London

No reviews yetCity Ontario, Canada

Museum London stands beside the forks of the Thames River downtown, Ontario

Eldon House, built in 1834, is the oldest surviving residence in London, Ontario

Banting House is known as the birthplace of the idea that led to insulin, London, Ontario

Blackfriars Bridge, built in 1875, is a wrought iron bowstring arch truss bridge, London, Ontario

About London

This university city in southwestern Ontario grew up at the fork of its own Thames River. Founded in the 1820s and named after its English counterpart, it calls itself the Forest City for its tree-lined streets and many parks. Western University and a large health sector give it a youthful, academic character.

Museum London, at the river's forks, displays regional art and history, and Eldon House, the city's oldest surviving residence, preserves the home of a prominent pioneer family. Banting House is where Frederick Banting had the idea that led to the discovery of insulin, and it now serves as a museum. The Blackfriars Street Bridge, a restored wrought-iron bowstring bridge, is a favorite for walkers and cyclists. Downtown, the Covent Garden Market sells local food and crafts, and Victoria Park hosts festivals through the summer. Springbank Park, along the Thames, offers long riverside paths, while Wortley Village is a charming neighborhood of shops and cafés. Fanshawe Pioneer Village recreates nineteenth-century rural life, and Labatt Park is often cited as one of the oldest continuously used baseball grounds in the world.

London suits families, students, and festival goers. Summer is the liveliest season, with outdoor events most weekends, and the city makes a practical base for exploring southwestern Ontario.

Best seasonJune to September for festivals in Victoria Park and riverside trails; fall for crisp walks.

Ideal stayTwo days covers the museums, parks and Wortley Village.

ArrivingLondon International Airport, VIA Rail and Highway 401 all connect the city with Toronto and beyond.

WiserMap travel guideLondon Ontario Forks of the Thames and Banting HouseExplore London Ontario with the Forks of the Thames, Banting House, Eldon House, Covent Garden Market, Springbank Park, Labatt Park and summer festivals.Read the guide

12 Best Things to Do in London

Museums 4

Museum London

Set at the forks of the Thames beside downtown, Museum London combines a regional art gallery with a city history museum in a stri...

Eldon House

Built in 1834 for the Harris family, Eldon House is the oldest surviving residence in London and one of the best preserved early h...

Banting House

In this modest brick house on Adelaide Street, a young doctor named Frederick Banting woke in the early hours of 31 October 1920 a...

Museum of Ontario Archaeology

Affiliated with Western University in the city's north end, this museum sits beside the Lawson Site, a large village of the Neutra...

Landmarks 2

Blackfriars Street Bridge

Spanning the north branch of the Thames just west of downtown, this wrought-iron bowstring arch truss bridge was completed in 1875...

Labatt Park

Baseball has been played on this diamond at the forks of the Thames since 1877, and Labatt Memorial Park is recognized as the olde...

Parks 3

Victoria Park London Ontario

Downtown London's central green was once the grounds of the British army garrison, and it still holds the city's cenotaph and a me...

Springbank Park

Stretching for several kilometers along the Thames in the west end, Springbank is London's largest park and the busiest stretch of...

Storybook Gardens

Inside Springbank Park, this children's attraction has been delighting London families since 1958 with play areas built around nur...

Neighborhoods 2

Covent Garden Market

London has had a market on this downtown block since the 1840s, and today's Covent Garden Market building on King Street houses bu...

Wortley Village

South of downtown in the Old South neighbourhood, Wortley Village is a compact strip along Wortley Road lined with independent caf...

History 1

Fanshawe Pioneer Village

On the edge of Fanshawe Conservation Area in the city's northeast, this living history museum recreates a rural community of ninet...

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