Welcome to Ipswich Museum: Inspiring a New Generation

Ipswich Museum was set up in the 1840s by a local industrialist with the aim of public improvement, scientific study and public debate. Moving to its current site in the 1880s, it was a hub of arts, science and learning. It was a leading museum of its time, quickly gaining a national reputation.

Ipswich Museum is currently undergoing a redevelopment and will reopen in 2025. You can find out more about the museum’s redevelopment here. Stay up to date with what’s going on whilst the museum is closed with our blog here.

To find out about events and activities visit the Colchester+Ipswich Museums website.

Over time, new generations of curators added to the extensive collections. The museum is now home to over 200,000 individual objects, many of which have outstanding national and international significance.

Aside from the installation of a new Egyptian Gallery between 2008-2010, this much-loved and award-winning museum has become very dated. It’s time to give it the refresh it deserves, and ensure it meets the needs of generations to come. Objects will be centre stage in the new galleries and will help us to tell the story of Ipswich and its communities, past and present.

Ipswich Museums wouldn’t exist without our incredible community. We work with a range of partners, from funders to educators as well as other museums. For this remarkable project, we want to especially thank The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Friends of Ipswich Museum for their generosity and commitment to the project.

With our partners’ support, we are able to do so much more for our visitors including an incredible redevelopment which will protect our historical building, create extra exhibition space and welcome a new café.

Get Involved

There will be lots of opportunities to get involved with the Ipswich Museum redevelopment project throughout the process.