Visiting New London, Connecticut Without A Car
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Believe it or not, southeastern Connecticut has areas that you can easily explore without a car. One spot that’s easy to explore without a car is the city of New London. When you arrive at New London Union Station, you’re in the heart of downtown with plenty to do. You can easily enjoy a day trip or weekend trip arriving by train without needing to rent a car or use rideshares.
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Getting To New London By Train
There are two different trains that you can take into New London. You can either take Amtrak or Shore Line East, which is a local Connecticut train. It honestly just depends where you’re coming from! If you’re coming locally from Connecticut, Shore Line East is the most affordable option.
Find Lodging For An Extended Stay
If you’re looking to stay in New London without a car, your best bet is likely the Holiday Inn New London. This is about a half mile walk from the train station. However, there are some other rental options you can look into as well in the area.
Things To Do in The Area
As I mentioned earlier, there’s plenty to do right in downtown. Whether you’re looking to dine, shop, or go on a scenic cruise, New London has you covered.
Boat Rides
Since downtown is on the water, there are a variety of boat tours you can take. Some of these boats will take you to different towns and even different states. Below are your options for boat rides right from the waterfront:
- Cross Sound Lighthouse Cruises. The lighthouse tours are actually right next to the train station. Cross Sound offers two different lighthouse cruises. They have the Classic Lighthouse Tour and Lights & Sights Cruise. The Classic Lighthouse Tour brings you to lighthouses in Connecticut and New York while the Lights & Sights Cruise takes you to lighthouses and other points of interest in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. You can get all of the details in my blog post specifically about the Cross Sound Ferry lighthouse cruises.
- Thames River Heritage Park Water Taxi. The Thames River Heritage Park Water Taxi is a great way to explore the Thames River. It’s easily accessible from downtown because you can board it at the City Pier. Their most popular offerings are the hop on, hop off harbor cruises where you can hop on and off at various sites along the river. You can find the full list of tours and sites on their website.
- Visit New London Ledge Light. You might be wondering to yourself, “Why is this included under boat rides?” It’s because this lighthouse is only accessible by boat. The lighthouse sits at the mouth of the Thames River. As of last year, the New London Maritime Society is offering tours of the lighthouse again after years of renovation work. You can find all of the information about visiting the lighthouse in a separate blog post: What To Expect When Visiting New London Ledge Light.
History
- Custom House Maritime Museum. The Custom House Maritime Museum offers a fascinating look at New London’s deep maritime roots. Housed in an 1830s historic building, it features exhibits on lighthouses, shipwrecks, and local seafaring history. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in Connecticut’s nautical past. It’s conveniently located right in downtown.
- Fort Trumbull. While this museum isn’t walkable from downtown, you can easily access it by taking the Thames River Heritage Park Water Taxi, which I mentioned earlier in this post. This fort has over 200 years of history. There’s a great museum in the park and you can even go inside the old fort. If you take the water taxi here, it might be worth taking the walk to get lunch at Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock. It’s one of the top seafood spots in New London.
- New London County Historical Society. The New London County Historical Society offers a deep dive into the region’s rich maritime and colonial history. Located in the historic Shaw Mansion, it features exhibits, archives, and artifacts that bring the past to life.
- The Nathan Hale Schoolhouse. This is located right across the street from the train station. It has very limited hours, so it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get inside. But if you’re interested in history or historic buildings, it’s worth taking a peek at. The school is named after Nathan Hale, who is recognized as a state hero for volunteering to spy on the British to get intel for General Washington.
Art and Culture
- Garde Arts Center. The Garde Arts Center serves as a cultural gathering place and educational resource for the community. You can catch shows (from musicals and concerts to comedy shows) and films in this historic theater. Visit their website to see what shows and events they have coming up.
- Hygienic Art. Located in the heart of downtown, this spot is a must-visit for art lovers. They have indoor galleries and outdoor space with an outdoor theatre. You can learn more about this spot on their website.
- Telegraph Autonomous Zone. This record shop is one of the best in the area. It’s not only large, but they have a large selection of new and used vinyl records, books, and even cassettes. The vibes are great and they also host different events like live music and listening parties for new albums. It’s been my favorite record shop to go to since getting into vinyl records (you can read about the vinyl record journey here).
Dining in Downtown
Bank Street in New London has plenty of dining options to choose from. Below are some of my top picks as a local who frequents the area:
- Muddy Waters Cafe. Great spot to grab breakfast and lunch. They also have coffee, cocktails, and great desserts. I’d say this is a must-try spot in New London.
- Lion House Café. I’ve dined here for breakfast, and the food is phenomenal. If you love Asian food, this spot needs to be high on your list of places to try. They have a mix of American dishes and Asian inspired specialties.
- Favorites Bistro Bar. This spot serves up American dishes with a Caribbean twist. The flavors are bold, but in the best way possible. The flavors are thoughtfully created for each of the dishes. Some of the food has a bit of a kick, but that’s something I personally enjoy. You can read my full review of this restaurant for more information.
- Tox Brewing Company. Tox Brewing Company is known for its creative craft beers. The taproom offers small bites and pizza. The space features engaging touches like games and events that reflect its community focus and innovative approach to brewing. Oh, and there’s also a speakeasy that’s open certain days if fancy cocktails are your thing. Good luck finding where the speakeasy is hidden.
Of course, there are many more options for dining. These are just places I regularly pop into. Soon, there’s going to be a Noble Smokehouse in downtown too, which I’m really excited about. They started in Mystic, Connecticut and they’re expanding into New London. It’s going to be a great addition to Bank Street in New London!
Final Thoughts
There’s plenty to do in this historic city that’s easily accessible by train. While there’s plenty to do right in town, the Thames River Heritage Park Water Taxi can help you explore a bit further. The water taxi can take you to Fort Trumbull, which isn’t super walkable from downtown, and parts of Groton, Connecticut along the Thames River. With plenty to do and water taxis to help you explore a bit further, New London is a great spot for a long weekend.
This guide doesn’t cover everything there is to do in New London, just the stuff that is doable without a car for those arriving by train. To find more things to do in the area, check out my full guide: Things To Do In New London, Connecticut.
