Living in London: Things to Do
- Teal
- Dec 8, 2017
- 4 min read
Though I am just about ready to move out following my graduation at the end of the year, there are many things about my hometown that I will miss. London is a great place to live growing up - the city truly had everything I needed from ample sporting arenas, to schools within walking distance. Here are reviews of four London, Ontario locations that I will greatly miss.
Take some time to treat yourself to an experience for mind, body and soul. Step into London’s Ann St. Yoga Shack location and feel immediately accepted and welcomed into the yogi community in the heart of downtown. The warehouse-turned-yoga-shack features tall ceilings and rooms filled with sun light streaming in from high windows. The welcome room is spacious; potted plants and light hardwood accents add to the natural style of decor.
Pick from a variety of class offerings: beginner, pre-natal, hatha, power flow, yin, and more. Knowledgeable and engaging teachers will guide you through poses meant to empower you – a practice which will open your mind and challenge your body. Teachers are down-to-Earth and genuine, adding to the sense of community at the practice by remembering the names of regulars and greeting them excitedly. Instantly feel welcome in the community yourself by trying a “Community” class, offered throughout the week for $5. Drop-in classes are $20 each ($15 for students). If you are willing to commit, choose either a month of unlimited classes ($135, $108 for students) or a 10-class pass ($130). Arrive early for any Community classes – they do get full.
Museum London is more than meets the eye and it will take a guided tour to get the most out of your visit ($10 for adults, free every Sunday at 2 pm). Before walking the three open-concept floors of artifacts, contemporary and historical art, check out the Rhino Longue; a delicious and quaint café located on the main floor with a view of the infamous silver Rhino sitting on the museum's front lawn. All the food is either 100% vegan or vegetarian, and homemade baked goods are fresh out of the oven if you arrive around the time the lounge opens (11 am Tuesday-Sunday). The drink list is completely quirky and delicious sounding – try a delicious Frosty Rhino (hot chocolate with mint liqueur). Ask for the spanakopita heated up in the microwave and enjoy as the crisp phyllo pastry gives way to perfectly warm spinach and feta inside.
Denise is a wonderful and educative guide. A thirteen year volunteer, she knows the museum in and out and greatly improves one's tour by including interesting details otherwise missed (underneath the Rhino sculpture is the museum's vault, home to more than 100,000 pieces of art). Learn about important artists and historical figures from London and surrounding area, walk through multiple different exhibits and enjoy the view from the top floor: the forks of the Thames River to the left and Labatt Park, the oldest ball park in North America, to the right. The museum is located at 421 Rideout St. downtown and is open Tuesday-Sunday 12pm- 5pm and Thursday until 12pm- 9pm. Admission by donation.
You have surely seen beer or cider flights at restaurants that boast full craft brewery lists, but have you ever seen a wine flight? Where can you get such a wonderful sounding appetizer, you ask? The Tasting Room on Richmond Row. A small, private, fine dining establishment, the Tasting Room consistently lands itself on lists of “London’s Best.” Start your meal by selecting your own flight from an impressive list of wines before digging into the delicious food. Both a bar and an upscale restaurant, the Tasting Room offers a classic, warm atmosphere and excellent service.
The Tasting Room features a share-plate influenced menu, ideally your party will select a number of items (usually appetizers) and share them (or fight over who gets the last bite)! A range of appetizers from Korean style short ribs to duck wings to chipotle bacon wrapped shrimp will surely have something to please everyone. Regardless of what you choose, do not miss the garlic and artichoke dip. It comes with perfectly crisp baguette slices for dipping and arrives on your table hot and creamy. This dip has (literally) won awards. Call ahead for dinner reservations as this is a popular downtown establishment, especially on nights the Grand Theatre (just two doors down) features plays. Price range $$-$$$.
As London expands into a bustling metropolis and construction takes over the city, a hidden gem of natural greenery can be found in the North end of the city – The Medway Valley Heritage Forest. The forest is considered an Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) and covers 129 hectares of land framed between Sunningdale, Windermere, Western, and Wonderland Roads. Offering a much-needed breath of fresh air to hikers, joggers, walkers, and bikers in the growing city, the beautiful heritage forest offers an enchanting atmosphere to stretch one's legs. 10.6 km of trails open to the public follow the creek through a breathtaking mature forest, surrounded by steep banks which can reach up to 25 metres.
Several bridges and look-out points have been constructed throughout the winding paths, and offer a picturesque backdrop for visitors. Official parking is only offered in two places: off Windermere Road near the Elise Perrin Williams Estate and at Sunningdale Road West, though parking is available near most entrances along residential streets. There is no admission fee into the forest, except the expectation to treat the area with the respect it deserves. Dogs are welcome on a leash.
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