Why it matters: The museum, which attracts around 10,000 visitors per year, is one of Ipswich's most distinctive heritage attractions, housing over 100 transport and engineering exhibits, and is run entirely by volunteers.
The big picture: This year marks the museum's 60th year as an organisation. Volunteers have spent the winter months carrying out restoration work on a number of exhibits, including an Ipswich Ransomes Trolleybus, a 1951 Eastern Counties Bristol single-deck bus, and a former Ipswich Co-Op Hearse.
What's on: The museum is open Sundays, public holidays and certain school holidays from 29 March to 6 December 2026, with several special events planned throughout the season.
The highlight of the calendar is the 54th annual Ipswich to Felixstowe Vintage Vehicle Road Run on Sunday, 3 May. It is one of the biggest free events in the county and will see over 750 classic cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses and bicycles make their way from Christchurch Park to Felixstowe Seafront. The cavalcade will be waved off by the Mayors of Ipswich and Felixstowe, with the first vehicles arriving on the promenade from around 11:30. All vehicles taking part must be at least 30 years old, with the oldest exceeding 100 years.
What they're saying: Event organiser Bob Mellor said: "We always look forward to the 'Felixstowe Run' each year as a big part of our calendar. It takes a team of volunteers many months to prepare, but the smiles on people's faces as we pass along the road makes it all worthwhile."
He added: "We have now run this for 54 years so a lot of the vehicles in the run this year wouldn't have been built when we started in 1971. We must thank all the participants who spend many hours getting their pride and joy ready for the day."
The bottom line: The museum houses exhibits spanning over 200 years of transport history, from horse trams to fire engines, and also features a model railway and a tea room. This year marks the organisation's 60th year.
