Every London Ontario Neighbourhood, Explained: The Complete Guide

TL;DR

London, Ontario splits into six broad parts: the old central neighbourhoods, the south and southwest, the southeast, the north and northwest, the northeast, and the satellite towns around the city.

Character homes cluster around downtown (Old South, Old North, Old East Village), while most new construction is in the north end and the south end around Talbot and Bostwick.

Towns like Dorchester, Strathroy, Komoka/Kilworth and Mount Brydges are separate communities within an easy commute of London.

Oakridge, West London, Whitehills, Byron, Westmount, Riverbend and Lambeth are covered in depth on liveinoakridge.ca, so this guide covers everywhere else.

London, Ontario has close to 40 neighbourhoods and nearby towns outside the west end, and they differ more than most people expect. Downtown condos, century homes in Old South, new subdivisions off Colonel Talbot Road, and small towns like Thorndale and Dorchester all count as "London real estate," yet they suit very different buyers. This guide walks through every area Forest City Homes covers, with a link to the full guide for each.

The seven west-end areas (Oakridge, West London, Whitehills, Byron, Westmount, Riverbend and Lambeth) have their own in-depth coverage at liveinoakridge.ca, so they're only summarized at the end.

Which London neighbourhoods have the most history and character?

The oldest neighbourhoods ring the downtown core, and that's where most of the city's heritage homes and walkable main streets are.

Downtown: the urban core, centred on Covent Garden Market, which has been trading since 1835
South London (Old South and Wortley Village): turn-of-the-20th-century homes and London's most walkable historic shopping strip
Old North: Victorian and Edwardian heritage homes next to Western University
East London (Old East Village): incorporated as its own town in 1874, and home to Banting House, the birthplace of insulin
Hamilton Road: a historic working-class corridor southeast of downtown

What are the neighbourhoods in south and southwest London like?

The south end mixes settled mid-century streets with some of the fastest-growing new subdivisions in the city.

Highland: built around the 107-acre green space of the Highland Country Club
Whiteoaks: a large, multicultural south-end community named for the Jalna novels
Southcrest: three-bedroom ranches on generous lots along the Thames River
Bostwick: population up 174% since 2006, anchored by the Wonderland Road corridor
Longwoods: a family-friendly southwest neighbourhood named after the 1814 Battle of Longwoods
Westminster: mostly 1960s and 70s homes east of Wellington Road, and its own town before amalgamation
Talbot: a 231-acre master-planned community and currently London's largest growth area

What's in southeast London?

The southeast pairs family subdivisions with the industrial and farm land along Highway 401.

Glencairn: about 15,700 residents along the Thames River, centred on Pond Mills and Commissioners Roads
Jackson: built up quickly since the mid-1990s and popular with first-time buyers
Old Victoria: a mostly newer residential pocket bounded by the Thames River, Crumlin Sideroad and the CN rail line
Highbury: farmland and industrial land along Highway 401, closer to a planning district than a neighbourhood (see the guide to buying land here)
Glanworth: a former rural community annexed in 1993, surrounded by farmland about 20 minutes from downtown
Crumlin: semi-rural, built on the site of RCAF Station Crumlin, a Second World War flight training base
Airport: industrial and commercial land around London International Airport and the Diamond Aircraft plant

Where are the newer family neighbourhoods in north London?

North London is built around Western University, with a run of newer, family-oriented subdivisions above it.

Medway: anchored by Western University, University Hospital, and Brescia and Huron University Colleges
Masonville: a crossroads community dating to the early 1800s, now home to Masonville Place
Stoneybrook: 1960s to 80s homes east of Masonville, built around the Stoney Creek Valley
Uplands: low-density and mostly single-detached, built from the 1990s on
Hyde Park: settled in 1818, before the City of London existed, and now a major shopping district
Sunningdale: one of London's newest upscale areas, backing onto the 400-acre Sunningdale Golf & Country Club
Fox Hollow: a quieter pocket, still partly farmland, next to Sunningdale Golf Course

What are the neighbourhoods in northeast London?

The northeast runs from the Fanshawe Conservation Area down to the Dundas Street corridor, with a mix of post-war and post-2000 homes.

Fanshawe: shaped by the Fanshawe Conservation Area and the 1950s Fanshawe Dam
Huron Heights: developed in four phases from 1960, with the Stronach Community Recreation Centre
Stoneycreek: a large neighbourhood that grew quickly after 2000, anchored by the Stoney Creek Community Centre and YMCA
Argyle: built up mostly after the Second World War, centred on the Dundas Street shopping corridor
Bradley: farmland and light industrial land turning into new suburban streets
Carling: named for brewer Thomas Carling, and home to Canadian Forces Base London
Woodhull: one of London's highest home-ownership rates, with about half its homes built since 2000
Sharon Creek: mostly post-2000 detached homes, best suited to people who drive

Which towns near London are worth a look?

Several separate towns and villages sit just outside the city limits, close enough for an easy drive into London every day.

Dorchester: the heart of Thames Centre, where 70% of workers commute into London
Thorndale: a 19th-century village founded by the Logan family
Strathroy: a town of about 20,000 on the Sydenham River, with a heritage downtown
Komoka/Kilworth: twin Middlesex Centre communities next to Komoka Provincial Park
Mount Brydges: settled in 1829, the second historic centre of Strathroy-Caradoc
Delaware: one of the oldest settlements in the region, with roots reaching back to the War of 1812

What about Oakridge, Byron, Lambeth and the rest of West London?

Those seven areas have their own detailed coverage on Justin's other site, liveinoakridge.ca. Same broker and same standards, with a closer focus on that part of the city. If the west end is where you're looking, start there.

Not sure which of these fits your life? Reach out and Justin will talk it through with you, with no pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many neighbourhoods does London, Ontario have?

There's no single official count. Forest City Homes covers close to 40 areas across London and the nearby towns, plus the 7 west-end areas (Oakridge, West London, Whitehills, Byron, Westmount, Riverbend and Lambeth) covered separately at liveinoakridge.ca.

Which London Ontario neighbourhood should a first-time buyer consider?

It depends on budget and priorities. Newer subdivisions like Talbot, Jackson and Sunningdale suit buyers who want modern construction, while Old South and Old North suit buyers who want character and walkability. Talking through your priorities before you tour saves a lot of time.

What is the difference between Forest City Homes and liveinoakridge.ca?

Both are run by the same broker, Justin Skrypnyk of Sutton Group Chapman Realty Inc., Brokerage. liveinoakridge.ca focuses on Oakridge and the west end, his home community, while Forest City Homes covers every other London neighbourhood and the towns around the city.

Which towns are within commuting distance of London, Ontario?

Dorchester, Thorndale, Strathroy, Komoka/Kilworth, Mount Brydges and Delaware all sit just outside the city and are an easy daily drive into London. In Dorchester, about 70% of workers commute into the city.

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