10 Hidden Gems in London, Ontario
Every "things to do in London" list shows you the same handful of attractions. This isn't that. These are ten spots a local actually goes to — the cheap meals, the quiet corners, the places that are lively for a reason. Some won't look like much. That's kind of the point. Here's the London you find once you've lived here a while.
1. The Tim Hortons on Oxford Street, near Gibbons Park
Yes, it's a Tim Hortons — but not all Tims are the same. This one, right by Gibbons Park, has a buzz to it. It's busy and lively in a way that makes it a genuinely good spot to sit with a coffee and watch the city move. Go when you want company around you without having to talk to anyone. Pair it with a walk in the park next door and you've got an easy, free morning.
2. Wow Shawarma — Clarence Street, downtown
This is the one to know for cheap eats downtown. Wow Shawarma on Clarence Street does food that's tasty and genuinely affordable, and you get a free drink with your order — small thing, but it tells you how they run the place. The owners are good people, and that shows. Go hungry; you'll leave full and with money still in your pocket.
3. A small Mongo slush at Masonville Mall
A small Mongo slush runs about $6–7, and it's more filling than you'd expect from something that size. It's the kind of thing that's easy to walk past in the mall, but on a hot day or after a shop around Masonville, it hits. Get the small — it does the job, and you don't need more.
4. The bridge in Gibbons Park
Gibbons Park is no secret, but the bridge is the part people rush past. Stand on it for a minute and just listen — the sound of the water underneath is genuinely calming, and it's free. This is a five-minute reset, not a destination. Best on a quiet morning before the park fills up.
5. The Ale House — downtown
If you want a lot of food for not a lot of money, this is the downtown pick. The Ale House gives you generous portions at a fair price, and — more importantly — it's actually tasty, which isn't always true of cheap-and-plenty spots. Good for when you're hungry and don't want to think too hard about it.
6. Lyn's Bakery — for fresh bread
Lyn's Bakery is the spot for fresh bread — simple as that. There's something about a bakery that does one thing well, and this is one of them. Go early for the best of it; fresh bread is a morning thing.
7. Plane-watching near London Airport
Here's one most people never think of. London's airport is small and rarely crowded, which means you can get genuinely close to the runway and watch planes come and go. It's oddly mesmerizing, and it costs nothing. A good one for a restless evening, or if you've got kids.
8. Masonville Mall in the evening
This sounds ordinary until you've done it. Masonville Mall in the evening has a real energy — it's lively, there's a big young crowd, and it's a genuinely good place to people-watch and feel the city's pulse. Not a shopping trip; a vibe. Best later in the evening when the crowd is at its liveliest.
9. Greek food in the Masonville food court
Food courts get a bad rap, but the Greek food in Masonville's food court is the exception worth knowing. It's a solid, satisfying meal in a spot you'd normally write off. Pair it with the evening mall walk — eat, then take a stroll through.
10. Villa Madina
Villa Madina rounds out the list as another spot that just does very tasty food. It's a reliable one — the kind of place you come back to because you already know it won't let you down.
Know a spot we missed? This list grows with the city.
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A quick note: everything here is just my own honest opinion based on my own experiences. Prices, menus, and hours change, and your visit might be different from mine — so treat this as a friendly tip from a local, not a guarantee.