Most students tend to explore the areas near their residence and campus when they’re in college or university. In London, those areas consist of Richmond St. for Western students and Oxford St. (and surrounding areas) for Fanshawe students. An area that most students are completely unaware of is Wortley Village. This area is accessible by bus, just 15 minutes from Victoria Park.

Wortley Village is not only a place where you can find many heritage properties, but also a handful of quaint small businesses and restaurants. This atmosphere makes for the perfect summer day, partaking in activities such as walks through residential neighborhoods, choosing a restaurant for a meal, light shopping and even a spa day!

When people think of Wortley Village, they think of a community that will warm your heart. Found on the sidewalks are often book club boxes that neighbours can read and herb gardens with signs that invite others to pick from it.

Below are a few destinations in Wortley Village that you should absolutely visit.

The restaurants

If you’re looking for a different vibe than the restaurants along Richmond St., venturing to Wortley Village is something you should investigate. The restaurants in Wortley are usually open daytime and nighttime and can be the perfect places to go with friends or on a date with your partner. There are many small restaurants in Wortley that carry their own charm, but two that we have great reviews on are Sagi of Wortley and Wolfe Pack Company Bar. These two restaurants are reason enough for you to venture to this village. If you’re an oyster lover, check out Wolfe Pack Company Bar, and if you love a twist on Asian cuisine, Sagi is the place for you.

“Wortley kind of feels like a beach town without the beach,” said one of the owners of Sagi of Wortley Village, Breanne Lidster.

Idlewyld Inn & Spa

Sometimes school can be stressful or you’re just looking for a day to pamper yourself. Idlewyld Inn & Spa, located walking distance to all the activities in Wortley, is the perfect place to quiet the noise and indulge in some selfcare. Not only are there rooms that you can spend a staycation in, but they also offer spa services, and a restaurant on-site. Idlewyld Inn & Spa holds great history as the building has been “a local landmark since 1878.”

The shopping

As you stroll through the village, you’ll stumble across a few stores such as antique and flower shops, and well-known London thrift shops such as Filthy Rebena. After having a great meal at a restaurant in Wortley and strolling the streets as you stumble across a store with a piece you purchase, sounds like a perfect day to me!

Walks away from the city

If you’re simply looking to clear your mind from the noise and atmosphere of the city, taking walks and exploring the residential streets of Wortley can be a nice activity to partake in. If you love real estate, looking at all the properties in Wortley can be fun as you can see the charm in each one of them. From cottages to mansions, to small parks and small businesses, there’s something there for everyone that will catch your eye.

Community events

Wortley has a field that is referred to as “the green,” and throughout the year, there are many community events that take place here. During the summer months, one can see individuals practicing yoga either on their own or for an event held there. One of the bigger events that takes place here, is Gathering on the Green, which is an event that has been around for 42 years and one of London’s oldest community festivals.

Lidster raved about how “lovely and supportive,” everyone is in this community and that she loves “all the little shops” as well as the owners of them.

There’s so much that can be done when exploring Wortley and it’s worth a visit at least once. It’s not far away and can give you a completely different vibe from the rest of the city.