London, Ontario doesn’t always make nightlife lists, but it should. As home to Western University and Fanshawe College, London has a built-in nightlife infrastructure — and it’s more varied than you might expect.
Richmond Row is the main strip. The concentration of bars, patios, and clubs along Richmond Street makes it one of the most walkable nightlife corridors in Southern Ontario. Everything from Irish pubs to dance clubs to sports bars can be found within a few blocks.
Call The Office on the strip has been a live music institution for decades, booking Canadian and international acts with genuine credibility. It’s a reminder that London’s music scene has real depth beneath the bar circuit surface.
Milos’ and The Manhattan have long been anchor venues for the higher-energy club crowd, while newer additions to the strip have pushed the cocktail culture forward. London’s bartenders have developed genuine craft-cocktail credibility in recent years.
For something different, the Budweiser Gardens area around downtown London brings event-level energy on concert nights, spilling out into the surrounding bars and restaurants.
If you’re in London for a weekend, start on Richmond Row, eat at one of the several strong independent restaurants nearby, and let the night unfold from there.