With teams based in Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds, Clacton, Ipswich, Colchester and Diss, Hayward Moon Conveyancing Solicitors have a fantastic understanding of what East Anglia has to offer house buyers.
The next chapter in our blog series looking at each of the areas Hayward Moon operates in is about Suffolk’s county town of Ipswich.
1. The Waterfront
Formally the UK’s biggest and most important Victorian inland dock, the buildings surrounding Ipswich wet dock had long fallen into serious disrepair until the late nineties when an ambition regeneration project saw the area transformed into a vibrant leisure hub.
Today the Waterfront is home to some of Ipswich’s best bars and restaurants. Choose from The Grazing Sheep where you can enjoy delicious tapas, Cult Cafe which serves cosy home-cooked meals, or if you’re looking for something extra special try Aurora with its bistro-style menu and incredible hand-crafted cocktails.
The Waterfront is also the venue for many of Ipswich’s free community events, including Suffolk PRIDE, the popular Maritime Festival, and more recently Art Eat, a 2-day festival celebrating local food and culture.
The area hosts an array of accommodation in a friendly, thriving community, ranging from small studio flats to luxurious penthouse apartments. And why wouldn’t you want to live there with such an array of activities and events on your doorstep - not to mention the views!
2. Affordable Property Prices
The average house price in Ipswich is £253,406, less than nearby Felixstowe, Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds, and a staggering £200,000 less than sough-after Southwold on the Suffolk coastline.
Furthermore, homes in Ipswich sell for 96.4% of their original asking price, just above the national average.
3. Regeneration
In addition to the regeneration of the waterfront and the recent refurbishment of the Cornhill, Ipswich Vision, a partnership between Ipswich’s major civic leaders, is spearheading several other projects to regenerate the town. From the development of St Peter’s Dock, to the completion of the Princes Street Corridor, linking together the town centre and waterfront, the primary aim of Ipswich Vision is to redevelop new sites in order to attract housebuilders, businesses and retailers to the town.
4. Transport Links
Like Colchester, Ipswich is on the mainline route from Norwich to London Liverpool Street, with travel times of around an hour to both destinations. There are also direct services to Peterborough and Cambridge, connecting travellers to the Midlands and the North.
Ipswich also has fantastic road links, sitting directly on the A14 from Felixstowe to Cambridge and on the A12 from Great Yarmouth to London.
Stansted Airport is just over an hour away by car, with flights throughout the UK and Europe.
5. Culture & Arts
Ipswich is undoubtedly the cultural capital of the East of England.
Soak up a play at the bijou 400-seat New Wolsey theatre, or enjoy a show at the 1,200-seat Regent Theatre, which is regularly visited by national productions. There’s also the infamous Red Rose Chain theatre group that hosts an annual production of Shakespeare in a beautiful wooded area just outside Ipswich.
For art lovers, there’s the Ipswich Art Gallery on Museum Street and The Constable Collection at Christchurch Mansion, the world’s most important collection of John Constable’s work. Whilst history buffs can explore the local architecture or enjoy a day at Ipswich Museum.
Looking to purchase a home in Ipswich? Or perhaps you’re already in the area and looking to down or upsize? Whatever your property needs, contact Hayward Moon for a specialist local conveyancing solicitor.
