Christchurch Park Reviews Summary

Park Facilities

Pros:

• "Really unique and beautifully maintained park. Has everything you could want. Exercise equipment, playground, museum, cafes, toilet facilities, parking."
• "Good range of ponds, grass, woods, rough grassland and some impressive old parkland trees."
• "The stunning Christchurch mansion is open as a museum, has visiting exhibitions and a take out cafe."
• "The park also has a children's adventure playground and free tennis courts and includes delightful wild foul ponds."
• "Good toilet facilities and a cafe."
• "The wildlife ponds are great for kids, and the small cafe and kiosk are good for ice cream in the summer."
• "The park's highlight, the Christchurch Mansion, is a remarkable historic house turned museum, offering a fascinating journey through local history and art."

Cons:

• "Needs more toilet around the park and the toilet that are there need to be revamped."
• "New playground is much better then the old one. Shame doesn't have many shadows."
• "Public toilets can close early to prevent vandalism or stay closed all day."
• "Sadly on the park play area the big main play boat was sadly broken and fenced off... No idea how long it's been this way but for half term is was disappointing."
• "The park itself does seem to have gone downhill a little though, saw multiple rats and the duck pond was just filled with seagulls on my recent visit."
• "Duck pond also a tad shabby needs a good de weeding maybe?"
• "Unfortunately the smaller pond next to the mansion seems to have a lot of litter in which isn't nice at all."

Accessibility

Pros:

• "Pathways for wheelchairs and prams."
• "It has a wide range of paths that are of good quality and relatively easy walking."
• "I went to a music festival on the grounds with a wheelchair I did need help by family members to be pushed although if I had a scooter or electric chair it may have been possible on my own it is a bit hilly but the paths and toilet facilities were good so a great day."
• "Such a beautiful park to visit. As a wheelchair user, although the park can be hilly in places there are good accessible toilets available."
• "The cafe by the mansion, which does amazing tasty food - especially the homemade soup, is easy for wheelchairs to enter and manoeuvre."
• "As a disabled walker it was nice to be able to walk at my pace around the exhibits and rooms."
• "Wheelchair friendly (for pushing) to a point, but quite hilly above the ponds; suggest planning your route if you don't feel strong or doubt the brakes."

Cons:

• "Unfortunately despite being on my new mobility scooter & at the top of the slope I couldn't see the low fireworks, Roman candles etc., very well."
• "Christchurch Park is extremely hilly & very steep walking from South to North gates, so it's difficult going for those with mobility problems or simply feeling tired."
• "Big grounds and main house is free to explore. Only down side is the play park is a long walk up hill's from Crown car park."
• "Actually, the set paths at the lowest end of the Park, all run in diagonal, up/downhill direction, so making it quite awkward crossing from one side to the other than by walking across the grass."
• "never thought that no cycling rule would apply to a 6 years old learning to ride a bike in an empty park one upset child who grew up in this park and doesn't want to got there any more well done new park attendant."
• "Parking in the side streets or main carparks in town can be costly and or time limiting, but this is a minor detail for such a lovely park."
• "The only downside is on street parking only. Some parking is charged but not extortionate."

Events and Activities

Pros:

• "This park hosts many events such as music, festivals and fireworks."
• "The park is one of our biggest ones, it has beautiful scenery and makes a relaxing walk."
• "Best place in Ipswich for fireworks! The display this year was incredible and it only cost £6.50 each to get in."
• "Christchurch Park is the main public park in central Ipswich. It is very well maintained and is also the public venue for Ipswich music day, which is the largest free music festival in the UK."
• "This park also holds a lot of local events, and has even had some well-known music artist perform here."
• "Have some great events here like music festivals in the summer."
• "Events throughout school holidays at the park including outdoor cinema, live music events and fair rides."

Cons:

• "They seem to be trying to stop dogs walking without leads which is a shame because all dogs love to run about."
• "If you are planning to fly a drone here think again, its band."
• "Loved the atmosphere though too crowded."
• "The stage is in the wrong place if it rained we would have slept all over place on hill next time put the fairground in another place where children can play safely."
• "Posting 4 star because of drunks that can be found in the public areas."
• "I went to see mavrick here and it was epic! I would say it would've been even more so if the vendors closed 10mins before the film started and turned their generators off."
• "The council however ought to put more effort into the upkeep of the paths. There seemed to be lots of staff running around in vans but the paths were grossly overgrown in the areas by the lake areas."