Masonville, London Ontario: Homes for Sale and Area Guide

Masonville is in north London. The City of London’s neighbourhood guide defines it as CF Masonville Place plus the residential areas southeast and immediately north of the mall, and it treats Old Masonville, between the mall and Medway Creek, as a separate neighbourhood next door. Both fall in the City’s Masonville planning district, and people searching for Masonville, London Ontario homes for sale usually mean both.

How the area developed

According to the City, this was mostly farmland when London acquired it in 1961. The surrounding housing was developed in the 1980s, and the City describes it as large single-family homes, townhomes, small apartment buildings and student housing. In Old Masonville, it describes a largely residential area of single detached homes with a few townhome developments.

That mix matters. A street of owner-occupied detached homes and a street with student rentals can be a short walk apart, so it pays to visit at different times of day and year.

Shopping and transit

The City calls the mall and the commercial area around it the main feature of the neighbourhood and the transit hub for the whole north end, centred on Fanshawe Park Road and Richmond Street. CF Masonville Place’s own website lists restaurants including The Keg, Milestones and The Rec Room alongside its stores. The Masonville branch of London Public Library is at 30 North Centre Road, which the City notes is across the street from the mall.

Two of the region’s biggest institutions are also in the north end. Western University reports close to 43,000 students, and London Health Sciences Centre gives the address of University Hospital as 339 Windermere Road. If you work or study at either, ask us to map your actual route from any home you are considering rather than trusting a listing’s description.

Parks and trails

• Carriage Hill Park, 139 Pinebrook Place: play structures, a multi-use pad and a walking trail. The City calls it Masonville’s local park.
• Ambleside Park, 257 Ambleside Drive: two tennis courts, a half basketball court, a play structure and a walking trail.
• Helen Mott Shaw Park: the City’s guide mentions a play structure and paths through the forest.
• Medway Valley Heritage Forest. The City says Old Masonville residents have many access points to this Environmentally Significant Area. It is managed with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, and it is one of only two London ESAs where bicycles are allowed, and only on the asphalt or crushed gravel paths.

The City also names two landmark historic homes in Old Masonville: Windermere Manor, now a hotel and conference centre, and the Elsie Perrin Williams Estate, now an event venue.

Schools

The City’s guide places Masonville Public School in Old Masonville and St. Kateri Catholic School in Masonville, and says students also attend Stoneybrook Public School, St. Catherine of Siena, and A.B. Lucas and Mother Teresa secondary schools. All are on the Thames Valley District School Board or London District Catholic School Board lists. Check each board’s locator for your address. We do not rank schools.

Price context

LSTAR reports a London North benchmark, but we could not confirm from LSTAR’s own material exactly which neighbourhoods that area includes, so we are not attaching it to Masonville. The city-wide figures are on our London real estate page, and we can send you recent Masonville sales by property type.

Similar neighbourhoods

Hyde Park, in the city’s northwest corner, is newer again, with most housing built after 1993. Old North is the older choice closer to downtown. Our guide to family-friendly London neighbourhoods explains how to compare them with official tools.

What to ask your REALTOR® about Masonville

• Is this street mostly owner-occupied, or are there student rentals nearby?
• If I plan to rent the home out, what City licensing and zoning rules apply to this property?
• For a townhome or condo, what are the monthly fees and what does the status certificate say about the reserve fund? Our condo vs. house guide covers the basics.
• Does the lot back onto the Medway Valley, and is any of it regulated land?
• Which original 1980s components have been replaced, such as windows, roof and furnace?
• How does traffic around Fanshawe Park Road and Richmond Street affect getting in and out?

Thinking of buying or selling in Masonville?

Read our buyer guide to see how a purchase works from first showing to closing. If you own here, a free home valuation will show where your home fits in the current north-end market.