Victoria Park — Attraction in Ontario

Amazing place to visit

The park was originally the site of the British garrison, as well as the cricket grounds. The garrison was expanded with new buildings during and after the Upper Canada Rebellion in 1837. The British troops withdrew to Europe in 1853 to train for the Crimean War, but their barracks were used to house escaped slaves from the United States, as one of the end stations of the Underground Railway. The troops returned in 1861, fearing that the American Civil War might spread to Canada. In 1874, the park was transferred to the city and renamed Victoria Park, after Queen Victoria.

The park's original plan was the work of the landscape architect Charles H. Miller, chief gardener of Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and designer of the American Centennial Exposition grounds. It is believed that the decision to hire Miller was strongly influenced by William Saunders' visit to the exposition grounds in 1876.1

Although designated for recreational activities, the park was still used as a military garrison when necessary. As London was the centre of the Western Ontario military district (District No. 1), troops were stationed in the park during the Second Boer War, World War I, and World War II; there was some minor rioting in the park during the Conscription Crisis of 1944, when conscripts demanded to be sent to Europe.

In 1907, three cannons from the Crimean War were placed in the park, originally from Sevastopol. In 1912 a statue was built as a memorial to the Boer War, and an exact replica of the cenotaph in Whitehall, London, England was built in 1934. A Sherman tank (known as the "Holy Roller") used in World War II was placed there in 1950.[3] While the park once housed elaborate fountains and a lilypond, there are...

In the center of Down Town London is Victoria Park, home to the Holy Roller Tank. This is not a park with a play ground but you can take a walk through the park on the sidewalks and learn of the history of the park by reading the signs throughout and the statues of the veterans. Bring a picnic lunch or grab something yummy to go from one of the many restaurants around this park and sit at one of the many picnic tables provided. There is plenty of shade provided by the old beautiful trees throughout the park. Grassy areas if you prefer to sit/lay on a blanket. The squirrels are very friendly here and possibly will come up to you. It is dog-friendly, but keep fido on a leash and make sure you clean up after your pet. There is one male and one female washroom facility on each side of the bandshell (the big stage shaped like a shell 😂) The park also have a few drinking fountains throughout. Victoria park host many of London's festivals during the summer and winter months. In the summer enjoy music, food, vendors and sometimes even rides at one of the many festivals. During the winter there is a christmas light festival where there is music, hot chocolate, lights and displays to enjoy and hosts a new years celebration as well. There is also an outdoor skating rink in the winter free of charge. If you do not have skates do not fret, you can rent some. Skate sharpening is also available well. The downside to this park is that it does tend to have some addicted individuals who like to spend their time there daily. Often times with a mess of trash and debris surrounding them. For the most part they don't bother you however we have had a few encounter we...

Always seems to me the park is always full of people smiling and laughing from families to couples walking they're pets and students studying or practising yoga and happy children running about which surprises me there is still no playground. It's more about the history and I could have gotten more pictures and will update them as soon as I can. They have a payphone behind the bandshell and every light post along every pathway has an outlet and a bench to charge your phone or whatever it might be you need an outlet for. Also lot's of picnic tables so there's much seating space accessible to the public . There's water taps if your thirsty and the bathrooms are on each side of the bandshell one being men the other woman's and there is plenty of space and almost guaranteed no waiting time for your turn especially during summer time events like Rib Fest, Sun Fest just to name a couple plus winter time events also included thru out the year. It's definitely London's best park or among the top 3 this I...