Cycle Café), bars and restaurants as well as a gym, dance studio and estate agent. River cruises use the Waterfront for mooring and embarkation. If you walk too far to either end it feels considerably less welcoming. There is a small amount of sculpture/art and the marina to look at but beyond spend money there's not a lot to actually do, although there is a once-popular Pokemon gym. The Waterfront is a popular cut-through for cyclists avoiding the one-way system - beware if walking...