The Top Neighbourhoods In London Ontario [2019 Edition]

The Top Neighborhoods in London Ontario

Finding the right neighbourhood to meet your needs is always one of the most important steps when purchasing a home. There are so many great areas in London that are perfectly suited to particular preferences, budget, or lifestyle. Nearby schools, commute time to work, local activities, and sense of community are all extremely important things to take into account when making a decision about which particular neighbourhood in London is the best candidate for you personally.

Byron

Byron London Ontario Neighbourhood

There are many great schools in the area including Byron Southwood, Byron Somerset, Byron Northview, St. George, and St. Theresa. Although there isn’t an official secondary school in Byron, many students end up attending Oakridge Secondary due to its close proximity to the neighbourhood.

The average home in Byron is currently worth just over $315,000. However, single-family homes are usually sold for closer to $500,000 while condominiums usually fall between $280,000 and $300,000. Current Byron residents have an average combined household income of $70,000 annually.

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River Bend

The River Bend neighbourhood is located in northwest London and is bordered by the Thames River on multiple sides. There are a ton of unique characteristics about this particular area of the city that make it one of the most desirable locations for potential homebuyers. With five golf courses under four kilometers away, plenty of community social clubs, great schools, and easy access to shopping, River Bend is quickly becoming one of the most sought after areas in all of London. It offers a perfect mixture of peace and tranquility with a close proximity to the heart of downtown.

River Bend is perhaps best known for its beautiful 18-hole championship golf course and jaw-dropping trails, paths, and environmentally significant areas. Deer, bald eagles, frogs, salamanders, and great blue herons contribute to a unique and vibrant ecosystem that is just minutes away from many homes in this community. The Kains Woods Environmentally Significant area features several kilometers of winding trails while Warbler Woods, another Environmentally Significant area, is home to the rare golden-winged warbler. Komoka Provincial Park is also under ten minutes away from the heart of River Bend and has some of the best camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, and snowshoeing in the region.

River Bend London Ontario Neighbourhood

There is a reason that River Bend is always in the conversation when it comes to top neighbourhoods in London. Outside of the raw natural beauty, it is also minutes away from shopping malls, health care, social clubs, fine dining, and much, much more. Hyde Park Plaza is only five minutes away while the Bellamere Winery and Event Centre is extremely close as well. Other big chain stores in the area include Real Canadian Superstore, Rona, Costco, Walmart, and Canadian Tire. The London Hunt & Country Club, a short drive over the Thames River away, is also a big hit with River Bend residents. Originally founded in 1885, it has a magnificent 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, hunting, fitness area, fine dining, and an exclusive area for weddings or other large events.

There are a ton of great school in the area including St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Nicholas, Byron Northview, Oakridge Secondary, Wilfrid Jury, and Sir Frederick Banting. Western University, famous for its powerhouse architecture and business programs, is only about fifteen minutes away from central River Bend.

Western University

River Bend has grown 200% since 2006 and now has 3,000 total residents who currently call this area home. It is certainly one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in London, as the average asking price for a home in the area is almost double the citywide average. That number is currently just above $600,000, which is clearly much higher than the $350,000 average for other locations throughout the city. This is clearly due to the above average attributes of the homes built in this area (larger lot sizes, expansive new builds, etc.) On average, families in this area have an annual joint income of close to $150,000, while 50% of River Bend residents have an annual household income of at least $116,752.

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Summerside

Summerside is a newer neighbourhood in London that is located in the southeast corner of the city. Most of the homes in this area are single-family dwellings that are newer builds located on smaller lots. There are several commercial plazas in the community along Commissioners Road. Summerside also has a lot of great outdoor space that is easily accessible and offers many fun activities for the entire family. Carroll Park has tennis courts and basketball courts while Meadowgate Park has a playground, a soccer field, and a spray pad.

Summerside London Ontario Neighbourhood

The Meadowlily Woods Environmentally Significant area is within 5 minutes of Summerside and has wonderful walking trails and access to the other side of the Thames River via the Meadowlily Bridge.

Both of the schools in Summerside are French immersion: École Saint Jean de Brébeuf and École Secondaire Gabriel-Dumont. However, there are plenty of other great options just minutes away such as Fairmont, Tweedsmuir, and Princess Elizabeth.

The current average price of a single-family home in Summerside is about $315,000. Condominiums in the neighbourhood are currently worth an average of about $225,000. This means that the average property in Summerside is about $295,000 – which is slightly below the average for the rest of London.

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Oakridge

Located in west London, Oakridge is an older neighbourhood that is know for its older, classical homes. Many of the properties in this area date back to the 1950s, although Oakridge Crossing and Deer Ridge West are made up of newer, more modern builds. The average home price is currently around $430,000 – this makes Oakridge slightly more expensive than other surrounding areas.

Oakridge London Ontario Neighbourhood

This particular community is extremely close to wonderful green space, shopping malls, and fantastic schools. Outdoor activities in Oakridge include the Sifton Bog Environmentally Significant Area, which is over 41.6 hectares of untouched nature and winding trails through the forest. Oakridge Optimist Park is another great option, as it contains an outdoor pool, baseball diamond, tennis courts, playground, and arena. Thames Valley Golf Course is a beautiful publically owned golf course that offers both 18-hole and 9-hole courses along the banks of the Thames River.

Hyde Park Plaza and Oxford Street both ensure that almost all of your shopping needs are met, while easy access to downtown London provides close proximity to other shops and boutiques.

Oakridge residents have many great high-ranking public schools to choose from including including Riverside, Clara Brenton, John Dearness, and Oakridge Secondary.

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Lambeth

Lambeth is a very unique neighbourhood that is located in southwest London. Most of the homes in the area are single-family homes that exude a quaint, small town atmosphere. A vibrant community, Lambeth contains many locally owned businesses that have retained their charm and family-owned traditions in spite of the changes that have occurred over the past several decades.

In existence for several centuries, Lambeth didn’t become a part of London until 1993 and has both older homes (farm houses, bungalows) and newer developments. Like many parts of London, Lambeth has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to outdoor parks and natural areas. Lambeth Optimist Park has baseball diamonds and well-kept soccer fields while Ralph Hamlyn Park is another great option in the neighbourhood that has plenty of space for baseball and soccer. Boler Mountain is a great option for family fun on the slopes – during both the summer and winter. The mountain is open year-round and features beach volleyball, mountain biking, and a treetop adventure park during the summer until skiing/snowboarding takes over again when winter arrives.

Komoka Provincial Park is filled with majestic walking trails and is only ten minutes away from the heart of Lambeth. Other great recreational activities available in the area include the Greenhills Golf Club, one of the best courses in the city. For residents with young kids or larger families, a day at Lambeth Centennial Park is tough to beat. It has something for everyone to enjoy including a spray park, arena, and a large library.

Komoka Park

Quick access to quality schools is another perk of living in this particular neighbourhood. Lambeth Public School, St. George, Saunders, or St. Thomas Aquinas are all top-ranked options. There are also many great stores and businesses nearby including those located in Westmount Shopping Centre and White Oaks Mall. Some retail options include the Body Shop, RW & CO, Walmart, Earl’s, Sport Chek, H & M, Roots, Hudson’s Bay, IKEA, and Mountain Equipment Co-Op.

The annual Lambeth Harvest Festival – “Harvestfest” - takes place every September and is a huge hit with locals and tourists alike. There are dances, baseball tournaments, auto shows, a community breakfast, huge town breakfast, a parade, and fireworks.

The average home in Lambeth currently costs between $375,000 to $400,000 while the average household family income is around $130,000 per year. There are currently almost 5,000 residents living in the area, while over 92% of the homes are occupied. With easy access to the 401 and 402, it has never been simpler to access the rest of the city quickly and efficiently.

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Stoneybrook

Stoneybrook is a quiet neighbourhood tucked away in North London that currently has around 7,000 residents. Most of the homes in this community were built in the 1980’s and are larger than average. The average lot size in this area is also greater than the standard home in other parts of London.

Stoneyrbook London Ontario Neighbourhood

This neighbourhood is within walking distance of several major shopping areas in London including Masonville Mall and the Stoneybrook Shopping Centre. There is a lot to love outdoors here as well – Stoney Creek Valley and Hastings Park both offer scenic trails, soccer fields, and tennis courts. This is a fabulous community for dog lovers as well – Stoneybrook has a fantastic off-leash park for canines and their owners to make new friends.

With many fine schools in the area, Stoneybrook really has a lot to offer families as well. Stoneybrook Public School, Northridge Public School, and St. Kateri Catholic School are all great options. Western University, renowned for its business and architecture programs, is located just south of Stoneybrook – less than a five minute car ride away.

There is a wide range of home prices in Stoneybrook, as the Thames River boosts property value quite substantially. Single-family houses start at around $350,000 and can reach prices as high as $800,000. Lots in this neighbourhood are quite spacious and offer tons of outdoor space.

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Team Forster lives and works London and knows each neighbourhood extremely well. In a competitive market in an extremely popular city, you need a seasoned negotiator and highly attentive real estate agent by your side.

Do you think one of these neighbourhoods in London, Ontario could have the home of your dreams? Contact Team Forster today to book house viewings and to receive more information about this incredible city.