Info on London, Ontario

[observor 69]

Looks like we might be moving to London in the next few months, moving out of TO, and I have never visited the city.
Going for a recce next week but any info would be helpful.
Any info on good areas / bad areas to buy a home ?
Good or bad aspects of the city,
Favourite restaurants ?
Just plain favourites or dislikes?

Any info appreciated.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Major areas of construction for new homes are pretty much all on the outskirts.  Higher prices to the north and to the west.  One development in the centre of the city on the old base property (supposedly a good builder, but the company is very difficult to communicate with (I know, I'm taking over my new house there tomorrow)). 

As for general areas to buy, there's still a small consideration that "east of Adelaide" is lower value, it's still an effective assessment to one extent or another in the central areas, but doesn't necessarily hold true in all areas.  South and North central are pricey, but generally good value if you want to be in the heart of the city.

The city is a relatively quiet one - it does have its fair share of idiot drivers, crime and other reasons for sirens at night.  Economic base is well distributed among light to medium industry and non-manufacturing sectors.

Restaurants:
Fine dining - Michael's on the Thames
Middle Eastern - Barakat Restaurant
Sushi - Take or Wonderland Sushi
Coffee & Dessert - Cafe One
Lunch or Dinner - Waldo's on King (at the Covent Garden Market (at Talbot and King, with underground parking))

Organic butcher - Fieldgate Organics  (at the Covent Garden Market; plus other worthwhile places to shop; great cheese shop, the French chocolatier, etc.)

There are regular events in Victoria Park (downtown) in the summer that are a good reason to get out.

And, of course, dont miss THIS.

 

[navymich]

And you don't need to even live in London.  There are some great places on the outskirts, and commuting isn't bad at all.  It's worse trying to get through the city, over actually getting to it in the first place.  For example, I used to live in St. Thomas and I was at work within 30 minutes each day.

 

[beach_bum]

Westmount is a nice area.  My Mom lives there as do a few of my friends.

 

[Cdn Blackshirt]

Looks like we might be moving to London in the next few months, moving out of TO, and I have never visited the city.
Going for a recce next week but any info would be helpful.
Any info on good areas / bad areas to buy a home ?
Good or bad aspects of the city,
Favourite restaurants ?
Just plain favourites or dislikes?

Any info appreciated.

It all depends on your priorities.

The area that's just booming is the north (Masonville area) and north west (Hyde Park area).  Both areas are very new, very clean and very crime free.  The other advantage of the north is it shortens your drive up to Lake Huron which is a really nice place to visit on regular occassion.  Both Grand Bend and Bayfield are very special spots in my humble opinion.  (My folks just bought their retirement home in Bayfield and so I've been up there about 15 times now, and every time I love it).  The only downside to the North, is that you're a long way from the 401 if you need to drive to Toronto regularly although there is a fairly direct bypass around the city which was Airport Road but has now been name Veteran's Way. 

The other area of interest is actually the Southeast edge of town just east of Highbury Avenue.  There's a lot of new development going on there as well, and again because it's all brand new, it's very clean and very nice.  It's not as nice as the north, but it's much more convenient if you have to go to Toronto on a regular basis.

The one that is a personal love of mine is an area by the university.  Specifically as you're heading north from the downtown on Richmond Street just north of Oxford, there is about a 18-block area of very old homes to the east (on your right) with very mature landscaping that are just gorgeous.

RE:  Restaurants - There are a TON of great restaurants in London.  Right where Michael is focusing near the Covent Garden Market there are three I'd recommend.  Chauncey Smith's (at the market), Thai-Fun (one block north on Dundas) and Mint (which is on King Street directly across from the Market) with Chancey Smith's being my "go-to" restaurant.  The other two are more special occassion restaurants that are more upscale.  Outside the downtown, you're generally into franchises like The Keg, etc., but there is a great selection of those and they are very convenient.

Other upsides:  Lots of golf courses.  Lots of parks.  Lots of sidewalks. 

Downside - Right along Richmond Street in one of the downtown cores, there are a lot of scuzzy people who seem to loiter and East of the downtown about 5 km's is an older area that's pretty run down....and the mayor's an idiot - expect your municipal taxes to go up often. 

Blunt Recommendation - If I were buying at the moment, I'd buy either in that sweetspot I mentioned by the University or in the North/Northwest and in doing so gladly  exchange  the sligthly longer drives to Toronto when they need to be made, for what I consider to be a much nicer living environment (as well as access to Lake Huron which I find really special).

Let me know if you have any follow-ups....


Matthew.