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 London, Ontario is situated at the fork of the River Thames, which is the area's industrial center. However, this is not immediately obvious thanks to the town's attractive old houses, tree-lined streets and squares, and exceptional amount of greenery as a result of an extensive tree-planting scheme that started a hundred years ago and is still in progress.
Attractions
Overlooking the river is the Art Gallery, 421 Ridout Street, a striking modern building designed by Raymond Moriyama. This unusual structure is a series of interlocking barrel vaults which form large and airy galleries with domed skylights providing natural lighting. The gallery holds changing exhibitions of national and international work, and has its own large collection of Canadian art. For a different kind of cultural entertainment, comedies, musicals and drama are performed at the Grand Theatre, 471 Richmond Street, a splendidly restored turn-of-the-century building.
Children have a wonderful time at the London Regional Children's Museum at 21 Wharncliffe Road South, where they are encouraged to explore, participate and play. They can dress up in costumes or uniforms and "be" a fireman, a doctor, or a builder in the gallery called "The Street Where You Live". They can see what life was like in the past, or explore the Computer Hall, or look into outer space.
For a glimpse of what life was like before the settlers arrived in southwestern Ontario, visit the Museum of Indian Archaeology and Lawson Prehistoric Indian Village at 1600 Attawandaron Road, where there are displays on the area's prehistory as well as a reconstructed Attawandaron Village. It is open every day from April to November. About 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of the city is the Ska-Nah-Doht Indian Village, a recreation of a prehistoric Iroquoian village with exhibits and audiovisual presentations that show all aspects of everyday life. It's in the Longwoods Road Conservation area off Route 2 and is open every day.
Life in a pioneer community is re-created at the Fanshawe Pioneer Village in Fanshawe Park, 14 kilometers (9 miles) northeast of the city. This reconstructed village consists of 24 buildings, where you can watch demonstrations of pioneer crafts and take a ride in a wagon. The park itself covers 600 hectares or 1,500 acres of land, with a large lake and a pool where you can swim, fish, canoe, windsurf, and sail. It's open all year except for winter weekends. |
