Trains to Ipswich

Trains to Ipswich

The Suffolk town of Ipswich in the East of England benefits from super handy railways links with London, as well as Norwich, Cambridge, Colchester and other towns and cities across East Anglia. Fast, frequent and direct services run between London Liverpool Street and Ipswich Train Station every half hour or so. The journey takes just over an hour and is a popular way to travel between the two cities as it’s cheap and cuts the drive time by half. Ipswich is also a handy springboard from which to explore the beautiful Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex coastlines, as well as being a fascinating town to spend a day or two in itself.

Why travel by train to Ipswich?

Trains to Ipswich from London Liverpool Street are frequent, with at least three services per hour, which includes a number of fast options. The fast services take just 1 hour, much less than half the time it would take to drive. Good public transport links from the station make it easy to find onward travel to your final destination in Ipswich.

London to Ipswich Train Time: Daily Departures

There are usually three or four direct trains that run between London Liverpool Street and Ipswich Train Station every hour. These operate daily, departing every 15min during the week (Mon-Fri) and roughly every half hour on weekends (Sat-Sun). Services start from 6:00 a.m. and run up to midnight. All are operated by Greater Anglia Railways.

How long is the journey by train from London to Ipswich?

Train journeys from London Liverpool Street to Ipswich Train station take on average 1h 15min. The journey is direct and doesn’t require any changes, making this a popular route for those who travel regularly along the Great Eastern Main Line for work or recreation. Evening services tend to run a bit slower; for example, it can take up to 1h 30min to reach Ipswich from London when travelling after rush hour. The overnight train from London to Ipswich takes 6h 30min and requires changing trains at Colchester.

Ipswich Flower Market. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from London to Ipswich?

Departure train station: Train journeys between London and Ipswich leave from London Liverpool Street Station, travelling along the Great Eastern Main Line. The station is situated in the Bishopsgate area of east London, in the City of London financial district, and just a 10min taxi ride from central London. The station is connected to the London Underground transport system via Liverpool Street Underground Station, with access to the Circle, Central, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan line. Facilities at the station include a ticket office and machines, toilets and baby change, ATMs, currency exchange, telephones, luggage storage and pay-as-you-go Wi-Fi. There are also a number of shops, selling everything from stationery to skincare, as well as food and drink to takeaway and a couple of pubs to enjoy a pint and some pub grub in.

Arrival train station: Train services between London and Ipswich arrive via Ipswich Train Station on Burrell Road, just south of the town centre. From the station, it’s just a 10min walk to the town’s pedestrianised shopping district. Buses regularly depart from outside the station to the city centre, stopping at the football stadium, marina and university before travelling out to the surrounding suburbs. Facilities at the station include a shop, café, waiting room, toilets and baby changing.

Which train companies travel from London to Ipswich?

Greater Anglia are the only company to run trains between London Liverpool Street Train Station and Ipswich Train Station. These are direct and leave regularly.

Greater Anglia trains from London to Ipswich

Greater Anglia trains depart from London Liverpool Street Station for Ipswich roughly every 30min, seven days a week. The journey is direct and takes around 1h 15min. Services starts at around 6:00 a.m. and last until midnight, when there's an overnight train to Ipswich. This takes 6h in total and requires changing trains at Colchester Railways Station, towards the end of the journey.

Ipswich Marina. Source: Shutterstock

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk and, on first appearances at least, has little to set it apart from other market towns in the East of England. Scratch the surface, however, and you’ll find plenty to see and do here. The Waterfront, near the University of Suffolk, has a fun, trendy vibe and is where you’ll find the liveliest clubs, cafes and bars.

Enjoy afternoon tea with avant-garde flair at the off-beat Salthouse Harbour Hotel whilst admiring the yachts bobbing on the River Orwell. Whilst here, check out the programme at Jerwood Dancehouse, hosting everything from art exhibitions to family-friendly workshops and modern dance recitals. The Cornhill is the town’s historic square and is surrounded by grand Victorian buildings, reflecting Ipswich’s growing prosperity thanks to Suffolk’s blooming trade in wool and textiles.

A short walk from here is Christchurch Mansion, a handsome Tudor building that’s home to the largest collection of Gainsborough and Constable paintings (both painters have strong connections with Suffolk) outside of London. The park it sits in has a variety of woodland and landscaped gardens and is a pleasant place to stroll or catch a summer music concert. Or, check out the lesser-known Holywells Park, a wildlife haven of trees and ponds with a children’s play area modelled after the Ipswich-built galleon The Discovery, which set sail to North American in 1607 to found the first English settlement of Jamestown.

There’s also a walled garden with a space for open theatre and a maze. Ipswich is also a fantastic springboard from which to explore the Suffolk Heritage Coast including coastal towns like Southwold and Aldeburgh and wildlife spots like RSPBminmere and Orford Ness National Nature Reserve.

Train London to Ipswich

How to get to Ipswich by train

Ipswich, in Suffolk, England, houses one of the busiest train stations in England, with over three million travellers commuting through it every year. Situated on Burrell Road, the station is managed by Abellio Greater Anglia and runs on the Eastern Main Line, with regular commutes to London's Liverpool Street Station. Other trains run to Norwich, Cambridge, and Felixstowe on the coast. First Group bus 66 and Ipswich buses 12, 13, and 14 go from the station to the city centre. PlusBus tickets are for sale but Smartcards cannot be used. Facilities offered by the station include ATMs, a first class lounge, shops, WiFi, pay phones, baby changing rooms, toilets, refreshments and 24 hour accessibility for lost property enquiries.

Ipswich

One of the oldest settled towns in England, Ipswich offers a number of historical sights, including ghost tours. You can visit the stately and well-preserved Christchurch mansion and park, or the museum, featuring the history of the area. The Ipswich football team play at the local stadium and for the racing or go-kart enthusiasts, there are regular track meets. The waterfront is beautifully lit up at night and pubs overlook the waterfront. You can also take guided walks around the city to see other sights such as the Giles Statue, featuring the heroine of the popular cartoonist born in Ipswich, or for the more historically minded, a visit to Cardinal Wolsey's statue would be on the cards.