London, Ontario

London, Ontario, combines extensive trails along the Thames River with natural areas, a museum featuring wide-ranging collections, and family-oriented recreational experiences. You can tailor your trip to suit different interests: the Thames Valley Parkway and other trails provide opportunities for exercise and scenery, while Museum London and Eldon House offer insights into art and history. When choosing a vacation rental, a helpful first question is which of these aspects of the city you want to shape your stay most.

Trails, River, and Nature

The Thames Valley Parkway is 45 kilometres long. It runs through scenic parkland along the Thames River and offers picturesque river crossings. More than 150 kilometres of additional trails connect to the Parkway, reaching all parts of London. The Parkway is suitable for walking, running, cycling, and inline skating. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, it offers a range of ways to include exercise and the river landscape in your trip. These activities describe specific uses of the trail network; you can decide which ones fit your own daily plans.

London’s natural areas also give a stay a distinctive focus. There are 21 areas designated as Environmentally Significant Areas. Their landscapes include wetlands, forests, meadows, and valleys; they also encompass important wildlife habitats. Access to these areas is permitted from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. London also has more than 500 parks, green spaces, sports fields, trails, and natural areas. This wide selection makes nature a distinct consideration when planning, alongside riverside trails and the city’s attractions.

Paddling on the Thames River offers another perspective on London and the river’s natural and cultural beauty. The Thames River is designated a Canadian Heritage River and is recognized for its outstanding contributions to Canada’s cultural and natural heritage, as well as its recreational opportunities. If your trip is focused primarily on river scenery and on-the-water activities, this experience complements the trails along the riverbank with another way to appreciate the river.

City History and Collections

Museum London is located in downtown London, Ontario, at the intersection of Dundas Place and Ridout Street, overlooking the Deshkan Ziibi / Thames River. Its collection includes more than 5,500 works of art and nearly 50,000 historical artifacts. Art and historical objects are presented here as distinct areas of the collection. The museum is an 11-minute walk from the VIA Rail station. If you arrive in London by train and want to include culture in your stay, you can take this walking time into account when planning.

Eldon House is the oldest residence in London. It preserves family heirlooms, furnishings, and treasured possessions of the Harris family. The gardens also tell a long history: garden beds have been on the property since the 1840s. The rock garden features a water lily pond with goldfish and an antique fountain. The best time to visit the gardens is from May to September. This seasonal difference may matter when planning your trip if you want to include the gardens in your stay.

Recreational Experiences for Different Interests

Storybook Gardens is a nursery-rhyme-inspired amusement park in Springbank Park in London. Its attractions include a pirate playground, a Ferris wheel, a summer splash pad, a magic garden, and a magical castle. In winter, a 250-metre skating trail runs around the grounds. The seasonal offerings differ significantly: the splash pad is specifically for summer, while the skating trail is a winter activity. If you are travelling with children, these different experiences can help you decide which travel season and outing focus best suit your plans.

The Factory offers a different kind of recreation as Canada’s largest indoor adventure park. The facility covers nearly 1.6 hectares and features zip lines, virtual reality games, and a climbing wall. This extensive indoor offering complements outdoor trails, river experiences, and cultural collections.

More local pages: Ilderton, Melbourne, Thames Centre, Mt Brydges, Strathroy, Kerwood.

For the broader travel overview: Middlesex County.