Best Arts and Culture Places in Southwold

"In a gabled brick building on the High Street, dating to 1881, the Ipswich Museum charts Ipswich and Suffolk’s heritage and natural history. The gallery chronicling the town’s origins has Anglo-Saxon weapons, jewellery and other burial objects, as well as full replicas of the famous discoveries at Sutton Hoo (Anglo-Saxon) and Mildenhall (Roman). Like many English museums from the Victorian era, the Ipswich Museum owns a large zoological collection, and this is presented in elegant glass cabinets."

"Enjoy a fantastic visit and make lasting memories whilst learning at Ipswich Museum. Find animals from around the world (including gorillas, lions and a rare species of giraffe) in the Victorian Natural History Gallery. Or, why not rewind 70 million years with your kids in the Geology Gallery?"

"The rich London merchant Edmund Withypoll tore down the Priory of the Holy Trinity and built himself this grand house in the late 1540s. The Grade I-listed Christchurch Mansion is a breathtaking piece of heritage, with an authentic Tudor kitchen, Georgian saloon and splendid assortments of fine art and decorative art, as well as toys and games from the Victorian period. Allow plenty of time to pore over Lady Drury’s Cabinet, a series of painted wooded panels from the early 17th century, previously on a bedroom closet at Hawstead House outside Bury St Edmunds."

"From intriguing toys in the Victorian nursey to paintings by renowned Suffolk artists Gainsborough and Constable, there is lots to see in this magnificent Tudor mansion. Discover furniture, ceramics and more, all displayed in atmospheric period rooms. Christchurch Mansion is situated in the stunning surroundings of Christchurch Park and also hosts major temporary exhibitions."

"Also redundant is St Peter by the Waterfront, probably built on the site of the very earliest church in Ipswich. Edward I's daughter Margaret married John, Count of Holland here in 1297. Cardinal Wolsey seized St Peter's to act as his college chapel, but when Wolsey fell from power the church was returned to the parishioners."

"A producing house, the highly regarded New Wolsey Theatre was founded in 1979 and can seat an audience of 400. After reopening in 2001 the venue operates on a not-for-profit basis and has gained widespread acclaim for attracting diverse audiences, for the breadth of its productions and for promoting talent from ethnic minorities. At the start of June the theatre hosts the Pulse Festival for contemporary theatre by emerging and established artists and companies."

"Seating 1,551, the Regent Theatre is the largest performing arts venue in East Anglia. This capacious venue was established in 1929 as a “cine-variety-hall”, screening movies and hosting revues. Fans of classic pop and rock music may be excited to learn that the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Walker Brothers, Elvis Costello and Siouxsie and the Banshees all played this venue during its heyday as a concert hall in the 50s, 60s and 70s."

"East Anglia's largest theatre, a venue for UK and European touring shows and big-name acts from across comedy, music and theatre. The Ipswich Regent Theatre is the biggest theatre in Ipswich with over 1,500 seats and a long history and bringing the latest entertainment to the people of Ipswich. The theatre opened in 1929 and was one of the first UK theatres to play films with sound."

"The rich London merchant Edmund Withypoll tore down the Priory of the Holy Trinity and built himself this grand house in the late 1540s. The Grade I-listed Christchurch Mansion is a breathtaking piece of heritage, with an authentic Tudor kitchen, Georgian saloon and splendid assortments of fine art and decorative art, as well as toys and games from the Victorian period. Allow plenty of time to pore over Lady Drury’s Cabinet, a series of painted wooded panels from the early 17th century, previously on a bedroom closet at Hawstead House outside Bury St Edmunds."

"From intriguing toys in the Victorian nursey to paintings by renowned Suffolk artists Gainsborough and Constable, there is lots to see in this magnificent Tudor mansion. Discover furniture, ceramics and more, all displayed in atmospheric period rooms. Christchurch Mansion is situated in the stunning surroundings of Christchurch Park and also hosts major temporary exhibitions."

"Despite its history as a centre for industry and trade - or maybe because of it, the core of town boasts a wealth of fascinating historic buildings. Perhaps the most spectacular of these is Ancient House on Buttermarket. The house dates to the 14th century, and its exterior is embellished with astonishing pargeting, an ornate form of plasterwork, plus intricate woodcarving representing the continents of Asia, Africa, America, and Europe."