London: River Trails, Nature and Culture

London, Ontario, combines riverside landscapes and green spaces with cultural and recreational destinations. You can easily plan your visit around the trails along the Thames River, designated natural areas, and the city’s museums and attractions.

River Trails and Paddling

The Thames Valley Parkway stretches for 45 kilometres through scenic parkland along the Thames River and features picturesque river crossings. It connects to more than 150 kilometres of additional trails that reach all parts of London. You can walk, run, cycle and inline skate along the Parkway. This makes it easy to distinguish between a route along the river and the more extensive trail network: the Parkway is the long riverside route, while the additional trails lead to all parts of the city.

The Thames River also offers a view of London from the water: paddling lets you explore the city from the river and experience the river’s cultural and natural beauty. The Thames River is designated a Canadian Heritage River and is recognized for its outstanding contributions to Canada’s cultural and natural heritage and recreational opportunities. Riverside trails and paddling therefore offer different ways to explore the same river landscape.

Green Spaces and Natural Areas

London has 21 natural areas designated as Environmentally Significant Areas. Their landscapes and habitats include wetlands, forests, meadows, valleys and significant wildlife habitats. Access to London’s Environmentally Significant Areas is permitted from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Visitor rules may change, so check the latest access information before your visit.

London also has more than 500 parks, green spaces, sports fields, trails and natural areas. This offers several nature-focused options for planning your visit: the extensive Parkway, the designated Environmentally Significant Areas, and the city’s broad range of open spaces. These different figures help distinguish individual nature destinations from the many parks, trails and green spaces across the city.

Museums, History and Gardens

Museum London is located downtown at the intersection of Dundas Place and Ridout Street, overlooking the Deshkan Ziibi / Thames River. The museum is an 11-minute walk from the VIA Rail station. Its collection includes more than 5,500 works of art and nearly 50,000 historical artifacts.

Eldon House is the oldest residence in London. It preserves family heirlooms, furnishings and valuable treasures belonging to the Harris family. The gardens also offer their own glimpse into the history of the house: garden beds have been on the property since the 1840s. The rock garden includes a goldfish pond with water lilies and an antique fountain. The gardens are best visited from May to September; if you plan to include them, schedule your visit during this seasonal period.

Recreational Destinations for Different Seasons

Storybook Gardens is an amusement park inspired by nursery rhymes, located in Springbank Park. Attractions include a pirate playground, a Ferris wheel, a magic garden and an enchanted castle. The splash pad is described as a summer attraction. In winter, a 250-metre skating trail runs around the grounds. The seasonal contrast is clear: in summer, the splash pad is part of the experience; in winter, it’s the skating trail.

The Factory offers a different kind of experience: this indoor adventure park in London covers nearly 1.6 hectares and is designated Canada’s largest indoor adventure park. Its attractions include zip lines, virtual reality games and a climbing wall. Compared with the seasonal activities at Storybook Gardens, The Factory offers a large range of indoor activities. Together with the river trails, green spaces and cultural attractions, these different themes provide practical guidance for planning your days in London.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Kerwood, Thames Centre, Melbourne, Ilderton, Strathroy, Mt Brydges.

Back to the main travel overview: Middlesex County.