Ipswich Museum Behind the Scenes Tours

A rare opportunity to step inside Ipswich Museum while it undergoes its multimillion-pound transformation. These guided behind-the-scenes tours, organised by Colchester and Ipswich Museums, run throughout the week of 20 to 26 July 2026, giving visitors an insider's look at the new gallery spaces taking shape during the museum's redevelopment.

Ipswich Museum, one of Suffolk's best-loved cultural institutions, has been closed for major works that are expanding its gallery space, enhancing visitor facilities, and reinterpreting its remarkable collections of over 200,000 objects. This week of tours is a chance to see the building in an extraordinary in-between state, and to learn the stories behind the transformation before the doors officially reopen.

What to expect

• A guided walkthrough of the newly renovated spaces at an exciting stage of the redevelopment
• Each tour lasts approximately one hour
• Both daytime and evening slots are available across the week
• Fully accessible venue; suitable for ages 5 and up

Good to know

• Tickets are available via the Colchester and Ipswich Museums website (ipswich.cimuseums.org.uk), from £8.00
• Arrive at your chosen tour time and wait outside; a member of staff will greet you at the door
• Note: Ipswich Museum is in Suffolk, not Norfolk, as sometimes listed in error