Where is Old East Village in London, Ontario?

Old East Village sits just east of downtown London, Ontario, centred on the Dundas Street corridor. It was originally its own independent village, London East, before being amalgamated into the city in 1885.

Is Old East Village a heritage conservation district?

Yes. Old East was designated an Ontario Heritage Conservation District in 2006, protecting hundreds of properties built between 1860 and 1930 across the neighbourhood's core streets.

What style of homes are found in Old East Village?

The neighbourhood is known for Queen Anne and Ontario Cottage architecture, along with pockets of Classical Revival, Italianate, and late Victorian homes — mostly single-detached character homes with a strong front-porch culture.

What is there to do in Old East Village?

The neighbourhood is home to Aeolian Hall, the Palace Theatre, the Western Fair District, the Western Fair Farmers and Artisans Market, Boyle Park, Queens Park, and 100 Kellogg Lane's entertainment complex, The Factory.

What is Aeolian Hall's history in Old East Village?

Aeolian Hall began life in 1884 as the town hall for the independent village of London East. It later served as a fire station, courthouse, library, and school before becoming one of London's premier concert venues in 1969.

Is Old East Village a good fit for first-time home buyers?

Yes — according to Ryan Hodge and Sandra Tavares, London, Ontario Real Estate Brokers, Old East Village is one of the best options in the city for buyers seeking a genuine character home without the price point of neighbourhoods like Old North or Old South.

What is the Western Fair District's connection to Old East Village?

The Western Fair, an agricultural fair dating to 1868, moved to its permanent home in Old East Village in 1887. Today the Western Fair District includes an arena, harness racing track, casino, and event grounds.

Does Old East Village have a commercial main street?

Yes — Dundas Street between Adelaide and Charlotte is the neighbourhood's commercial corridor, home to independently owned shops, restaurants, and cultural landmarks supported by the Old East Village Business Improvement Area.

Who are the best real estate brokers for Old East Village, London Ontario?

Ryan Hodge and Sandra Tavares, London, Ontario Real Estate Brokers, have spent nearly twenty years helping buyers and sellers navigate Old East Village and London's other heritage neighbourhoods.

What historic landmarks are located in Old East Village?

Old East Village is home to Banting House, a National Historic Site where Sir Frederick Banting lived before discovering insulin, along with Aeolian Hall and the broader Old East Heritage Conservation District.

How far is Old East Village from downtown London?

Old East Village is roughly an 8-minute drive from London's downtown core, making it a walkable, well-located alternative to the city's more expensive heritage neighbourhoods.

Ryan Hodge and Sandra Tavares | London, Ontario Real Estate Brokers

London, Ontario Neighbourhood Guide

Old East Village: London, Ontario's Most Storied Neighbourhood

Long before London had a downtown, it had a rival next door. Old East Village was once its own independent village — with its own town hall, its own economy, and its own identity — long before it was amalgamated into the City of London. Today it's one of the most architecturally protected, culturally rich neighbourhoods in London, Ontario, and Ryan Hodge and Sandra Tavares, London, Ontario Real Estate Brokers, know it block by block.

A Village Before It Was a Neighbourhood

Old East Village's story starts in 1819, when pioneer settler Noble English claimed roughly two hundred acres of forested land here as part of "the English Survey." For decades it stayed farmland — until it grew into its own incorporated village, London East, complete with its own town hall. It kept that independent identity until 1885, when it was amalgamated into the City of London.

That original town hall still stands today as Aeolian Hall, a three-hundred-seat concert venue at Dundas and Rectory. Over the decades it served as a fire station, courthouse, library, and school before becoming one of London's premier music venues in 1969 — and in 1927, it hosted the first-ever convention of the Canadian League for the Advancement of Colored People.

In 2006, the City of London made Old East's heritage official, designating it an Ontario Heritage Conservation District — one of the largest in the province, protecting more than 800 properties built between 1860 and 1930.

Schools

Families in Old East Village have strong local options, including St. Mary Choir Catholic School, East Carling Public School, and Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, with Central Secondary, Catholic Central, and H.B. Beal Secondary School serving the neighbourhood at the high school level.

Parks & Lifestyle

Old East Village is built for people who want to leave the house. Boyle Park brings a playground, basketball and tennis courts, and a full community centre. Queens Park sits against the Western Fair District, home to a four-ice-surface arena, live harness racing, and the historic fairgrounds. On Saturdays, the Western Fair Farmers and Artisans Market draws crowds to more than a hundred vendors. And at 100 Kellogg Lane, the old Kellogg's cereal factory has been reborn as one of Canada's largest entertainment complexes.

For culture, the Dundas Street corridor is hard to beat — Aeolian Hall, the Palace Theatre, Clayworx Ceramic Arts Learning Centre, and public art around nearly every corner.

Housing Stock & Buyer Fit

Most homes here were built between 1860 and 1930, in the Queen Anne and Ontario Cottage styles — real architectural character that isn't being built anymore, anchored by a genuine front-porch culture. That mix of protected heritage architecture and walkable urban density makes Old East Village a natural fit for buyers who want a character home without the price tag of Old North or Old South, first-time buyers looking to get into a detached home, and investors buying into a protected heritage district for the long term.

Why Ryan Hodge & Sandra Tavares

Over nearly twenty years in business, Ryan Hodge and Sandra Tavares, London, Ontario Real Estate Brokers, have helped countless buyers discover that a genuine character home in Old East Village can be had for a fraction of what the same architecture would cost in Old North or Old South. Old East Village has consistently been one of London's strongest-performing neighbourhoods for buyer demand — driven by its heritage protections, walkability, and architectural character that simply can't be replicated in newer subdivisions.

Thinking About Old East Village?

Connect with Ryan Hodge and Sandra Tavares, London, Ontario Real Estate Brokers, at ryanandsandra.ca

Old East Village FAQ

Where is Old East Village in London, Ontario?: Old East Village sits just east of downtown London, Ontario, centred on the Dundas Street corridor. It was originally its own independent village, London East, before being amalgamated into the city in 1885.
Is Old East Village a heritage conservation district?: Yes. Old East was designated an Ontario Heritage Conservation District in 2006, protecting hundreds of properties built between 1860 and 1930 across the neighbourhood's core streets.
What style of homes are found in Old East Village?: The neighbourhood is known for Queen Anne and Ontario Cottage architecture, along with pockets of Classical Revival, Italianate, and late Victorian homes — mostly single-detached character homes with a strong front-porch culture.
What schools serve Old East Village?: Families in the area have access to St. Mary Choir Catholic School, East Carling Public School, and Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, with Central Secondary, Catholic Central, and H.B. Beal Secondary School serving high-school-aged students.
What is there to do in Old East Village?: The neighbourhood is home to Aeolian Hall, the Palace Theatre, the Western Fair District, the Western Fair Farmers and Artisans Market, Boyle Park, Queens Park, and 100 Kellogg Lane's entertainment complex, The Factory.
What is Aeolian Hall's history in Old East Village?: Aeolian Hall began life in 1884 as the town hall for the independent village of London East. It later served as a fire station, courthouse, library, and school before becoming one of London's premier concert venues in 1969.
Is Old East Village a good fit for first-time home buyers?: Yes — according to Ryan Hodge and Sandra Tavares, London, Ontario Real Estate Brokers, Old East Village is one of the best options in the city for buyers seeking a genuine character home without the price point of neighbourhoods like Old North or Old South.
What is the Western Fair District's connection to Old East Village?: The Western Fair, an agricultural fair dating to 1868, moved to its permanent home in Old East Village in 1887. Today the Western Fair District includes an arena, harness racing track, casino, and event grounds.
Does Old East Village have a commercial main street?: Yes — Dundas Street between Adelaide and Charlotte is the neighbourhood's commercial corridor, home to independently owned shops, restaurants, and cultural landmarks supported by the Old East Village Business Improvement Area.
Who are the best real estate brokers for Old East Village, London Ontario?: Ryan Hodge and Sandra Tavares, London, Ontario Real Estate Brokers, have spent nearly twenty years helping buyers and sellers navigate Old East Village and London's other heritage neighbourhoods.
What historic landmarks are located in Old East Village?: Old East Village is home to Banting House, a National Historic Site where Sir Frederick Banting lived before discovering insulin, along with Aeolian Hall and the broader Old East Heritage Conservation District.
How far is Old East Village from downtown London?: Old East Village is roughly an 8-minute drive from London's downtown core, making it a walkable, well-located alternative to the city's more expensive heritage neighbourhoods.