Doors Open London, Opens Doors to The Forest City

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Are you looking for something interesting to do in London, Ontario? In the fall you can consider a tour of its finest heritage buildings as part of Doors Open. The first Doors Open event was in France in 1984. Almost 40 years later, you can find Doors Open events throughout Europe, North America and Australia.

Also known as Open House or Open Days in some communities, you can also take a digital tour of locations throughout the world. Every year the public is welcome to discover heritage buildings and businesses in the Forest City and this year there will be 44 sites to visit (up from 28 last year).

On the weekend of September 21 and 22, 2024, Doors Open welcomes visitors from London and afar to visit these locations. There is always something interesting to see in London, Ontario, with family options such as the Children’s Museum, Fanshawe Pioneer Village, or one of the oldest fire stations – Fire Hall 4 – in the city. As a Londoner, I’ve put together two different itineraries that you can follow with the help of a Google Map. I hope you find something new to explore in the Forest City. Enjoy the weekend.

UPDATE FOR 2024: What’s New this Year

There are a few new locations this year and a few that have dropped off. I will list the ones that are not available at the end of the post for information purposes only.

• Celebrate World Car-Free Day on the Thames Valley Parkway and World Car-Free Day in Wortley Village. Every September 22, cities worldwide participate in this United Nations-featured event, encouraging motorists to give up their cars for a day. This year, as part of Doors Open London, learn about cycling safety at the Thames Region Ecological Association booth. Enjoy guided tours, e-bike test rides, and children’s activities!
• Labatt Memorial Park – the oldest baseball park in the world! Watch the games featuring under-16 teams from the Great Lake Canadians and Ontario Nationals. Enjoy guided tours at 1 and 3 p.m. and explore the history and stories of this iconic park. Also, enjoy the pop-up exhibit by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Beachville District Museum! Only on Sunday, Sept. 22 between noon – 4 pm.
• First St. Andrews United Church – Discover the rich history of this beloved church nestled in London’s heart with guided tours of its storied halls and grounds. 
• Chinmaya Mission London – Discover the essence of the world’s oldest civilization through informational sessions, delving into Hindu philosophy and religion. Engage with poster presentations on Hinduism and its major rites. 
• Centre of Movement Arts Walking Tour – The Centre of Movement Arts is a non-profit organization that deepens the experience of living through movement and dance. For Doors Open London, they are hosting a one-hour guided tour of Old East Village and journey back 100 years. 
• Carrefour Communautaire Francophone de London – Join the Carrefour Communautaire Francophone de London (CCFL) for an exhilarating soccer tournament! Interested participants can register here. 
• Platinum Training Facility –  London’s premier martial arts gym. Since 2009, their all-star reputation for high-quality training experiences has set them apart. The site offers guided tours and demos. 

The theme for this year is Live.Work.Play: In the Forest City —and invites participants to explore London’s work culture, entertainment and livability. This weekend event will show how London has developed to become Canada’s only UNESCO City of Music. Last year, the London Heritage Council (which oversees Doors Open London) created a fantastic map to use when you search for sites that interest you. I have updated the Google Map and added new 2024 locations of the attractions with a link to the Doors Open website.

Google Map: Doors Open London 2024

Doors Open London in 2024

1. 1st Hussars Museum
2. 427 Wing & Spirit of Flight Museum
3. Banting House National Historic Site of Canada
4. Brick Street Cemetery
5. Canada Life
6. Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre (partnering with Hindu Legacy)
7. Carrefour Communautaire Francophone de London
8. Centre of Movement Arts Walking Tour
9. Chinmaya Mission London
10. Clayworx Ceramic Arts Learning Centre
11. Covent Garden Market
12. Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University
13. Dundas Place
14. Eldon House
15. Elmwood Lawn Bowling Club
16. Elsie Perrin Williams Estate
17. Fanshawe Conservation Area
18. Fanshawe Pioneer Village
19. First St. Andrews United Church
20. Hamilton Road Culture Tour
21. HDR Architectural Associates Inc.
22. Innovation Works
23. The Jet Aircraft Museum
24. Labatt Memorial Park
25. The London Children’s Museum
26. London District Weavers and Spinners
27. London’s W. Peter Harding Fire Hall No. 4
28. London Music Hall of Fame
29. The London Muslim Mosque (LMM)
30. London Police Service Headquarters
31. Museum London
32. The Museum of Ontario Archaeology
33. The Oakridge Presbyterian Church
34. Platinum Training Facility
35. Rising Moon Belly Dance Studio
36. The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum
37. The Secrets of Radar Museum
38. South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre
39. Talbot Street Church
40. Urban Roots
41. Wesley-Knox United Church
42. Westland Gallery
43. World Car-Free Day in Wortley Village
44. World Car-Free Day on the Thames Valley Parkway

Day One – Itinerary for Doors Open London

Banting House

Explore the Banting House National Historical Site during Doors Open London! Discover the “Diabetes Ink” exhibit, showcasing the diabetes legacy. Learn about carbohydrate counting and enter a cookbook raffle. Enjoy the pop-up theatre showcasing Banting in London, Ontario on October 31, 1923, celebrating his Nobel Prize for Medicine, and hear his inspiring journey from failed physician to national hero.

Canada Life

I have been in this building many times but love the architecture of Canada Life — an insurance company and presenting sponsor of Doors Open London. Open since 1951, you will be taken on a tour of the cafeteria to learn about the evolution of their corporate kitchen, explore new food offerings, and learn about employee wellness initiatives. See the Selwyn Dewdney mural, which graces the cafeteria bulkhead, and the new lobby display!

London Muslim Mosque

Experience the environment of a souk (or a bazaar) at the London Muslim Mosque. Doors Open will provide an opportunity to tour the oldest mosque in Ontario, engage in various activities such as henna applications, having your name written in Arabic, and trying on a hijab. In addition, take your tastebuds around the world at the Food and Merchandise Bazaar.

Brick Street Pioneer Historic Cemetery

I’ve driven by here thousands of times and had only noticed the Montessori School adjacent to the cemetery but this was a very interesting stop. One of the oldest cemeteries in London, the Brick Street Pioneer Historic cemetery, dates from 1813 and has undergone recent restoration and improvements. Historical research has been undertaken to reveal the interesting stories behind some of the individuals buried here. Ground Penetrating Radar surveys have revealed numerous unmarked graves.

Royal Canadian Regiment Museum

In previous years of Doors Open, I visited one of my favourite London attractions, the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum at Wosley Barracks. This small military museum is very interesting with extensive diagrams, a chapel, medals, uniforms and even a few ‘re-enacted’ scenes. They always welcome the public to enjoy this regiment museum. Interact with re-enactors on Saturday. Learn about military rations with the “What’s for Lunch” video and rations show-and-tell at select times on Sunday.

Day Two – Itinerary for Doors Open London

Fanshawe Pioneer Village

On a fall day, this is the perfect place to continue your tour of Doors Open London. Pioneer Village is a living history museum that shares the local history of London and Middlesex County between 1820 and 1920. It is large and has many buildings to visit. Give yourself at least an hour here.

Fanshawe Conservation Area –

Fanshawe Conservation Area – There is much to see and do here during Doors Open. Take a tour of the Fanshawe Dam (registration required), or the Watershed Conservation Centre. Enjoy interactive exhibits, games and activities. Explore the Hope and Action Climate Change Festival, kicking off Green in the City. Test-ride e-bikes with the London Bicycle Café. And watch spectacular live birds of prey shows.

427 Wing & Spirit of Flight Museum

The museum, housed in an original 1940 RCAF Canteen, is dedicated to highlighting the many varied aspects of civilian and military aviation history in the Southwest Ontario Region that are unknown to the public today. Utilizing the building’s heritage and the adjacent Spooner Memorial Gardens, the Museum will collect, preserve, and display artifacts, provenance, and stories significant to the region’s rich aviation history.

The Secrets of Radar Museum

This Secrets of Radar Museum was located in Pond Mills but has been relocated to be closer to the other two aviation museums. It is dedicated to preserving the experiences, artifacts, and history of the men and women who helped build, develop, operate, and maintain Canadian radar. Learn about the history of radar in Canada through exhibitions, programming, and public research facilities. Doors Open visitors will also learn about the culinary experiences of radar personnel, from fine dining to field rations.

The Jet Aircraft Museum

During Doors Open, there is much to discover here! Explore a working aircraft hangar, interact with historical aircraft, learn about the science of flight with demonstrations in the schoolroom, experience a flight simulator, sit in the cockpit of a Cold War-era jet and wooden Dash-8 mock-up, and explore post-war cuisine through vintage cookbooks.

Covent Garden Market

If you are starting to get hungry, head downtown to The Covent Garden Market. With plenty of food and entertainment. This year, they are hosting the 6th annual Multicultural Market with vendors from different cultures. In addition, in partnership with Hindu Legacy, you can learn about Hindu art, dancing, displays, music, clothing and henna. Don’t miss out on the delicious eats and dancing on Rotary Square.

If You Have Time Stop Here –

If you are in the downtown core, I would encourage you to visit the following places:

• Museum London – take a visual scavenger hunt for food-themed items throughout their exhibitions and collections.
• Eldon House – London’s oldest residence, with family heirlooms and furnishings from the Harris Family.
• 1st Hussars Museum – Regiment over the years, including during the Great War and the Second World War

FAQ

Ontario Doors Open Events:

Doors Open is not exclusive to London, Ontario. Other cities hold one—or two-day events. Kingston and the Area even have three different events through the summer. This is a great way to encourage tourism throughout the region.

Virtual Visits – Doors Open Digital Tours

If you can’t get away, no problem, Doors Open also has virtual tours. From their website:
“Take a digital tour of Ontario! Visit the breathtaking Sleeping Giant Provincial Park in the morning, followed by learning about Ontario’s Black heritage at the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History. Then, make a stopover in Ottawa to explore the Canadian War Museum (and play their popular online game), then explore the ancient Mnjikaning Fish Weirs in Orillia, built by the Wendat. Finish your day with a thrilling virtual fireworks display at Canada’s Wonderland.”

European Doors Open events:

• Doors Open Days in Scotland
• European Heritage Days in Europe (Council of Europe)
• Heritage Open Days in England
• Open House London in London, England
• European Heritage Open Days in Northern Ireland
• Open Doors in Wales

North American Doors Open events:

• Doors Open Lowell in Massachusetts
• Open House Chicago
• Open House New York in New York City

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