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?

Oh and buses are 3 times an hour from Felixstowe town centre to Ipswich, trains once an hour. Old felixstowe buses not so good

We have lived in both Ipswich and Colchester. In my personal opinion Ipswich is much better than Colchester but neither really floated our boat and we moved back up north. It depends entirely what you want and how long your willing to commute You want a seaside town you have Felixstowe, want a sleepy village you have places like Dedham, Hatfield Peverel, etc (both bit of Distance but doable by car). Witham and Tiptree are OK too. Both Colchester and Ipswich have lovely parts and not so lovely parts like anywhere we just decided we are far northerners so down there wasn't right for us but many of our friends still like it in those places. Why not take a weekend trip to have a good nosey round and get a feel for the atmosphere go off the beaten track onto housing estates etc and see what you think get the general feel.

So if you don't own and don't want to own a car, and you want to work in Ipswich I think Ipswich itself is the best plan.

There are some nice buildings along the waterfront to rent a flower, as noted earlier. Otherwise, you could go for something north of Felixstowe road and east of the Norwich Road.

There are some perfectly okay parts on the Norwich Road and even further west or south of the Felixstowe road but it's a bit more patchy.

I do think as long as you visit before you rent somewhere you'll find somewhere you like.

The waterfront has lots of independent cafes and bars and then there's "the Saints" around St Peter's Street which has some more and is easily walkable from the waterfront.

The uni is the grey and white building in the picture if you haven't visited, and this is taken from near a lot of the flats.