But St Nicholas remains a fine church, despite having been in the care of the Ipswich Historic Churches Trust these last 15 years. From the outside, the tower of 1886 competes well with the towering office blocks that rise on every side. No expense was spared in restoring it to a medieval glory greater than it ever exhibited at the time. The pinnacled top, reminiscent of Suffolk's great cloth churches, reflects boldly from the face of the famous Willis Corroon building. There are curious dormer windows halfway along the roof.
Skateboarders use the landscaped north churchyard, and heavy traffic passes to the west.
Until 1992, it passed to the north. St Nicholas was the last of the Ipswich medieval churches to be declared redundant, and for many years lay just as it had been left, as if the final congregation had filed out and the lights been turned off, with no keyholder listed and little interest expressed. This was a pity, because St Nicholas contains outstanding national treasures. They stand in the chancel. One is an ancient carving of St Michael fighting a dragon.