Experience Eldon House like never before! Virtually unchanged since the 19th century, Eldon House is London's oldest residence. Follow their historical interpreters as they delve into captivating sights and stories or embark on your own self-guided tour of the house and gardens. Families and children can enjoy various outdoor activities, including classic Victorian lawn games and scavenger hunts.

Immerse yourself in art, music and culture at Museum London! Experience Ron Benner's captivating As The Crow Flies installation and savour roasted corn with lime juice from the maíz a la barbacoa wagon. Embark on guided tours and participate in hands-on activities. Simple Reflections for Artists will showcase the heritage of Spanish-speaking countries featuring musicians, dancers and cultural displays.

Come and explore the Platinum Training Facility — London's premier martial arts gym. Since 2009, their all-star reputation for high-quality training experiences has set them apart. Recipient of the London Reader’s Choice award for Best Martial Arts Club multiple years in a row, the site offers guided tours and demos. Learn about martial arts like jiu-jitsu, boxing, Muay Thai and more.

Discover Dundas Place, London’s vibrant hub for shopping, dining and artistic delights. Explore diverse businesses and view historical buildings through optional guided tours. On Saturday night, Dundas Place will come alive for Nuit Blanche, presented by the London Society of Architects. Through Nuit Blanche, you can experience London’s bustling nightlife through art installations, street vendors and live music performances.

Join the London East Lion’s Club for a tour of this community centre and discover the family-friendly fun that the centre has to offer. Engage in a craft and take home a free Child Emergency ID Kit (provided by Lions Quest Canada). Join The Art of Living for yoga and meditation as a starting point to your holistic wellness.

Nestled in the heart of Wortley Village, the Elmwood Lawn Bowling Club offers a beautiful outdoor space for the sport of lawn bowling and a charming clubhouse that was constructed in 1916. Join them to learn more about the sport and try your hand at playing a few ends on their pristine greens. All equipment and instructions will be provided.

As part of Doors Open London, come and explore Labatt Memorial Park — the world’s oldest baseball park! Watch games featuring under-16 teams from the Great Lake Canadians and Ontario Nationals. Enjoy guided tours 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.

Discover the ever-fascinating hobby of amateur radio with London Amateur Radio Club! Join us for a tour of the club’s radio station and learn what it takes to get your operator’s certificate. Visitors may even get the opportunity to get on the air themselves, possibly contacting radio operators from around the world or tracking satellites passing overhead.

Celebrate the beginning of fall at London City Hall! Join them from the top-floor observation deck and enjoy a stunning aerial view of the Forest City. Participate in the visual scavenger hunt, which will be based on your observations from the deck. Coffee and treats will be available by donation, with all proceeds going towards the United Way Elgin-Middlesex campaign.

Discover cultural beauty at the London Muslim Mosque, the oldest operating mosque in Canada! Adorn your hands with intricate henna designs, have your name written in beautiful Arabic calligraphy, and feel the elegance of wearing a hijab. Hear firsthand stories from mosque and city professionals about their faith and professions. Come and discover the beauty of these rich traditions.

The restored Royal Mail Ship (RMS) Segwun is North America’s oldest operating coal-fired mail steamship. During Doors Open, knowledgeable interpreters will guide you around this one-of-a-kind docked ship (still an operating post office). See the tiny galley that feeds people in two dining areas. View her triple-expansion steam engines. And see the lake from the captain’s perspective in the wheelhouse.

Step into the rich and vibrant history of the 1st Hussars Regiment and Cavalry Troop — from its inception in 1856 to the present day. At this museum, visitors can immerse themselves in outdoor displays, attend guided tours and listen to stories of volunteer soldiers’ experiences abroad while serving their nation. Gain insights into their bravery, sacrifices and contributions to history.

Situated within the Albion Hotel building, which was rebuilt in 1888 after being destroyed in the 1887 Great Fire, Arts at the Albion is a co-operative gallery that features a 20-member artists’ collective comprising some of Muskoka’s best artists. Visit during Doors Open to see how this creative gallery has breathed new life into the once-bustling turn-of-the-century dining room.

The Atlas Yoga Studio and School is located at Park Hill Studios in Galt, in the former Ray’s Electric building. Constructed in 1909, it is now known as the Classic Shoe Building (also the former home of Getty and Scott Shoe Company). This iconic space features murals significant to the building’s history. It’s flush with natural light and charming ambience.

The Aylmer Baptist Church houses one of Ontario’s oldest Baptist congregations. Initially meeting in local homes and barns, the congregation moved to Aylmer in 1843, constructing a frame chapel at Pine and John streets. This was replaced by a brick building in 1871. In 1950, devastating fire destroyed the church. The rebuilt church was dedicated on November 11, 1951.

Housed today in this former Knox Presbyterian Church, the Aylmer Legion Branch 81 has served as a place of remembrance, support and community service since 1926. The extension was added in 1957. Visit the facility during Doors Open and explore their latest exhibit, Service and Sacrifice: The History of the Aylmer Legion and the Local Impact of War.

Aylmer’s Old Town Hall is now a beautiful theatre. Its restoration did not interfere with the original Italianate architectural design. On the exterior, you can still see its Florentine windows and brickwork. Poet Pauline Johnson graced the stage here. And Sir John A. Macdonald addressed the residents of Aylmer. This is a wonderful stop for the arts and entertainment.

Come and tour this facility and learn about its proud 132-year history of dedicated policing service delivery to the community and its residents. Working in partnership with the community, they provide the highest quality policing services, building on past successes and implementing future strategies that will result in efficiencies, a reduction in crime, and best practices.

Step into the shoes of Sir Frederick Banting, a national hero renowned for his groundbreaking discovery of insulin. Through guided tours and expert commentary, you will discover Banting’s significant contributions to art, medicine and military research. Explore the lesser-known aspects of Banting’s legacy through the Forty for Forty Ink exhibit, which showcases items rarely displayed to the public.

This former schoolhouse serving School Section No. 18 was built in 1877 in the classic one-room schoolhouse form. The round arch windows on the front add a touch of Romanesque revival and Italianate styles to an otherwise utilitarian structure. Now used as a community centre, the school was closed in the 1960s with the introduction of centralized schools and bussing.

Discover the Brick Street Cemetery, a cherished pioneer site in London restored to its former glory. Delve into the lives of some of Westminster Township’s earliest settlers with optional guided and self-guided tours. Educational activities are provided for historians old and young, from learning stone masonry to deciphering Christian gravestone symbolism. Become a volunteer to help them preserve their heritage.

One of the most historical and important buildings in Cambridge, Historic City Hall was built in 1857-58. For 167 years, it has been a centre of administrative life for Galt (now Cambridge). City councils have met here since 1858. Explore the second-floor Archives Research Room, gallery, Cambridge Hall of Fame and wedding space, and the third-floor council chambers.

Located on the shore of Muskoka Bay, this site originally contained a small hotel before the Calydor Sanatorium was built to treat tuberculosis sufferers. From 1940 to 1946, it became a German prisoner-of-war camp. Today, the site holds a privately developed subdivision and a public walking trail along the shore with interpretive panels showing the property’s history.

Public School S.S. No. 20, built in 1869, replaced an earlier log schoolhouse to serve the local Mennonite and Presbyterian communities. The current structure is a particularly handsome and well-preserved example of the single-room Victorian-era schoolhouse. Home to students for almost 100 years, it was closed in the 1960s. but continues to serve the local community as a meeting facility.

Visit the London Public Library for a day of hands-on activities! Take a photo with a historical London backdrop, record a digital note for the archives, and explore the Wolf Performance Hall on a behind-the-scenes tour. Discover their exhibits filled with historical photographs, artifacts and documents. Children can also engage in crafts and try out the new outdoor musical instruments. (Photo: Scott Webb)