7 Best Museums in London, Ontario: A Visitor Guide
The best museums in London Ontario offer much more than a rainy-day backup plan. The city has an unusually diverse collection of cultural attractions, from Canadian art and medical history to military artifacts, archaeology, Victorian life, and a full living-history village. Families can also spend hours exploring the London Children’s Museum, which recently moved into a much larger home at 100 Kellogg Lane.
Guests staying at Best Western Plus Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre can use the hotel as a comfortable base for exploring London’s museums along with the city’s restaurants, parks, shopping, and other attractions. Museum hours, exhibitions, and admission policies can change, so it is worth checking the official website before heading out.
Art and Local History Under One Roof
Museum London
Museum London is a natural starting point for first-time visitors because it combines art and regional history in one downtown destination. Its collections include more than 5,500 works of art and approximately 50,000 historical artifacts, connecting Canadian visual culture with stories from London and Southwestern Ontario.
Rotating exhibitions mean the experience can change from one visit to another. The museum also sits near the forks of the Thames River, making it easy to pair a museum visit with a walk through downtown or along the river. General admission is free or pay-what-you-can, although individual programs and events may have separate fees.
- Address: 421 Ridout Street North, London, ON N6A 5H4
- Phone: (519) 661-0333
- Website: museumlondon.ca
Step Inside One of London’s Oldest Homes
Eldon House
Eldon House offers something completely different from a traditional gallery. Built in 1834, the historic home preserves generations of belongings associated with the Harris family and gives visitors a glimpse into domestic life in London during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Tours are generally self-guided, with historical interpreters available to provide additional context.
The house itself is only part of the appeal. Its gardens and grounds make this a pleasant stop during warmer weather, and changing exhibitions explore different aspects of the property and Victorian-era life. Admission to regular visits is by donation, while certain special events may require tickets.
- Address: 481 Ridout Street North, London, ON N6A 2P6
- Phone: (519) 661-5169
- Website: eldonhouse.ca
Where a Medical Breakthrough Began
Banting House National Historic Site
Banting House tells one of London’s most internationally significant stories. Sir Frederick Banting was living and practicing medicine in this house when, in 1920, he recorded the idea that ultimately contributed to the discovery of insulin. Today the site explores Banting’s life not only as a physician and scientist, but also as an artist and military veteran.
Permanent and changing exhibits help explain the history surrounding insulin and the broader life of Banting. Guided and self-guided visits are available, and the museum suggests allowing roughly 45 to 60 minutes for a guided tour.
- Address: 442 Adelaide Street North, London, ON
- Phone: (519) 673-1752
- Website: bantinghousenhs.ca
A Museum Built for Kids to Touch Everything
London Children’s Museum
Families traveling with younger children should put the London Children’s Museum near the top of their list. Designed primarily for children ages 0 to 9 and their caregivers, the museum emphasizes hands-on play rather than exhibits viewed from behind glass.
The museum is now located at 100 Kellogg Lane, not the Wharncliffe Road location that appears in many older travel guides. Its interactive environments are designed to encourage curiosity, experimentation, movement, creativity, and imaginative play, making this an especially useful option when young travelers need a break from more traditional sightseeing.
- Address: 100 Kellogg Lane, Suite 401, London, ON N5W 0B4
- Phone: (519) 434-5726
- Website: londonchildrensmuseum.ca
Explore Thousands of Years of Ontario History
Museum of Ontario Archaeology
The Museum of Ontario Archaeology takes visitors much farther back in time. Its exhibits use archaeological discoveries to explore Indigenous history and changing ways of life in the region over thousands of years.
The museum is particularly interesting because the experience extends outdoors to the Lawson Site, the location of a centuries-old Indigenous village. That combination of artifacts, archaeology, interpretation, and the physical landscape helps visitors understand that the region’s history began long before London became a city.
This is a strong choice for travelers interested in archaeology and Indigenous history, as well as families looking for something educational that differs from a conventional art or history museum.
- Address: 1600 Attawandaron Road, London, ON N6G 3M6
- Phone: (519) 473-1360
- Website: archaeologymuseum.ca
Canadian Military History Up Close
The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum
Military history enthusiasts can explore the story of The Royal Canadian Regiment through uniforms, medals, weapons, archival material, photographs, equipment, and other objects connected to the regiment’s history. The collection traces military service across different eras rather than focusing on a single conflict.
The museum is located on an active military property, so visiting involves a little more planning than most attractions on this list. Visitors should check the museum’s current access requirements before arriving. Admission is free, with donations welcomed.
- Address: 701 Oxford Street East, London, ON N5Y 4T7
- Phone: (519) 660-5102
- Website: thercrmuseum.ca
Spend a Day Walking Through the Past
Fanshawe Pioneer Village
Fanshawe Pioneer Village is less like visiting a museum building and more like walking into another period of Southwestern Ontario history. This open-air living-history museum inside Fanshawe Conservation Area includes more than 30 heritage buildings and structures representing life in London and Middlesex County between 1820 and 1920.
Visitors can explore historic and reconstructed homes, businesses, farms, churches, schools, and community buildings. Costumed interpreters and demonstrations help explain the skills, trades, and routines that shaped everyday life during the period.
Unlike most museums on this list, the heritage village operates primarily on a seasonal schedule, with additional special events at other times of the year. Check the current calendar before planning your visit.
- Address: 1424 Clarke Road, London, ON
- Phone: (519) 457-1296
- Website: fanshawepioneervillage.ca
Choosing the Right Museum for Your Visit
If you are visiting London for the first time and want a broad introduction to the city, Museum London is a strong place to begin. History travelers can easily combine it with nearby Eldon House, while Banting House tells a story with worldwide significance.
Families with younger children will likely get the most mileage from the London Children’s Museum. Fanshawe Pioneer Village is particularly appealing during its operating season when you have enough time for a longer outing, while the Museum of Ontario Archaeology offers a deeper look at the region’s much earlier history. Military-history enthusiasts have a specialized experience of their own at The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum.
Rather than trying to visit everything in one day, choose the museums that fit your interests and leave time to explore the neighborhoods, parks, restaurants, and other attractions around them.
A Comfortable Base for Exploring London
After a day exploring London’s museums and cultural attractions, guests can return to Best Western Plus Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre in southwest London. Its location near Highway 401 makes the hotel a practical home base for travelers combining city sightseeing with destinations elsewhere in Southwestern Ontario.
Best Western Plus Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre
6675 Burtwistle Lane
London, Ontario, Canada N6L 1H5
Phone: (519) 652-6022
stoneridgeinn.com