Old North, London Ontario: Real Estate and Homes for Sale

Old North sits between downtown London and Western University. The City of London’s neighbourhood guide says the Thames River forms its western and northern boundary, and it places Old North in the North London planning district. If you are looking at Old North, London Ontario real estate, you are looking at one of the older residential parts of the city, and that shapes almost every question worth asking.

What the City says about the housing

The City describes Old North’s character as defined by the river, historic stately homes, mature trees and the nearby university. It says the area is mostly single detached homes with the occasional apartment building. The nearest commercial areas it names are Richmond Street at Oxford Street and a stretch of Adelaide Street, with a few small businesses scattered through the residential streets.

The City also recognizes three smaller neighbourhoods inside Old North: Bishop Hellmuth, St. George-Grosvenor and Broughdale.

The Bishop Hellmuth Heritage Conservation District

Part of Old North is formally protected. According to the City’s heritage planning pages, the Bishop Hellmuth Heritage Conservation District was designated in 2003 under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. It covers about 190 properties, mainly Queen Anne Revival homes built between 1895 and 1910, on blocks north of Oxford Street East between Wellington and Waterloo streets, including Hellmuth Avenue and part of St. James Street.

The City lists a second area, St. George-Grosvenor, as a heritage conservation district study. Its study area runs from Oxford Street East north toward Victoria Street, between Richmond Street and the Thames. A study is not a designation, so ask us for the current status before assuming either way.

Why it matters to a buyer: a home inside a designated district comes with rules about exterior changes. Confirm with the City’s heritage planners what approvals apply before you budget for new windows, a porch rebuild or an addition.

Parks and the river

• Gibbons Park, at 2A Grosvenor Street, is on the City’s list of major parks. It has three tennis courts, an outdoor pool, a spray pad, play structures, a picnic shelter and washrooms, and the City notes it connects to the Thames Valley Parkway trail.
• Doidge Park has a tennis court, a basketball court, a baseball diamond and a play structure. The City’s guide mentions its hills are used for tobogganing.
• The City also names the North London Athletic Fields and Ross Park on the northern edge of the neighbourhood, along the river.

Schools and institutions

The City’s guide names three elementary schools in Old North: Old North Public School and St. George’s Public School, both on the Thames Valley District School Board’s list, and St. Michael, which is on the London District Catholic School Board’s list. For secondary school it points to Central, H.B. Beal and Catholic Central. Boundaries are set by address, so check each board’s locator. We do not rank schools.

Western University reports close to 43,000 students, and the City notes that students live in Old North alongside long-term owners. That mix is part of the neighbourhood, and it is worth understanding street by street.

Price context

LSTAR publishes benchmark prices for London North, South and East rather than for individual neighbourhoods, and we could not confirm from LSTAR which area Old North is counted in, so we are not quoting a number here. See our London real estate page for city-wide figures, or ask us for recent sales on the streets you like.

Similar neighbourhoods

If heritage character is what draws you, compare Wortley Village and Old South, which has a much larger heritage district south of downtown. If you want to stay in the north end with newer construction, look at Masonville.

What to ask your REALTOR® about Old North

• Is this property inside the Bishop Hellmuth district or the St. George-Grosvenor study area, and is it individually listed on the City’s heritage register?
• What is the wiring, plumbing, foundation and insulation like in a home of this age? Our home inspection guide explains what to look for.
• Has the home been divided into units, and were the changes done with permits?
• How close is the lot to the Thames, and is any part of it regulated by the conservation authority?
• What is parking like on this street during the school year?
• What have comparable century homes nearby sold for recently?

Thinking of buying or selling in Old North?

Start with our buyer guide if you are house hunting. If you own here, a free home valuation will tell you what an older home with your updates could sell for now.