London, Ontario earned the nickname the Forest City long before it grew into one of the largest cities in southwestern Ontario, and the trees are still the first thing visitors notice. The Thames River splits at the forks downtown and winds through a chain of riverside parks, so a fast growing city never feels far from the water or the woods. It is also a university town with a serious theatre, a market older than the city charter and a strong independent film culture. Here are date ideas across London for 2026, from the last fall walks through a proper Ontario winter.

Stages, Screens and a Free Museum

The Grand Theatre: London's professional regional theatre on Richmond Street, in a restored early twentieth century playhouse. In 2026 it has a production running from October 20 to November 7 and a holiday show from November 24 to December 27.
Hyland Cinema: The city's independent cinema, showing festival films, documentaries and the kind of releases the multiplex skips. It screens Forest City Film Festival premieres in October, and the lineup changes most weeks.
Museum London: An art and history museum at the forks of the Thames, with free admission and late opening on Thursdays until 8 p.m. Walk the galleries, then step outside to the river right behind it.

The Grand Theatre on Richmond Street in London, Ontario.

Two Markets, Two Moods

Covent Garden Market: A downtown market hall established in 1845, which makes it older than London's status as a city. More than forty merchants sell food, coffee and gifts six days a week, and in the colder months the outdoor rink on the market square is the reason to linger.
The Market at Western Fair District: A weekend market in the red brick Confederation Building in Old East Village, open year round on Saturdays and Sundays. It is smaller and more local than Covent Garden, with makers and artisans working alongside the food stalls. Wander the surrounding Old East Village blocks afterwards, where the old storefronts are slowly filling with new cafés and studios.

Old Houses and Big Stories

Eldon House: The oldest surviving house in London, overlooking the river downtown and still filled with the belongings of the family who lived there for generations. From October to December it is open Wednesday to Sunday afternoons, a short and atmospheric visit before dinner.
Banting House National Historic Site: The house on Adelaide Street where Frederick Banting woke up with the idea that led to insulin, now a small museum. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, and the story is better than most people expect.

Snow covered market stalls and dining domes on the square at Covent Garden Market in London, Ontario.

Riverside Parks in the Forest City

Springbank Park: One of the city's biggest parks, stretched along the Thames in the west end, with a long paved path under old trees. In late October the leaves on the river are the best free show in town.
The Graham Arboretum: A free arboretum inside Springbank Park, with native trees grouped by the forest regions of Canada. Pick a favourite tree each and come back in another season to see how it changed.
Wortley Village: The Old South neighbourhood's main strip, a few blocks of independent shops, cafés and restaurants with a small town feel. It is the place to end a walk with coffee or a slow dinner.

Ice, Hockey and Winter Nights

Outdoor skating rinks: The City typically runs three outdoor rinks, at Victoria Park, the Storybook Gardens skate trail in Springbank Park and the Rotary Rink at Covent Garden Market, usually from early December to mid-March, weather permitting. The skate trail through the trees is the most romantic of the three, and the downtown rinks are easy to pair with dinner.
London Knights: The city's Ontario Hockey League team, one of the most successful in junior hockey, plays home games at Canada Life Place downtown. The building is loud and full on game nights, which is exactly the point.

The Thames River curving between wooded banks at Springbank Park in London, Ontario.

Sample Date Itineraries

1. The river day: A walk through Springbank Park and the Graham Arboretum → lunch in Wortley Village → an evening film at the Hyland Cinema.

2. The downtown evening: Thursday night at Museum London → dinner downtown → a show at The Grand Theatre.

3. The winter weekend: Saturday morning at The Market at Western Fair District → skating at Covent Garden Market → a London Knights game at Canada Life Place.

Pro Tips for Memorable Dates

Search engines mix this city up with London, England. Add "Ontario" when you look up opening hours, and check that the page is the right one.
Outdoor rinks open and close with the weather. The City posts rink status updates, so check before you bring skates, especially in a mild December.
Museum London is closed Mondays, and both Eldon House and Banting House keep shorter winter hours. A Thursday or a weekend afternoon covers all three.
The Western Fair market is a weekend only operation, open Saturday mornings and Sunday late mornings. Go early on Saturday for the best selection.
Knights games regularly draw big crowds. Buy tickets ahead for Friday and Saturday games rather than hoping for walk-up seats.

London is a city that is easy to drive through and much better to walk. The river, the old houses and the markets are all close together downtown, and the parks along the Thames make every season feel different. Give it a weekend and the Forest City name starts to make sense.

Photo credits: Grand Theatre, London, Ontario by Chris Woodrich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Covent Garden Market Christmas Market, London, Ontario by Gogerr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Thames River, Springbank Park by abdallahh, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.