Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business London, Ontario, sits where the north and south branches of the Thames River meet, midway between Toronto and Windsor.
Museum London
Eldon House
Banting House
Blackfriars Street Bridge
+5 more places
It is rarely the first Ontario city people book, which is part of the appeal. You can see its historic houses, medical history landmark and riverside trails at an easy pace, then add a day trip to Stratford or Lake Huron.
London blends big-city amenities with a relaxed pace. Museums and heritage houses stand within walking distance of each other downtown, and the Thames Valley Parkway links dozens of parks by paved path.
It also has real stories to tell. Frederick Banting had the idea that led to insulin here in 1920, and the Labatt and Carling breweries both began in the city in the nineteenth century.
Museum London sits right at the forks of the Thames, a modern building by architect Raymond Moriyama. It combines an art gallery with a regional history museum, with thousands of artworks and tens of thousands of artifacts.
Museum London stands beside the forks of the Thames River downtown. Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Eldon House, a short walk north on Ridout Street, is the oldest surviving residence in London. The Harris family lived here from 1834 until they donated the house to the city in 1959, so the rooms still hold heirlooms and furniture that tell a family story across generations.
Eldon House, built in 1834, is the oldest surviving residence in London. Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Banting House on Adelaide Street North is a National Historic Site known as the birthplace of the idea that led to insulin. Sir Frederick Banting woke here in the early hours of 31 October 1920 with the thought that started his research.
Banting House is known as the birthplace of the idea that led to insulin. Photo: Compmouse from Canada. Please credit author every time image is used., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Blackfriars Street Bridge crosses the Thames at the north end of Ridout Street. Built in 1875, this wrought iron bowstring arch truss bridge is the longest working span of its kind in North America.
Blackfriars Bridge, built in 1875, is a wrought iron bowstring arch truss bridge. Photo: Balcer~commonswiki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Covent Garden Market is downtown London's food and crafts market, with more than thirty vendors under one roof selling produce, baked goods, bulk foods and ready-to-eat meals. Upstairs, a small theatre hosts youth productions and other events.
Covent Garden Market is downtown London's food and crafts market. Photo: Gogerr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Victoria Park, one block west of City Hall, is the city's central green space and has hosted festivals and gatherings since 1874. Sunfest, the world music festival, takes over the park each July.
Victoria Park has hosted festivals and community events since the 1870s. Photo: Chris Woodrich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wortley Village, along Wortley Road in the south of the city, is a friendly neighbourhood of heritage homes, independent shops and cafes.
Fanshawe Pioneer Village, inside the Fanshawe Conservation Area, is an open-air museum that tells the story of rural communities in the area from 1820 to 1920. Costumed interpreters work in historic buildings through the season.
Fanshawe Pioneer Village is an open-air museum of rural life from 1820 to 1920. Photo: Joanne and Matt, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Labatt Memorial Park near the forks of the Thames has hosted baseball since 1877 and is recognized as the oldest continuously used baseball grounds in the world.
Labatt Park has hosted baseball since 1877 and is considered the oldest continuously used baseball grounds. Photo: Jfvoll, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Labatt began brewing in London in 1847, and the Simcoe Street brewery has offered guided tours. Check current tour availability before you plan around it.
Covent Garden Market is the best single place to eat in London, with vendors serving everything from baked goods to global lunches. Try a peameal bacon sandwich, the cornmeal-crusted Ontario bacon that is a classic of the province, and look for a butter tart, the sweet Canadian pastry, at a market bakery.
London is also where two of Canada's biggest breweries began, so a cold Labatt Blue is a natural order at a local pub. In summer, the London Rib Fest, among the largest barbecue rib festivals in North America, fills the air with smoke.
Popular dishes to try in London
Downtown London is the most convenient base. You can walk to Museum London, Eldon House, Covent Garden Market and the theatres, and the VIA Rail station is also downtown. Evenings are lively, though the area can feel quiet and a little rough around the edges after dark, so take normal city care.
Old East Village suits travellers who like creative neighbourhoods. It is home to the Palace Theatre, Banting House and the Western Fair District, and is a short distance east of downtown. Wortley Village is a calm, walkable choice with cafes and independent shops, good for couples and families.
Where to stay in London
Summer is the high season, with warm weather, patios and riverside trails at their best. SunFest in July, the London Rib Fest, the Fringe Theatre Festival and the Western Fair in early September all bring crowds and energy.
Autumn offers colour along the Thames and quieter attractions. Winters are cold and snowy, though the London Knights hockey season runs from late summer into March, so there is still plenty to do indoors.
London International Airport has flights on Air Canada and WestJet, plus seasonal service to some southern destinations. VIA Rail serves London station on York Street, with trains between Toronto and Windsor, and between Toronto and Sarnia.
By car, Highway 401 passes along the south edge of the city, and Highway 402 heads west toward Sarnia. Downtown is only a short drive from exit 186, Wellington Road North. The London Transit Commission runs local buses, and the street grid makes the city easy to navigate.
Begin at Museum London and Eldon House, cross the Blackfriars Street Bridge and finish at Banting House.
Spend the morning walking or cycling Springbank Park, then browse Wortley Village for lunch.
Take a day trip to Stratford, about an hour north, for the theatre and riverside parks, or head to Grand Bend on Lake Huron.
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