About London

London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city is approximately halfway between Toronto, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.

London was first permanently settled by Europeans between 1801 and 1804 by Peter Hagerman and became a village in 1826. Since then, London has grown into the largest Southwestern Ontario municipality, annexing many of the smaller communities that surrounded it. The city has developed a strong focus towards education, health care, tourism, and manufacturing.

London has a reputation as an international centre of higher education, scientific research and cultural activity. London's festivals contribute to its tourism industry, but its economic activity is centred on education, medical research, insurance, and information technology. London's university (University of Western Ontario) and hospitals are among its top ten employers. London lies at the junction of Highway 401 and 402, connecting it to Toronto, Detroit, and Sarnia.

The city is home to many festivals, including Sunfest, the Home County Folk Festival, the London Fringe Theatre Festival, the Expressions in Chalk Street Painting Festival, Rock the Park, Western Fair, the London Ontario Live Arts Festival (LOLA) and The International Food Festival. The London Rib-Fest, where barbecue ribs are cooked and served, is the second largest barbecue rib festival in North America.

London is the home of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, who play at the John Labatt Centre (JLC). During the summer months, the London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League play at Labatt Park, the world's oldest continuously used baseball grounds. The University of Western Ontario teams play under the name Mustangs. The university's football team plays at TD Waterhouse Stadium. Western's Rowing Team rows out of one of two National Training Centres at Fanshawe Lake. London is home to The Western Fair Raceway, a half-mile harness racing track operates year-round and includes a coin slot casino and Sports and Agri-complex. The Forest City Velodrome, located at the former London Ice House, is the only indoor cycling track in Ontario and the third to be built in North America.