Congratulations on making the decision to purchase a home in London, Ontario. It has become a favourite among first-time home buyers for affordable housing options for singles, couples, and families of all sizes. The city of London is only two hours away from Downtown Toronto in the east and Detroit, USA in the west.
With an average home price of $430,000, London is a lucrative option for those who want to stay away from bidding wars in competitive markets like Toronto, Mississauga, or Brampton. Other than homes, utilities, groceries, public transit and gas prices are lower compared to the bigger cities in Ontario. Want to plan a weekend getaway? you can head south to Port Stanley, Erie beach, or Huron Beach, which are only a few minutes’ drive.
The London School District Board has 30 public and private elementary schools that offer high quality education to kids. London is home to 6 secondary school options including Fanshawe College and Western University.
Top Neighbourhoods in London, Ontario
Since London, Ontario is a planned city, all neighbourhoods are safe and protected. With a little bit of research and my help as a realtor, we’ll be able to find you a neighbourhood that’s within your budgets and meets your conditions and preferences.
Here’s a list of London neighbourhoods that I strongly recommend to first-time home buyers:
Byron
Byron is a cosy neighbourhood that’ll give you a small town feel. Its tight knit community is welcoming of new residents. It offers a healthy balance of cafes and restaurants and green spaces like Springbank Park, which is the city’s largest park. It has everything from swimming pools and tennis courts to a kids amusement park. Majority of real estate in Byron is detached houses that range from $300,000 to $1,500,000.
River Bend
For those considering an early retirement, River Bend is the place to be. It is a gated community right off the Thames River and has a mix of single detached houses, townhouses, and bungalows. River Bend is surrounded by acres of forests and golf courses where you can explore Ontario’s local flora and fauna. Houses are relatively expensive in this neighbourhood than others in London.
Summerside
Summerside is made up of spacious detached homes and townhouses and away from the hustle and bustle of city life. In recent times, there have been many new developments but the area is still lush and green. All everyday amenities are easily accessible within 10 minutes. Summerside has 8 schools that offer special ed programs including French and French Immersion.
Oakridge
A beautiful neighbourhood in west London, Oakridge features detached homes on wide lots from the 1950-60s. You’ll also find some townhomes and apartments built during the 1970-80s. For those who love the outdoors, Optimist Park, Clara Brenton Woods Park, and Cheltenham Park, are all great options.
Lambeth
Named after a district in England, Lambeth is a close-knit community with beautiful brick-wall houses with wide lots, most of which were built in the early 20th century. In recent years, many new projects have brought residents to the area. The neighbourhood is popular for its Lambeth Harvest Festival, which spans an entire week and includes town breakfast, baseball tournament, auto show and several dances.
Stoneybrook
Stoneybrook is located in the east of London and mainly consists of single-family homes built between the 1960s and 1980s and has big backyards. Since it is centrally located, it offers well-connected public transit options and all amenities are within a few minutes of driving. Despite that, it is a relatively calmer neighbourhood.
Excellent and affordable public transit facilities
Located only two hours from Downtown Toronto, London is well-connected to the rest of Southern Ontario through public transit and Via Rail.
- Rapid transit service – London Transit
- Go Transit options – London only has one Go station that runs daily trains to Kitchener and Toronto that take 2 hours and 4 hours respectively.
- Other train options – Via Rail
- Highways – Highway 4, 401, 402, Veterans Memorial Parkway, and Highbury Avenue