Free
Thames Valley Parkway
The city's main multi-use trail, 45 kilometres of paved path along the Thames, with river crossings and links to more than 150 kilometres of other pathways. Free.
Southwestern Ontario
London
A river city in southwestern Ontario, with a 45-kilometre paved trail along the Thames, a large riverside park, a year-round market since 1845, and a conservation lake at the edge of town.
Photo: The Thames River in Springbank Park, London, Ontario, Dennis Sparks from Ann Arbor, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
London sits at the forks of the Thames River, a mid-size Ontario city that calls itself the Forest City. The Thames Valley Parkway is a 45-kilometre paved trail along the river, linked to more than 150 kilometres of other paths. Springbank Park is the large riverside park west of downtown; Harris Park sits at the forks, a short walk from the museums.
Covent Garden Market has been trading since 1845, in a hall on King Street. Museum London, overlooking the river, has free admission. Eldon House is the city's oldest surviving residence, open by donation. Fanshawe Conservation Area, on a reservoir at the northeast edge of town, has a long lake trail. Port Stanley on Lake Erie is about half an hour south.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Springbank Park
London's large riverside park west of downtown, with paved paths, gardens, picnic areas and Storybook Gardens in the grounds. The Thames Valley Parkway runs through it. Free.
Free
Harris Park and the Forks of the Thames
A riverside park at the forks, a short walk from downtown and Museum London, where the two branches of the Thames meet. Free.
Cheap
Fanshawe Conservation Area
A reservoir and conservation area at the northeast edge of the city, with a 21-kilometre lake trail, shorter hiking paths, picnic areas and a boat launch. A day-use or membership pass is required.
Season In the official non-camping season (19 October–30 November 2026), hours were listed as Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; a day-use or membership pass is required (check before you go).
Cheap
Komoka Provincial Park
A year-round day-use park west of the city, with trails through forest and meadow along the Thames. A vehicle permit is required.
Season Open year-round for day-use (check before you go).
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Museum London
The city art and history museum at 421 Ridout Street North, overlooking the forks of the Thames. Admission is free.
Season Tuesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and Thursday until 8 p.m.; closed Monday, and closed on Good Friday, 25 December, 26 December and 1 January. Admission is free (check before you go).
Free
Downtown London
Dundas Place and the streets around Covent Garden Market, a walkable downtown a short walk from the river. Free to wander.
Free
Western University
A walkable campus in the city's north, with Middlesex College as the landmark stone tower on the green. Grounds are free to wander.
Free
Covent Garden Market
A year-round market hall on King Street, trading since 1845, with indoor merchants and a weekly outdoor farmers' market.
Season Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., closed Monday (check before you go).
Cheap
Eldon House
London's oldest surviving residence, a 19th-century house museum near the forks. Admission is by donation; hours change with the season, and last entry is 4:45 p.m.
Season Hours change with the season; from October to December, Wednesday–Sunday 12–5 p.m., with last entry at 4:45 p.m. Admission is by donation (check before you go).
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Market shops
The merchants inside Covent Garden Market, food, produce and made goods, in the hall on King Street.
Free
Downtown shops
Independent shops and restaurants on Dundas Place and the streets around the market, a short walk from the river.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Eldon House
Admission to London's oldest surviving residence is by donation. Hours change with the season.
Season Hours change with the season; from October to December, Wednesday–Sunday 12–5 p.m., with last entry at 4:45 p.m. Admission is by donation (check before you go).
Fanshawe Conservation Area day pass
A day-use or membership pass for the reservoir, the lake trail and the picnic areas. Hours change with the season.
Komoka Provincial Park
A vehicle permit for the year-round day-use park west of the city.
Season Open year-round for day-use (check before you go).
Part of our The Thames and the Avon guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The river trail and the market are a day; the conservation lake or the Lake Erie shore is a second day that does not fit on the way through.
- The forks are better at the end of the day, when the path empties and the river still holds the light.
- Port Stanley is close enough for a second day, but London itself is worth the night.
Nearby and worth the drive
St. Thomas and Port Stanleyabout 30 min · Guide ↗
A railway city and a Lake Erie beach town, about half an hour south.
Stratfordabout 50 min · Guide ↗Theatre and the Avon River, about an hour northeast.
St. Marysabout 40 min · Guide ↗A limestone town with a quarry, a river trail and the Baseball Hall of Fame, about forty minutes northeast.
Windsor and Point Peleeabout 2 h · Guide ↗The Detroit River, a tallgrass prairie, and Point Pelee, the southernmost point of mainland Canada.
Ready-made trips with London
Good to know
- Tourism: londontourism.ca is the official visitor site.
- Thames Valley Parkway: The city is decommissioning the Springbank Dam, with site restoration and pathway repairs expected to wrap up in summer 2026. Detours through Springbank Park are signed when a section is closed. Check before you go.
- Fanshawe: A day-use or membership pass is required at the conservation area. Hours change with the season.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: The Thames River in Springbank Park, London, Ontario, Dennis Sparks from Ann Arbor, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: The Thames River in Springbank Park, abdallahh, CC BY 2.0
Photo: The Thames River from Harris Park in London, Gogerr, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Sunrise on the shore of Fanshawe Lake, WabbitWanderer from London, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Dundas Street in downtown London, Ontario, Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Middlesex College at Western University in London, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Covent Garden Market in downtown London, Ontario, Hannah Clover, CC BY 4.0