Tourism London - Index

Tourism London - tourismlondon - Index

Covent Garden Market
and residential lands along
the Thames has created a
wonderful recreational venue,
playing host to charitable
events and numerous summer
festivals.
The oldest, Harris Park,
located on the flats north of
Museum London is home to
an annual festivals, a bi-annual
fireworks shows and the
famous Labatt 24-Hour Relay
which supports our worldrenowned
teaching hospitals.
Harris Park also offers one of
London’s best photo-ops with
modern office towers rising
Aeolian Hall
behind the city’s architecturally
acclaimed art gallery and
restored historic buildings
along the bluff.
Directly to the south,
some newer developments
include a water wall celebrating
London’s founding
here, a huge splash pad with
fountains, terraced observation
points and an information
centre for an interactive
peek at the area’s surprisingly
colourful past—all making
this area a more welcoming
magnet than ever before.
Don’t confuse these parks
with Victoria Park; it’s the
historic one to the north of
downtown bordered by Richmond,
Central, Wellington
and Dufferin. It was once the
practice ground for the British
garrison’s military exercises
at the turn of the century.
With the eclectic shops and
cafés of Richmond Row on
one side, and Centennial Hall,
home to London’s acclaimed
symphony orchestra, on the
other, Victoria Park’s meandering
paths, outdoor rink
and new band shell have made
it a great location for festivals
year ’round. SunFest, Home
County Folk Festival, the Rib
Fest, and the annual lighting
of the trees in December are
but a few.
Back to the river forks
and little to the east, where
the original buildings around
Talbot and King are home to
upscale restaurants, galleries
and shops. This is where our
new market has been in full
swing since the fall of ’99.
Anchored by the elegant
steakhouse Chancey Smith’s
and Waldo’s on King, the
12–LONDON VISITOR
market showcases an array of
London’s best noshes. During
the day, these include a world
of excellent take-away: artisanal
chocolates and ices, fresh
sushi or bento-box treats,
sweet and savoury Czech
pastries, plus Lebanese, Thai
and Indian favourites.
Buskers or school choirs
entertain as you shop for
fresh and organic produce,
meat and fish, Canadian-made
crafts, gorgeous flowers,
giftware and baked goods.
The mezzanine level
houses artists’ studios, a kids
clothing boutique, London’s
Original Kids theatre company,
a seriously great tea shop
and the Market’s Community
Kitchen for local culinary
events and classes.
Outside, a large public
square at King and Talbot allows
farmers and producers to
sell directly to the public from
April to October. When the
temperature dips, make sure
to bring your skates to whirl
about the Rotary Skating
Rink. Take in the fun from a
chair inside the warm market,
where steaming hot chocolate
and lattes are close by!
One of the brightest
jewels in downtown’s crown is
the 10,000-seat John Labatt
Centre (JLC). Now people
from the entire region can see
major concerts and events
without heading to Toronto.
From our first headliner, Cher,
in April 2002, to 2008’s
concerts featuring, so far,
Blue Rodeo, Ozzy Osbourne,
Michael Bublé, John Mellencamp,
Lenny Kravitz, and Avril
Lavigne, this area rocks like
never before! The JLC is also