Cheap flights to London, ON from £539

London, known as the Forest City for its greenness, is at the very heart of Southwestern Ontario. The city offers wonderful green spaces, a packed calendar of cultural events and festivals, and a lively downtown core. There are traces of the “other London” here too. The river is called the Thames, there is a Covent Garden Market, and you can take a tour in one of the iconic red double-decker buses.

About one million visitors flock to London each year, most of them in the summer months, to attend festivals such as Sunfest, the Home County Folk Festival and the London Rib Fest, Canada’s largest festival devoted to sticky and delicious ribs.

London’s parks are part of the fabric of the city. There are extensive bike – 13 miles (22km) of paved paths along the Thames, and walking trails, wading pools and waterpads. Victoria Park is the lungs of the city, located right in the city’s core. It hosts the festivals and celebrations that make London such a vibrant destination.

A short drive away are the historic sites, theatres, provincial parks and freshwater beaches of Shakespeare Country, this part of Canada that celebrates the heritage of one of its founding nations.

London insider information

• Storybook Gardens has the type of entrance gate you would expect – a turreted castle. There are 54 attractions and eight “chapters” of interactive fun including Storybook Valley, Pirates’ Island and Old McDonald’s Farm. The Storybook Mascots – Slippery Seal, Lucy Seal, Waagosh the fox, and Pirate Pete the parrot – that wander around the grounds delight younger visitors.
• Covent Garden Market is one of London’s most treasured landmarks. Established in 1845, it sells the best of the area’s organic foods, meats, ethnic foods and Southwestern Ontario’s largest selection of cheese. The outdoor farmers’ market takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays (May to November). There’s a lively busker program and the market hosts several festivals throughout the year.
• Eldon House is London’s oldest residence. This splendid residence was built in 1834 for Captain John and Amelia Harris and given to the city in 1959, complete with family furnishings. Its recreated 19th-century gardens are beautiful and host traditional afternoon teas in the summer time.