Ipswich -- Nice Place to Live?

Does anyone have experience of living in/near Ipswich -- if so, what is your take on the pros and cons of the area?

I've been there and it didn't scream at me as an amazing place but by the same token it wasn't so bad.

Why choose Ipswich? Also I think the only way for American's to decide is too go there and spend a few weeks there. Some Americans love my area (Stoke) and some hate it.

It's not the worst place in the world to live in but with it's location house prices aren't the cheapest in England and the general cost of living is a bit more.

I'd check out sites like;
http://www.ipswichlife.com/

Maybe someone will come along who has lived in Ipswich for a while but unless it's an American the view will probably one through rose colored spectacles as mine is of Stoke.

Some Americans love my area (Stoke) and some hate it.

I think that's going to be true of any area. The OP isn't going to be able to decide whether or not he really likes a place without actually doing the legwork himself. It's all very well to ask people what the pros and cons are, but one person's pros might be cons to the next peson. It's really far to subjective to choose where you're going to live based on the opinions of a few people online whom you've never met!

I don't mean this to sound harsh to the OP, but I really do think there's no substitute for spending time yourself in a few places. This is true regardless of whether you're talking about the UK, the US, or anywhere else. Have some fun with it! Travel around! 

Have a look on upmystreet.com they do a pretty good job of outlining different areas.

My husband went to college in Ipswich, His Aunt currently lives there, and his grandparents (who live in Mildenhall Suffolk) travel there a few times a year to go to come cool boat-type restaurant. Vague, I know. But anyway, it is a nice enough place. It isn't the quaintest place, it is pretty spread out so there are a lot of different areas, so it is hard to pinpoint a main "feel" for the place, except that my husband officially says "meh, its ok".

Glad your move went smoothly, btw.  From another stuck-in-illinois and potentially going back-er.

I have only visited the town center of Ipswich and it wasn't very appealing....not sure of the surrounding area but Woodbridge is about 15 mins away and it's a lovely little town! It might be worth checking out.

Hi there,
I moved to Ipswich from NYC 4 years ago to be with my husband who is from the area.
I must say, Ipswich is a great place to live, but like everywhere has it's pros and cons.

Pros:
It's really up and coming with a new University being built and a whole docklands regeneration program at the moment. There is decent night life and you are literally seconds from gorgeous countryside and the sea! Places like Aldeburgh and Southwold are quaint seaside towns and are only short drives away. There is ample shopping in the town centre with a large market everyday. It's only just over an hour into the center of London on the train. The house prices are REALLY affordable for the south of england and I know many people who were able to buy houses just after graduating college because of how affordable they are. There is generally low crime, but like everywhere, there are areas of Ipswich that I would avoid at night (send me a message if you want more information on that).

Cons:
Ipswich is not a city so does not have the vast number and variety of restaurants that I was used to living in New York (for instance there is no japanese restaurant, and as a sushi addict, I have had to get used to travelling for more exotic food). There aren't as many jobs in the area as the bigger places like Cambridge, Chelmsford, and Norwich so you may have a little bit of a commute if you haven't yet found a job. Unless you live in the town center, you usually have to have a car to get places (there are also buses, so having a car isn't essential, but I would recommend having a car).

I hope this helps. Overall, I really like it there, but feel free to get in touch if you want any further information.

Cheryl x