Dock Stories AR Experience

Ipswich's waterfront has long been one of Suffolk's most storied corners, and Dock Stories brings it vividly back to life. This free, self-guided augmented reality trail is centred on Stoke Bridge Wharf, a beautifully reimagined stretch of the town's historic harbour, and is accessible any time via QR codes on the new information boards there.

Download the free Dock Stories: Ipswich app (available on Apple and Android) and point your phone at the world around you to meet the merchants, sailors, dockers, and early photographers whose lives shaped one of England's most significant historic ports. Actor and heritage enthusiast Griff Rhys Jones provides the introductory voiceover, while Ipswich locals voice the individual characters whose stories unfold exactly where history happened.

What to expect

• Immersive, location-based AR encounters with historic figures from the docks
• Detailed 3D scale models of past scenes, unlocked as you collect characters along the trail
• A trail that works at your own pace, any day, any time, with no booking required

Good to know

• The app is free to download; no ticket or admission fee needed
• Stoke Bridge Wharf sits close to Ipswich Waterfront, within easy walking distance of the town centre
• The trail runs until 31 March 2027, so there is plenty of time to explore at leisure

Ipswich is in Suffolk, not Norfolk, so this is very much home turf for East Anglian history lovers.