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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
London, Ontario
London
Give London 1–2 nights as a stop between Toronto and Windsor/Sarnia, or 2–3 if you want the museums and Wortley Village at an easy pace.
London is a mid-sized southwestern Ontario city of about 366,000, roughly halfway between Toronto and Windsor on the 401. It is a university and hospital town with a compact downtown, a walkable river valley and a strong small-museum set. Most travellers pass through on the Toronto–Windsor rail or road corridor; it works as a one- or two-night stop rather than a destination in itself.
- Country
- Canada
- Local name
- London
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, snow), late Dec
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$90–140 excl. bed · Mid C$160–240 excl. bed · High C$280+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$2.50–5 (2026 estimate) |
| Casual lunch (sandwich, soup, burger) | C$15–25 (2026 estimate) |
| Dinner main, mid-range restaurant | C$22–38 (2026 estimate) |
| Draught beer / pint in a bar | C$7–10 (2026 estimate) |
| Museum entry (Museum London is by donation) | By donation; other admission prices check |
| LTC bus fare, 90 minutes | C$3.50 (2026) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YXU · London International Airport
- LTC route 36 (Airport Industrial) is the listed city bus link; check current frequency and hours before relying on it.
- YYZ · Toronto Pearson
- Long-haul gateway; road or shuttle transfer time varies with traffic.
Typical fares
- LTC bus, 90 minutes of travel
- C$3.50 cash (2026). Children 12 and under ride free.
- VIA Rail London → Toronto
- About 2.25–3.5 h; fares vary by booking time.
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
London's grid streets make driving straightforward, but traffic can delay trips downtown and around the university. London Transit buses charge C$3.50 cash for 90 minutes (2026); service ranges from about every 5 minutes downtown to 15–60 minutes elsewhere and major routes do not run past midnight. Walking and cycling paths follow the Thames River.
See and do
Known for
- Museum London and Eldon House
- Blackfriars Street Bridge
- Wortley Village
- Labatt Memorial Park (oldest baseball park in the world)
- Forest City parks and the Thames Valley Trail
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Stratford | VIA Rail from London station, about 50 min; or 45 min by car on Highway 7/8 | About 1–1.25 h |
| Woodstock | VIA Rail from London, about 30–40 min; or 40 min by car on the 401/403 | About 1 h |
| Ingersoll | VIA Rail from London, about 25 min; or 30 min by car | About 45 min |
| Sarnia | VIA Rail from London, about 1 h 45 min; or 1 h 15 min by car on Highway 402 | 1.75–2 h |
| Grand Bend | Car on Highway 4, about 1 h; Huron Shores Area Transit also runs from London | About 1–1.25 h |
| Goderich | Car on Highway 4/8, about 1 h 15 min; Huron Shores Area Transit from London | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Downtown (Dundas and Richmond)
- Walk to Covent Garden Market, Canada Life Place, Victoria Park and Museum London; best for a car-free night.
- Wortley Village
- Quiet, café-and-shop strip south of the river; good for a slower stay, 25–30 min walk to downtown.
- Masonville / north end
- University and shopping area; chain hotels, free parking, 15–20 min drive to downtown.
- Wellington Road South
- Highway 401 exit 186 strip; cheapest motels and easy on/off for drivers, no walkable core.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Sorry |
| The bill, please | Could I get the bill, please? |
| Can I pay by card? | Do you take card? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where's the washroom? |
| Is this seat taken? | Is anyone sitting here? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- A city bylaw restricts overnight parking on public streets in fall and winter; check signs before leaving a car.
- LTC buses do not run past midnight on major routes; plan a taxi or rideshare after that.
- Prices in Ontario are shown before sales tax (13% HST), so the bill is higher than the menu.
Use normal city precautions and check road conditions before winter drives. Snow squalls can affect Highway 401; do not leave valuables visible in a parked car.
One and two days
No timed day plan for London, Ontario yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Museum London and Eldon House
- Blackfriars Street Bridge
- Wortley Village
- Labatt Memorial Park (oldest baseball park in the world)
- Forest City parks and the Thames Valley Trail
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of London: london.ca/
- London International Airport: flylondon.ca/
- London Transit Commission: www.londontransit.ca/
- VIA Rail — London station: www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/ontario/london
- Eldon House: eldonhouse.ca/
- Banting House National Historic Site: bantinghousenhs.ca/
- Canada Life Place: www.canadalifeplace.com/
- Wikivoyage: London (Ontario), revision 5316259 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5316259
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
London, OntarioLondon
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No embassies in London; the US consulate-general is in Toronto, and most other countries keep embassies in Ottawa. Check your country's official travel information before departure.
Tipping is expected: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/london-ontario). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.