Discover some of the highlights of The Great Ipswich Summer. We've rounded up a selection of activities, attractions and events to help you make the most of the school holidays, from family fun and outdoor adventures to creative experiences and cultural discoveries across Ipswich. Check them out below!
Ipswich Fit Summer Holiday iCARD | Monday 20 July - Friday 28 August
- This summer, under-17-year-olds will get access to the Ipswich Fit complete summer holiday activity programme for just £12.00 – that’s just £2.00 per week!
Ipswich Fit Swim and Dance Camps | Monday 20 July - Friday 28 August
- This summer Ipswich Fit has lots of exciting holiday camps including their Swim and Dance Camps. The camps provide a safe place for children during the Summer Holidays, with a healthy lunch included.
- Our Wildlife and Parks teams have created walks around 12 of our parks and open spaces. Whether you are new to Ipswich, want to explore somewhere different, or even want to explore your local park in more depth, our new park maps identify our favourite circular walking routes around the parks.
- Download onto a smartphone and step into the stories of famous figures that shaped Ipswich. Whether you're a curious local or a first-time visitor, this immersive experience features augmented reality (AR), audio storytelling, and digital animation – a way to explore like never before with insights into past and present, and legends brought to life.
The Hay Wain: Walking Constable’s Landscape | Saturday 11 July - Sunday 4 October
- The Hay Wain: Walking Constable’s Landscape brings unprecedented key loans from the National Gallery, Tate, V&A, Royal Academy, National Galleries of Scotland to Suffolk for the very first time to explore themes of landscape, place and walking.
One Big Multicultural Festival | Sunday 30 August
- This year’s One Big Multicultural Festival promises to be its biggest yet! Both in terms of variety of acts on stage and the many side stalls too. The much anticipated event attracts over 5,000 visitors each year and this year, will be the 14th time the festival has been held in the heart of Ipswich at Alexandra Park. The event is a collaboration between the charity BSC Multicultural Services and Ipswich Borough Council. By putting on this free, family-friendly afternoon of entertainment, it hopes each year to encourage collaboration and cohesion between the many different cultures and religions who choose to work and live in Ipswich.
- The Holywells Splash Pad is now open for the summer season and is available for children aged up to 8 years old to enjoy. Let little ones play and cool off while making a splash in the sunshine! During the summer months (late May to early September), it is open seven days a week from 11am to 5pm.
- Cool off this summer at the Bourne Park Paddling Pool! A favourite with local families, it's the perfect place for children up to 8 years old to splash, play and enjoy fun-filled days in the sunshine. Open throughout the summer season, seven days a week from 11am to 5pm, the paddling pool is free to use and provides a great way to beat the heat while enjoying everything Bourne Park has to offer.
- Unveiled in October 2025, the Ipswich Portal is positioned in front of the historic Town Hall in Cornhill. As the first-ever UK Portal, it became the 5th sculpture (now 7 in total) in the global network of identical Portal sculptures. Being all located in the public space, the portal offers a real-time, unfiltered livestream, inviting people of different cultures to meet above borders and differences.
Ipswich Market | Tuesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday
- Discover one of Ipswich's oldest attractions with a visit to the historic Ipswich Market. Open every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the market is home to a fantastic mix of local produce, fresh food, unique gifts, and independent traders. Whether you're picking up fresh ingredients, browsing the stalls or enjoying delicious street food from around the world, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Constable 250 Workshops | Various Dates
- Get creative at Christchurch Mansion with the Constable 250 workshops. Inspired by the life and work of Suffolk's most celebrated artist, these hands-on sessions invite families to paint, craft, and create together while exploring the landscapes and stories that inspired John Constable. With a variety of artist-led workshops taking place throughout the school holidays, there's something to spark creativity in visitors of all ages.
Arts and Craft Sessions | Various Dates
- Get hands-on with a range of family arts and crafts sessions at Christchurch Mansion this summer. From creative making and storytelling to fun, interactive workshops, there's plenty to keep young imaginations busy. With activities designed for children and families to enjoy together, it's the perfect way to discover something new while getting creative.
Mini Mansions | Wednesday 5 August
- Join our interactive sessions for young children aged 2 1/2 to 4 and their parents and carers. Explore the collections and galleries together through a mixture of play, craft, stories, and science activities, all designed to encourage development, communication, and curiosity about the world around us! In August we will be looking at the summertime.