About Holywells Park

You are here

Holywells is a beautiful open space, with stunning trees and ponds, but also a green hub for the community. There is something for people of all ages to enjoy.

The park extends over 28 hectares of picturesque grounds, with a history dating back to medieval times.

Holywells Park is a County Wildlife Site, a Conservation Area with two listed buildings – the Stable Block and Conservatory – and is on the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. Holywells has been designated a Regionally Important Geodiversity Site (RIGS).

Holywells has an active Friends group which contributes to the park's development.

Volunteering opportunities are available at the park.

The new children’s play area is now open!

The new play area named Imagination Island has been designed to create a connection with water in the park.

The park sees a variety of exciting play equipment including Croc Creek bridge, where you can cross the wetpour water whilst avoiding the 3D crocodile, ride on dolphin and shark springers, or you can even jump on the DiGBY the octopus seesaw!

The splash pad is open seven days a week (10am - 5pm) from May until September. It is now closed for 2023.

The Stable Block Visitor Centre is open every day from 10am - 5pm (1st May - 31st August) and 10am - 4pm (1st September to 30th April).

New Café and Kiosk now open

Bishops Parlour in the Kiosk near to the play area is now open daily from 10am to 3pm.

Bishops Café and Tearoom at the Stable Block Café is open daily from 8:30am.

Myrtle Road entrance Bishops Hill entrance Myrtle meadow Teen area Outdoor classroom Children's play area Kiosk and toilets Nacton Road entrance Cliff Lane (Nature Area) entrance Orchard - not open to the public Holywells Bowling Club Victorian conservatory Walled garden Changing Places facility Visitor centre and café Cliff Lane (Stable Block) entrance Ice house Dell garden

Facilities

Getting there

Holywells Park lies one mile south-east of Ipswich town centre, close to the Waterfront and very near to University Campus Suffolk and Suffolk New College. View location map and opening hours.

The park has four main entrances - Cliff Lane (IP3 0PG), Nacton Road (IP3 0NG), Bishops Hill (IP3 8EL) and Myrtle Road (IP3 0AL).

Parking is available at the Cliff Lane entrance for Blue Badge and permit holders only. Non-Blue Badge or non-permit holders are not permitted to use the car park. For a breakdown of all the car parks in Ipswich town centre visit All About Ipswich. For the latest bus timetables visit Suffolk on Board.

Leaflets

Contact Details

Parks & Cemeteries,
Ipswich Borough Council,
3E Grafton House,
15 - 17 Russell Road,
Ipswich,
IP1 2DE

Telephone icon

01473 433516