Ipswich is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is county town. The town is located in East Anglia about 10 miles away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line railway and the A12 road, and is 67 miles north-east of London, 45 miles east-southeast of Cambridge, and 40 miles south of Norwich. Ipswich is surrounded by two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; Suffolk Coast and Heaths and Dedham Vale.
Ipswich's modern name is derived from the medieval name Gippeswic, probably taken either from an Anglo-Saxon personal name or from an earlier name given to the Orwell Estuary. It has also been known as Gyppewicus and Yppswyche. The town has been continuously occupied since the Saxon period, and is contested to be one of the oldest towns in the United Kingdom. Ipswich was a settlement of great economic importance to England throughout its history, particularly in trade. The town's historical dock, present-day Ipswich Waterfront, was known as the largest and most important dock in the kingdom.
Ipswich is a non-metropolitan district and is a large settlement despite its town status.