Maybe this is the weekend. Maybe this is the weekend when those people that I know that live in Toronto and the GTA, Kitchener/Waterloo, Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham, maybe this is the weekend they take a drive down the 401 or the 402 and they come to discover the beauty of London. I often find myself in Toronto and I always say to my blogging friends, you should come to London, it’s not THAT far.
Why not come for the weekend and have a look around. This is the perfect weekend to do that because one of my favourite events in the fall is the Doors Open events. This year Doors Open London and London Culture Days will be held this weekend – Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 29, 2014.
Remember:
- admission is free
- some locations are opened Saturday or Sunday or both
- take advantage of some of the other locations around these special sites. There are unique neighbourhoods to explore.
- take pictures and post them on Instagram or twitter use #LDNculture and #LdnOnt hashtags (follow me on twitter or Instagram)
- there are plenty of locations to visit these are just my top 7
“ Doors Open London and London Culture Days is a two-day event that opens up spaces and offers activities throughout London, free of charge, for local residents and visitors to engage with. These key events have become widely recognized as a weekend of communal gathering, celebration and recognition for London’s arts and heritage sector, featuring hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes” to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, etc. at work in their community. Fun for the whole family!
Fifty sites are open for exploration free of charge. ”
7 of the Top Sites to see this weekend at Doors Open London
(descriptions all from the Culture Days Doors Open website)
Labatt Memorial Park
Labatt Memorial Park is the world’s oldest continuously operating baseball park. For the past 134 years, it has been home to minor, senior and professional baseball. Mooney Gibson, Satchel Paige, Ferguson Jenkins, Lester B. Pearson and Wayne Gretzky have all played a little ball here. It is now home to London Majors. {Saturday, September 27, 2014 – 8:30pm to 9:30pm}
Centre for Digital and Performance Arts, Fanshawe College Downtown Campus
Located in the Howard W. Rundle building in the heart of downtown London, the centre brings together some of Fanshawe’s most creative and innovative minds. The centre provides our students with fantastic opportunities to hone their skills and flourish in programs such as 3D Animation and Character Design, Interactive Media, Technical Costume Studies and Theatre Arts. Fanshawe invites you to discover everything that our Centre for Digital and Performance Arts has to offer. {Saturday, September 27, 2014 – 10:00am to 2:00pm}
The A visit to the Museum of Ontario Archaeology
It will take you back in time 500 years ago as you explore the re-created village of the Neutral Attawandaron Iroquois and the collection of southwestern Ontario’s archaeological discoveries. A self-guided tour of the Museum unveils 11,000 years of history of First Nations peoples matched with archaeological artifacts that help uncover past tools, techniques, and culture. The feature gallery displays artwork from local Metis artist Ken Rollinson. {Saturday and Sunday September 27-28, 2014 – 10:00am to 4:30pm}
Eldon House
Virtually unchanged since the last century, Eldon House is London’s oldest residence and contains family heirlooms, furnishings and priceless treasures of the Harris family as well as a beautiful 19th-century style garden. Built-in 1834 for John and Amelia Harris, this historic home remained in the family until 1960 when it was donated to the City of London. Although surrounded by the city today, the house and its gardens are a place of beauty and tranquillity. {Saturday and Sunday, September 27-28, 2014 – 10:00am to 4:00pm}
Museum London
Museum London is a not-for-profit cultural organization, whose mission is to inspire and educate our community by preserving and sharing our art and history. At the heart of a great museum is its collection, and Museum London is proud to have one of Canada’s most important art collections, and one of the most significant historical artefact collections in Ontario. Our art collection has more than 5,000 regional and Canadian works including paintings by Paul Peel, the Group of Seven, Jack Chambers and Greg Curnoe and our 45,000 regional historical artefacts detail a fascinating record of our community’s accomplishments. {Sunday, September 28, 2014 – 12:00pm to 4:00pm}
The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum
The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum tells the story of Canada’s first Infantry Regiment established within the permanent force. The museum is located at Wolseley Barracks, military architecture purposed-built in 1886-1888 by the Dominion Government to house «D» Company of the Infantry School Corps. {Saturday, September 27, 2014 – 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, September 28, 2014 – 10:00am to 5:00pm}
London Life Insurance Company
Enter this impressive Neo-Classical building and discover the wonderful architectural features that have graced the foyer since 1926. Learn about London Life’s involvement in World War 1 in the exhibit gallery. Then, take a self-guided tour to the building’s 4th floor where one can view further exhibits outlining the company’s rich history, capped off by a visit to our beautiful auditorium with a full proscenium stage. {Sunday, September 28, 2014 – 10:00am to 4:00pm}
You can get the official Doors Open London (DOL)/ London Culture Days (LCD) map guide?
Official DOL/LCD map guides will be available in September 2013 at:
- London Heritage Council office, Doors Open London Headquarters and London Arts Council , London Culture Days Headquarters
- All branches of the London Public Library
- Both Tourism London locations
- All London Community Centers
- Downtown London Office
- All DOL/LCD site locations on the event weekend
Related Posts: London, Ontario
- 6 Intriguing things to do in London, Ontario – Museum Virtual Tours #LdnOnt
- What to do in Old East Village #LdnOnt #DIGOEV
- The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum Wolseley Barracks –London, Ontario #TravellingMaple #Ontario #LdnOnt
- What to do Canada Day in London, Ontario #LdnOnt
- What to do in London, Ontario with Kids during the Summer
- Doors Open London Opens Doors to the Forest City
Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.
How fun! I always love cultural events!
Ohh.. How I wish it’s just near me.. Would love to go and visit some..
I’ve been there… a LONG time ago to London, Ontario, Canada. One of my friends attended the University at the time and rather than do spring break in a warm place, I visited them. Lots of stuff to do there. 🙂
There are so many cool things to see! I hope I get the chance to visit them one day!
So many things to visit and explore. I’d love to spend a day doing that.
I love a good museum! Hope this was a fab event
I have never heard of Open Doors events. I want to go NOW!
Not seen this before, does look like a good day.x
Sounds like a bunch of great visiting options! London is on my list for this year- I really want to make it there!
Thanks for sharing. I love Doors Open events. Best way to see any city.
I seriously need to make my way back to another visit of Canada. Visited Toronto years ago. Thanks for including this great list!
It does sound like there’s so much to do. I would love to visit sooner rather than later.
This looks like a lot of fun indeed. I hope I can get there some day. Thanks for sharing.
This is awesome. Such an amazing way to spend the weekend with the family in a fun but educational matter.
There are so many wonderful places to visit. I have to tell you, I think a Doors Open anywhere in BC would have to be outdoors.
This looks like it would be a blast. I have not visited London Ontario but have heard it is a beautiful place.
Sounds like a wonderful event Would love tp go sometime
It is a lovely place to live an nice place to spend a weekend. Love London!
I love the new Fanshawe performing arts centre building from the outside. It looks so lovely. The architecture is really quite attractive and to me it elevates the look of that strip of Dundas.
I have to say, I am pretty excited that the City of London is going ahead and funding the Kingsmills building to add to Fanshawe College downtown. Its going to be awesome.
London is on my list to visit. I’m going to keep this festival in mind, for when I travel to your neck of the woods. I hope to check this off on my bucket list soon. Thanks for giving me ideas for my 2nd wedding anniversary.
we have s great theatre and Stratford is 45 minutes away. world class Shakespearean theatre. worth the drive.
I love to learn from locals about great places to visit. I’ll have to add this information to my family travel folder in case we are ever in the area. Pinned.
Erica. its a lovely place to visit. thsnks for pinning.
This is a nice campaign to boost the 7 sites. I’m sure a lot of the people would be visiting.
it is nice to share gun things to do in London.
Looks like a fun thing to do! Wanna go there so bad
You are welcome to come any time… London is very accessible from both Toronto an Detroit if you are flying in. Well, we too have an airport so you could just come directly here.
Doors Open sounds like an awesome idea! We have something like that here in Victoria. 🙂 If I wasn’t on the other side of the country, I’d totally come! I love touring my town – or those nearby. 🙂
I love Victoria. My sister-in-law lives there. I think there would be some amazing places to visit in a Doors Open Victoria. Any time you are here Bonnie, you are welcome in my home.
Ooh, if I had a license to drive (lol) and didn’t have family dropping by this weekend, I probably would have checked out London this weekend! I love Open Door events, like this, and London has some gorgeous historical and architectural finds according to your list up there. Thanks for the heads up hun! <3
You are always welcome here Aeryn. Let me know if you ever want to spend the weekend an tour around.
If I’m ever in town I;ll have to check out a few of these hot spots!
If you are ever in town make sure to drop by and say hello!
I have never been there! It all looks like so much fun 🙂
Its a lovely little city Its two hours west of Toronto and two hours east of Detroit, MI.
That looks like a lot of fun and a great way to learn about London, Canada!
London is known as The Forest City so we have lovely parks and green spaces too but it’s fun to see some of these historic buildings. Hope you can come visit some time.
How awesome that it’s free. It sounds like a great event.
Its a great way to get to know your city.
This seem alike an awesome event for the locals to visit! I wish we had something like this here!
I have to tell you, they have events like this all over Ontario so just google Doors Open if you are anywhere close to us. Always nice to open up their doors to the public… FOR FREE.
Wish I was there to explore and see all these sites! Sounds wonderful!
It is lovely. Do you have something like this in your city?
I was there a long time ago.. i always say i want to bring my kids there to see all that London has to offer.. Nice list!
This is London, Ont. in Canada not London, UK… where you here? It is lovely.