Wortley Village and Old South, London, Ontario | Homes For Sale and Area Guide
548 290 8289

Just south of Downtown London

Wortley Village and Old South London, Ontario

Century homes on tree lined streets, a village main street with about 80 independent businesses, and downtown London a 25 minute walk away.

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Neighbourhood guide

What it is like to live in Wortley Village and Old South

Old South is the neighbourhood just south of downtown London, across the Thames River. Wortley Village is its commercial and cultural heart along Wortley Road, and most people use the two names together. The street has around 80 independent businesses, including a grocery store, pharmacy, hardware store, cafes, pubs and galleries, so many residents do their weekly errands on foot. Tree lined streets of century homes, front porches and heritage plaques give the area its character. In 2013 the Canadian Institute of Planners named it Canada’s best neighbourhood.

Community life centres on The Green beside the old London Normal School, now the YMCA. It hosts Gathering on the Green, the Wortley Village Jazz and Blues Festival, Indigenous Solidarity Day and holiday events. Thames Park, the river trails and downtown are all within walking or cycling distance. The area grew as a suburb of grand homes from the 1840s, was annexed by London in 1890, and became a Heritage Conservation District in 2015. Many families stay here for generations.

There are trade offs. Street parking is limited on many blocks and plenty of older homes have little or no driveway. Older houses often need mechanical updates, and exterior changes to heritage properties need City approval through a Heritage Alteration Permit. Wellington Road on the east edge is under rapid transit construction into 2027. Prices also vary more than in most areas, so a single average says little about any one street.

  • 01

    London’s first bank robbery

    In December 1920, two men robbed the Mercantile Bank at 148 Wortley Road of $776 and escaped in a getaway car. They were never caught.

  • 02

    A suburb built to dodge taxes and fires

    In the mid 1800s, well off Londoners moved south of the Thames because the rural setting meant lower fire risk and much lower taxes than the city across the river.

  • 03

    The resident who brought bridge to Canada

    Charles Hyman, who built Idlewyld on Grand Avenue, was a federal cabinet minister, won five Canadian Open tennis titles, captained Canada’s cricket team and is credited with introducing the card game bridge to Canada.

Market snapshot

What homes cost in Wortley Village and Old South

The average sale price was about $629,000 in July 2026, but it is a weak benchmark here. A modest century bungalow and a restored estate can share the same postal code, and sales run from entry level to about $2.4 million.

  • 98%Sale to list price, Old South, July 2026
  • 20 daysAverage days on market, Old South, July 2026
  • 3.4 monthsOf inventory in 2026, versus 5.1 city wide

Published prices, each with its source and date, on one $0 to $900,000 scale

  • 3 bedroom listings Old South, September 2026$500,000 to $550,000
  • Old South and Wortley Village average sale July 2026$629,285
  • Victorian and executive listings Old South, from, September 2026$879,000 to $1.5M
  • London average sale city wide, August 2026$620,282
  • LSTAR average sale London and St. Thomas region, August 2026$590,550

These are different measures (sale averages and asking prices) from different months. Ask us for recent sales on the street you are considering.

Full source list at the bottom of the page. For a specific street, recent sold prices are the real answer, and we can pull them for you.

Homes you will find in Wortley Village and Old South

  • Ontario cottage and small bungalow

    The neighbourhood’s entry point, often century cottages, some needing updates.

    Side streets throughout the heritage district 2 to 3 beds

  • Victorian and Edwardian brick two storey

    Often yellow brick, with front porches and heritage plaques on many.

    Wortley Rd, Ridout St S, Bruce St and nearby blocks 3 to 5 beds

  • Grand estates and mansions

    Built by London’s industrialists, some modelled on British country houses.

    Grand Ave, Ridout St S, Windsor Crescent 4 to 6+ beds

  • Duplexes and converted multi unit homes

    A meaningful part of the inventory, and legal duplexes let an owner live in one unit and rent the other.

    Scattered through the area Varies

  • Apartments and condos

    Buildings such as the Gartshore Estate Apartments at 89 Ridout St S.

    Mainly along Ridout St S at the eastern edge 1 to 2 beds

When the homes were built: Most homes date from the 1850s to the 1930s, many around the turn of the 20th century, and the area largely reached its built form before the Second World War. A few buildings survive from the 1840s, including a Georgian house at 198 Elmwood Ave from 1848, and modern infill appears here and there between heritage homes.

Getting around

How far everything is from Wortley Village

By foot, bike or car. Tap any place for live directions in Google Maps.

See every time as a table
Approximate travel times from Wortley Village, London, Ontario
DestinationDistanceWalkBikeDrive
Thames Park (pool and river trails)0.9 km10 min5 min5 min
London South Collegiate Institute15 min5 min5 min
VIA Rail station1.8 km20 min10 min5 min
Covent Garden Market1.9 km25 min10 min5 min
Downtown London (Dundas and Richmond)2.1 km25 min10 min5 min
Victoria Park2.7 km35 min10 min10 min
Victoria Hospital (LHSC)3.2 km40 min15 min10 min
St. Joseph’s Health Care3.9 km45 min15 min10 min
Westmount Shopping Centre4.9 km60 min20 min15 min
White Oaks Mall6.0 km70 min25 min15 min
Western University6.3 km75 min25 min15 min
University Hospital (LHSC)6.7 km80 min25 min15 min
Springbank Park and Storybook Gardens7.2 km85 min30 min15 min
Fanshawe College8.4 kmNot practical35 min20 min
Highway 401 (Wellington Rd interchange)Not practicalNot practical20 min
London International Airport13.8 kmNot practical55 min30 min

Estimates from Wortley Rd and Askin St, walking at 5 km/h, cycling at 16 km/h and driving at city speeds plus parking, rounded to 5 minutes. Wellington Road construction may add time through 2027. Traffic changes things, so check the live directions.

Is it right for you?

Who Wortley Village and Old South suits best

  • Character home buyers

    One of the few London neighbourhoods with a steady supply of Victorian, Edwardian and cottage homes.

  • Walkability first buyers

    Groceries, a pharmacy, cafes, the YMCA and the library are on Wortley Road, and downtown is about 25 minutes on foot.

  • Downtown and hospital commuters

    Roughly 2 km to downtown and 3 km to Victoria Hospital, both easy by bike.

  • Families wanting community

    Walkable schools, events on The Green all year and Thames Park close by.

  • Owner occupier investors

    Legal duplexes let you live in one unit and rent the other.

Worth knowing: Less ideal for multi car households that need driveways, buyers who want a new build, or anyone who wants to avoid heritage renovation rules.

Around Wortley Village and Old South

Parks, shops and places nearby

  • The Green and the London Normal School

    The neighbourhood’s gathering place, home to Gathering on the Green, the Jazz and Blues Festival, Pride on the Green and Christmas in the Village. The 1898 to 1899 Normal School beside it is now the YMCA.

    MapWebsite
  • 0 km

    Wortley Road shops

    About 80 independent businesses, including Valu-Mart, Pharmasave, Tuckey Home Hardware, cafes and pubs, all in the village core.

    Map
  • under 0.5 km

    London Public Library, Landon Branch

    The neighbourhood library, a short walk from Wortley Road.

    Map
  • 0.9 km

    Thames Park

    A riverside park with an outdoor pool, tennis and trails, about 10 minutes on foot.

    Map

  • Thames Valley Parkway

    The riverside path links the neighbourhood to downtown and west to Springbank Park.

    MapWebsite

  • Gartshore Park and neighbourhood parks

    Small local parks including Belvedere, Duchess Ave., Dunkirk Place, Rosel and Gartshore.

    Map

  • Westland Gallery and local boutiques

    Gallery exhibitions change every three weeks, with shops such as Curiosities, Impressions and Grooves Records nearby.

    Map

  • St. James Westminster Anglican Church

    Built in 1876 at 115 Askin St, its twelve roof turrets represent the twelve Apostles.

    Map

  • Idlewyld Inn and Spa

    A Grand Avenue mansion from around 1878 to 1879, now a heritage boutique hotel a few blocks east of the village.

    Map
  • 7.2 km

    Springbank Park and Storybook Gardens

    About 30 minutes by bike along the Thames Valley Parkway, or 15 minutes by car.

    MapWebsite

Schools

Schools near Wortley Village and Old South

Several public and Catholic schools serve Old South, and many are within walking distance. Attendance boundaries are address specific, so always confirm the catchment with the school board before you buy.

  • Wortley Road Public School

    TVDSB, kindergarten to grade 8, at 301 Wortley Rd. Opened in 1893, it is London’s oldest surviving school on its original site, with about 250 students.

  • Victoria, Tecumseh and Mountsfield public schools

    Other Thames Valley District School Board elementary schools that serve Old South.

  • Holy Rosary and St. Martin Catholic schools

    London District Catholic School Board elementary schools that serve Old South.

  • London South Collegiate Institute

    TVDSB, grades 9 to 12, at 371 Tecumseh Ave E. Established in 1922, about 800 students, with a gifted Academy Program, strong arts and athletics and a homecoming football game.

  • Catholic Central High School

    The downtown Catholic high school, which Old South students may attend.

  • Western University and Fanshawe College

    Western is about 15 minutes by car and Fanshawe’s main campus about 20 minutes.

What is changing

What is changing around Wortley Village and Old South

  • Into 2027

    Wellington Gateway rapid transit

    Construction on Wellington Road at the east edge started a new phase in May 2026, adding dedicated transit lanes, multi use paths and a widened Clark’s Bridge. Access to Victoria Hospital is affected through late 2027.

    City of London
  • Done 2022

    Wortley Road rebuilt

    Wortley Road from Briscoe St E to Devonshire Ave was reconstructed in 2021 and 2022, with a short watermain repair closure in August 2026.

    City of London
  • 2026

    Black Walnut Bakery Cafe returns

    The village bakery cafe reopened in a new building by April 2026 after a temporary closure.

    Tourism London

Wortley Village and Old South: common questions

Something else on your mind? Ryan and Paul answer their own phones.

It is a walkable, tree lined heritage neighbourhood just south of downtown London. Wortley Road has around 80 independent shops, cafes and restaurants, and events on The Green bring neighbours together all year.

Old South is the wider neighbourhood between the Thames River and Commissioners Road. Wortley Village is its commercial and cultural heart along Wortley Road.

The average sale price in Old South and Wortley Village was about $629,000 in July 2026, but the range is wide, from entry level homes to restored estates near $2.4 million. For any particular street, the honest answer is to look at what has actually sold there recently.

Mostly, yes. Most homes date from about 1850 to 1930, many built around the turn of the 20th century, and a few buildings survive from the 1840s.

Yes. The Wortley Village-Old South Heritage Conservation District covers 1,048 properties and was designated in 2015. Exterior changes to heritage properties need a Heritage Alteration Permit from the City.

In 2013 the Canadian Institute of Planners’ Great Places in Canada competition named Wortley Village the best neighbourhood in the country, recognizing its walkability, small town feel and community pride.

Elementary options include Wortley Road, Victoria, Tecumseh and Mountsfield public schools, plus Holy Rosary and St. Martin Catholic schools. London South Collegiate Institute is the local high school, and students may also attend Catholic Central. Confirm your catchment with the board.

Yes. Downtown is roughly two kilometres north, about a 25 minute walk or a 10 minute bike ride.

It can be. Many older homes have limited or no driveway parking, and street parking is tight on some blocks.

The name comes from Stewart Wortley, a friend of Colonel Talbot. The village core grew up around Shaw’s Grocery and was earlier known as Shaw’s Corners, New Brighton and Askin Village.

Still have a question?

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548 290 8289 ryan@featherstonesadler.com paul@featherstonesadler.com
Ryan Featherstone and Paul Sadler at their office table

More London neighbourhoods

The full London guide
Sources and further readingLast reviewed September 2026 by Featherstone Sadler Real Estate Group
  1. LondonFuse, A New Look at Old South (Feb 2021): History, boundaries, Great Places 2013, landmarks, unique stories
  2. NeighbourGood London, Old South (Jan 2024): Location, home age, library, parks, schools
  3. City of London, Heritage Conservation Districts: HCD with 1,048 properties, 2015 designation, Heritage Alteration Permits
  4. City of London, Wortley Village-Old South HCD Plan: Building era 1850 to 1930, home form, apartments on Ridout St S
  5. Envelope Real Estate Group, Old South and Wortley Village market update (Sept 2026): Average sale, sale to list, days on market, inventory, listings, London average
  6. Cassidy & Co. Real Estate, Wortley Village guide (2026): Home styles, 3 bedroom listings, walkability, parking, who it suits
  7. Find Your Cove, LSTAR August 2026 market report: LSTAR region average sale price
  8. Wikipedia, London Normal School: Normal School history and YMCA use
  9. TVDSB, Wortley Road Public School: School history and size
  10. Wikipedia, London South Collegiate Institute: High school details
  11. Tourism London, A Day in Wortley Village (Apr 2026): Wortley Road businesses, The Green events, galleries, Black Walnut reopening
  12. Wikipedia, Wortley Village: Events on The Green
  13. City of London, Wellington Gateway (Get Involved): Rapid transit construction on Wellington Road
  14. CBC News, More construction begins on Wellington (May 2026): Phase starting May 2026 and running into 2027
  15. LHSC, Wellington Gateway Rapid Transit Project: Victoria Hospital access
  16. City of London, Wortley Road reconstruction: 2021 to 2022 rebuild
  17. City of London, Wortley Road temporary closure (Aug 2026): Watermain repair closure
  18. Wortley Village and Old South on Google Maps

Travel times and distances are estimates. Prices are published figures with their dates; for a current number on a specific street, ask us for recent sold data.