The Ipswich Institute was founded in 1824 . Founded by Dr. George Birkbeck the Ipswich Institute started out as the Mechanics’ Institution, and was dedicated to making knowledge available to the ‘artisans’ of Ipswich, encouraging both general and vocational education.

Today the Ipswich Institute is a registered educational charity. Membership offers many benefits - including use of the library; access to the wide and varied leisure learning courses, as well as the educational lectures and trips; and not forgetting the café and restaurant facilities. The Ipswich Institute also has a link with the Association of Independent Libraries, and members can access similar establishments across the UK.

Ipswich Institute owns two historic buildings in Ipswich town centre; the impressive vaulted building behind the shops in Tavern Street and the elegant listed building known as The Admiral’s House, close-by in Tower Street. This building was once occupied by Admiral Benjamin Page, and the Duke of Wellington visited him at this location. The Admiral’s House is now home to an art centre, study rooms, a licensed restaurant and a comfortable coffee lounge.