East of England Visitor Guide 2018

HAVERHILL
Haverhill is a market town that dates back
to Saxon times. Whilst most of its historical
buildings were lost to the great fire on
14 June 1667, it does however retain one
notable Tudor house (reportedly given to
Anne of Cleves as part of her divorce from
Henry VIII, and thus titled Anne of Cleves
House) and many interesting Victorian
buildings.
Haverhill is predominantly a modern and
young town, with a small centre with a
number of shops, including a retail quarter,
and a leisure complex with a number of
restaurants and a Cineworld. The town
has a refurbished leisure centre with a
state-of-the-art gym and swimming pool,
and an Arts Centre that hosts a range of
entertainments.
Haverhill also offers wonderful green
spaces; the large recreation ground in the
heart of the town is popular with all ages
while there’s also the award-wining East
Town Park.
IPSWICH
Once a solid centre of maritime commerce
and activity, the Ipswich ‘Docks’ has been
transformed into the Ipswich ‘Waterfront’.
Much of the rich fabric of the past remains
intact with sensitive renovations of several
heritage dockland buildings including the
delectable boutique style Salthouse Harbour
Hotel and the imposing Old Custom’s House.
Meanwhile, a new wave of vibrant
cafes, cosmopolitan restaurants, interesting
shops and modern apartment blocks
has washed in with the tide. Add this to the
ever-changing skyline; the vista of visiting
large sailing boats, Royal Navy ships, yachts
and powerboats, it’s easy to see why Ipswich
has become one of the most sought after
destinations in the East.
Ipswich Maritime Festival | www.visitsuffolk.com
Ten minutes walk away is the town centre,
which offers rich pickings in terms of its
museums, galleries, theatres, parklands
and high street shops. There’s also a great
open-air market on the Cornhill on Tuesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays, located right outside
the refurbished Town Hall Galleries, which is
well worth a visit.
Christchurch Mansion, a fine Tudor house set
in its own beautiful park in the heart of the
town, boasts the most important collection
outside of London of works by Constable
and Gainsborough. International pop acts,
mainstream, fringe theatre and an unrivalled
arts festival can all be found at venues such
as The Regent Theatre, the Corn Exchange,
DanceEast and the New Wolsey Theatre.
Of course, retail therapy is a must when in
town. St Nicholas Street is ‘boutique paradise’,
and there’s a thriving High Street and
the Sailmakers Shopping Centre.
eastlife.co.uk 135