Orwell Astronomical Society (Ipswich)
Visit Orwell Park Observatory
Taster evenings provide an opportunity for individuals to visit Orwell Park Observatory. They are also ideal for prospective members of OASI to attend before joining.
Dates for our winter 2026-27 taster evenings will be posted here in late 2026.
We open Orwell Park Observatory by arrangement for visits by groups (e.g. social clubs, Scouts, hobby groups, etc). We host visits on Thursday evenings starting at 8.00pm.
Group visits must be booked in advance. We ask you to book in good time - we cannot accommodate last-minute requests!
We charge £60 for a visit by an adult group and £40 for a youth group.
Email us to arrange a group visit at tour@oasi.org.uk. Please indicate the number of visitors and provide a contact email address and telephone number.
For taster evenings and group visits, enter at red marker ("observatory entrance").
Two or more experienced members of OASI are assigned to host each taster evening and group visit. You’ll get a tour of the building, the story of how a Victorian landowner came to build an observatory in Suffolk, and a look at the instruments — how they were used historically and how we use them nowadays. If the sky is clear, you'll look through the Tomline Refractor - that is the part people remember! Visits generally take around one-and-a-half to two hours. The content of visits can be modified to suit the interests of visitors: just ask when booking.
Practical matters
Visits still run if the weather is cloudy: the building and its history are interesting in their own right. If visiting during the winter months, wear more clothing than you think may be necessary: the building is unheated and standing still is cold work! Bring a hat to jeep your head warm. Children are very welcome, accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parking is available on site.
We aim to hold open evenings approximately annually. They provide an opportunity to visit Orwell Park Observatory and, if the sky is clear, to look through the historic Tomline Refractor in the observatory and a variety of smaller telescopes situated in the grounds.
The dates of our next open evenings will be announced in late 2026. More information.