Nice and safe commutable towns to Ipswich?

[ACOAL]

Hi, I am looking for some advice on good areas to rent around Ipswich. To be honest I'm having a bit of a panic about it. I am starting a new job at the University of Suffolk in summer, but hear Ipswich isn't a great place to live. I have no problems with living in a small town and commuting in, I'm just worried about transportation as I don't currently own a car. I hear Felixstowe is a no, but Woodbridge is a yes ? Anybody any suggestions on nice and safe places to rent within distance on UoS?

I don’t think Ipswich is too bad! Generally speaking, north and east Ipswich preferable to south and west. And Felixstowe was described recently as one of the best places in Suffolk to live in the East Anglian (newspaper). Again, you need to know what bits to avoid. Old Felixstowe is lovely. Woodbridge is a very nice small town, and if you do get a car you can drive easily to the park and ride and get the bus in rather than struggle with traffic/parking every day. Both Felixstowe and Woodbridge have direct quick trains to Ipswich, as I expect you already know.

I think it depends what you want honestly. Ipswich has got rough bits and posh bits like any town and so does Felixstowe. They might not be to your taste but neither is really unsafe. There are certainly bits of both I'd avoid but I think you'd spot that when you went to view a house. I think you could live in either quite safely.

Woodbridge is lovely but very expensive.

How much of a town do you want in terms of facilities? Suffolk has a lot of villages, but not many even moderately sized towns.

I am not too worried about living somewhere big. I'm moving out of London so quite happy to experience the quite life for a little bit. I would like there to be a big supermarket like a sainsburies or Tesco somewhere within reach though!

Do you mean commutable on the train? - if so Stowmarket and Diss are on the Ipswich train line. Stowmarket is larger than Diss. You could also look at anywhere along the A140 from Diss to Ipswich way for other small villages etc.

DS had offer accepted on a house in Ipswich today. He couldn't afford to buy in the villages (closer to his work, actually). What exactly do you want from a living place, OP.

I’d look at the near villages like Claydon, great blakenham, east bergholt

if you want towns, Hadleigh and Colchester are commutable.

but there’s nothing wrong with Ipswich, it’s just where you go, so Pinewood, the Dales, Kesgrave and the town centre are all absolutely fine.

There is a big Tesco at the retail park in Martlesham which is v near Woodbridge, most people drive but you can bike it. In the town itself, it prides itself on little independent expensive shops, so no supermarket apart from a co op (v expensive). Felixstowe has everything you need in terms of shops. Have you looked at rentals around Christchurch park in Ipswich? There are some lovely quiet roads.

Darsham is lovely and a good location if you want to get to the coast.

Sudbury? It's an easy drive, but takes an age on the train though.

It's Suffolk - everywhere is "safe". In comparison with London, it's a bit of a sleepy backwater but it does have supermarkets! Stowmarket is OK, but you will find it quiet after London. Bury is lovely, but 30 miles from Ipswich, so don't know if you think that is too far.

Ipswich is fine if you choose the right area. I'm in the East of Ipswich, and I also don't drive. My house is within walking distance of bus stops (which would take you to the uni as well as town centre/railway station) and also the hospital (where I work), a local Sainsbury and a few independent shops (greengrocer, baker, butcher, pharmacy).

My neighbours are lovely and I feel quite safe walking around in the evening in my local area. The town centre isn't so lovely, but there are definitely ok areas in Ipswich. What size place would you be looking to rent?

Two bedroom ideally, somewhere within cycling distance to shops and amenities. I'm happy to get public transport, but am slightly worried about when winter comes and trains from outer towns only run once an hour

Woodbridge is lovely but pricey, and the bus service isn't great (non-existent after about 6.30 pm). Felixstowe is ok, slightly better transport links, but I think if you don't drive you would be better off living in Ipswich (from personal experience).

I'd have a look at East Ipswich then. I don't have a lot of experience of the rental market right now, as I own my house, but a 2 bed should be obtainable I would have thought. If you want to know about which roads might be ok to live in, feel free to pm me.

If you need public transport to get to UOS (which is centre of town) you need to be in Ipswich.

most buses in Ipswich run 3 times an hour ish. Buses from outside of Ipswich run once an hour if you are lucky. Things like Uber aren’t also really a thing here

Honestly if you’re looking for somewhere to rent I would just look at the flats and apartments on Ipswich waterfront which is 2 mins away from the university

Manningtree is nice and is 10-12 minutes on the train. It’s on the river and is quite quaint.

Not having a car rules out 90% of places suggested upthread - public transport doesn’t exist in the same way as in London for most of them. (You might be able to get a direct train to Ipswich but would find it really tricky to get around on weekends etc). If you’re moving from London, you’re unlikely to find Ipswich too rough. As PP have said, look in the north and the east or grab a little flat in the marina for a year while you work out the city and where you like.

Darsham is tiny ... would be a bit of a shock after living in London and certainly no large supermarket within cycling distance ... without a car I think you would be very cut off.
Woodbridge is very nice but agree with others the waterfront area in Ipswich is well worth a look at.

Pinewood/copdock

Ipswich is fine, especially around Christchurch Park area. I don’t understand why people are saying it’s rough compared to London? Old Felixstowe is fine too!

Woodbridge is great but no big supermarkets.

The Ipswich waterfront is your best bet for the uni op, especially if you are reliant on public transport.

Hadleigh

Trains running hourly from the like of Felixstowe and Woodbridge are as good as it gets for public transport for places outside Ipswich. If that frequency bothers you, and you don't have a car. I'd look to live in Ipswich itself - it's hardly a crime -soaked ghetto!

Not if she's reliant on public transport to get into Ipswich! Buses every 90 minutes I believe.

I lived in Ipswich for years, it's fine and actually has some really positive features. Yes there are rough parts like everywhere but generally ok.

I now live in Felixstowe, not old felixstowe but right on the sea front near the other end and love it. I travel to work on the bus to Ipswich every day and that is mostly absolutely fine. If you are working at UOS you could easily travel by bus or train. Trains you could walk from either Derby Rd or Ipswich station.

Also as said by PP Manningtree would be fine for easy train travel and is really nice. Avoid Woodbridge area as public transport is rubbish plus it's expensive there.