New London (Connecticut)
New London is a city on the south eastern coast of Connecticut. It is most well-known for its rich maritime history and for being the location of the United States Coast Guard Academy and Connecticut College.
Get in
By car
Interstate 95 and U.S. Highway 1 serve New London.
By bus
Greyhound and Peter Pan/Arrow Bus Lines have daily scheduled services to New London from nearby and out-of-state locations.
By train
New London is along the Northeast Corridor, the busiest railway in the US, with dozens of departures every day. Amtrak serves the city via its Northeast Regional trains between Washington, D.C. and Boston, via New York City and several other East Coast cities. A limited number of Acela Express trains, the faster express trains between the same cities also stops here. Additionally, the regional Shore Line East run by CTRides from New Haven via smaller cities along the coast terminates here. π New London Union Station is located at 27 Water St, with easy connections to buses and ferries.
By ferry
- From Central Long Island
- From Orient Point, Long Island, New York
By plane
- T.F. Green Airport (PVD IATA), (Exit 13 off Interstate 95), Warwick (Rhode Island), . About 1 hour away by car.
- Bradley International Airport BDL IATA, Windsor Locks. About 1.5 hours away by car.
Regional Airport - No scheduled service - Only receive charter and private airplanes
- Groton-New London Airport, 155 Tower Ave, β +1 860 445-8549, fax: +1 860 448-1851. Groton.
Get around
Transportation
Due to New London's small size, traveling by car is the easiest way to get around. Taxis are a close second and very popular, but they can be costly.
- Discover New London Shuttle, Eugene OβNeill Drive at Golden St, New London, CT 06320. Phone: +1 860 443-1209.
- Port City Taxi, 33 Belden St, New London, CT 06320. Phone: +1 860 444-9222.
- SEAT (Southeast Area Transit), 21 Rt. 12, Preston, CT 06365. Phone: +1 860 886-2631.
See
- π Connecticut College Arboretum, 270 Mohegan Ave, β +1 860 439-5020, e-mail: arbor@conncoll.edu. Daily sunrise to sunset. Free guided tours on Su at 2PM from May to October. Price: Free unless taking a private tour. About: The Arboretum Plant collections are broken down into four areas: the Native Plant Collection, the Caroline Black Garden, the Connecticut College Campus, and the Greenhouse. They contain incredible diversity of plant life, from the epiphytes and orchids of the tropical greenhouse to the pitcher plants and red maples of the wetlands.
- π Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams St, β +1 860 443-2545. Tu to Sa from 10AM-5PM and Su from 1PM-5PM. The permanent collections include over 10,000 paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, furniture and decorative arts, with an emphasis on American art from the 18th through 20th centuries. Adults: $8 / Seniors and Students: $7 / Children Under 12: FREE / New London Residents are free with ID.
- Custom House Maritime Museum, 150 Bank Street, β +1 860 447-2501, e-mail: nlmaritime@gmail.com. April through December, we are open Tuesday through Sunday, from 1 to 5pm or by appointment. January through March, we are open Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. The Custom House Maritime Museum is always FREE for current members, individuals with current military or USCG cadet ID and children under age 14 (with adult), admission is a $5 suggested donation for all others. Admission is by donation on Sunday. Telling the stories of New London's waterfront, the Custom House offers lighthouse tours and boat trips, an annual chowda'fest, artifacts relating to local lighthouses, US Customs and the Amistad, along with changing exhibitions and a Museum Shop.
- Hempstead Houses, 11 Hempstead St, β +1 860 443-7949. Open from mid-May through mid-October from 12PM-4PM. Colonial houses dating back as far as 1678.
- π Monte Cristo Cottage, 325 Pequot Ave, β +1 860 443-0051. Open May 24 to September 1, Th to Sa from 12PM-4PM and Su from 1PM-3PM. General Admission: $7 / Members, Students, and Seniors: $5. About: Playwright Eugene O'Neill's home and setting for two of his plays.
- π Garde Arts Center, 329 State St, β +1 860 444-7373. Ticket Prices: Vary with act. About: A restored Vaudeville/movie theatre with multiple arts programs.
- π The United States Coast Guard Academy, 31 Mohegan Ave, β +1 860 444-8444. Tours, the academy museum, and watching the weekly Cadet Drill are points of interest.
- The Coast Guard training tallship (USCGC Eagle), β +1 860 444-8444. She is the training ship for the future Coast Guard officers and is usually in port for part of the year and tours are available.
Do
- π Ocean Beach Park, 1225 Ocean Ave, toll-free: +1 860 510, e-mail: BCGOBP@aol.com. SAND (7263). Contains: Beach, boardwalk, pool, splash pool, waterslide, arcade, playground, rides, mini-golf, nature walk and observation deck. Nightly entertainment. Bring around $100/day for a family of four.
- Custom House Museum Shop, 150 Bank Street, β +1 860 447-2501. Nautical gifts; new & vintage maritime books; whale bottle openers, cards, & coffee mugs.
- Monte Cristo Bookshop, 13 Washington St, β +1 860 574-9056. New, Used, independent bookstore.
- New London Antiques Center and Seaport Imports, 123 Bank St, β +1 860 444-7498. New London's largest antique cooperative.
- Thames River Greenery, 70 State Street, β +1 860 443-6817. Two floors of greenery and gourmet products plus a coffee bar.
- Brie and Bleu, 84 Bank St, β +1 860 437-1204. Specialty cheeses and wine tastings.
- Caruso Music, 94 State St, β +1 860 442-9600. Pianos, guitars, music lessons, audio equipment, banjos and DJ gear.
- Spirit Gallery Tattoo, 207 Bank St, β +1 860 443-0484. Fine art gallery and custom tattoo studio with rotating art shows, one-of-a-kind-jewelry, and excellent customer service.
Eat
- π Tony D's, 92 Huntington St. Italian and Continental. $20/person on average.
- π Captain Scott's Lobster Dock, 80 Hamilton St, β +1 860 439-1741. Seafood. $30/person on average..
- π The Broken Yolk CafΓ©, 825 Montauk Ave, β +1 860 437-0898. American Breakfast. $15/person on average.
- π Recovery Room Restaurant, 445 Ocean Ave, β +1 860 443-2619. Italian and Pizza. $20/person on average.
- π Chili's Grill and Bar, 369 North Frontage Rd, β +1 860 444-0335. American Cuisine. $20/person on average.
- π Outback Steakhouse, 269 North Frontage Rd, β +1 860 447-9205. American Cuisine. $20/person on average.
Dessert
- Friendly's Ice Cream Shop, 175 Broad St, Phone: +1 860 443-1150. Everyone knows about Friendly's ice cream.
- Rita's Water Ice, 361 Coleman St, Phone: +1 860 444-1600. Craving frozen custard? There are a variety of flavors at Rita's!
- Michael's Dairy Downtown, 60 Bank St, Phone: +1 860 729-4866. Enjoy some ice-cream or frozen yogurt in this ice-cream parlor-style restaurant.
Drink
Cafes
- π Stash's Cafe, 95 Pequot Ave, β +1 860 443-1095. A great night spot with pool tables, live music, full bar.all for a $5 cover fee.
- π Bean and Leaf, 463 Bank St, β +1 860-442-3387. Fresh coffee roasted right in front of you, and a very environmentally friendly business!
- Kelly's Coffee House, 256 South Frontage Rd, β +1 860 443-2320. Great place to sit and chat with low-priced coffee.
Sleep
Hotels in central New London can often be more expensive than those in Groton which lies just across the river. There is a group of hotels right across the river right at the other end of the Gold Star Bridge including the Groton Inn and Suites and the Super 8 Motel which will be closer to central New London than many of the cheaper hotels that are on the outskirts of the city proper. Central New London will be a 5-10 minute drive or a $10 cab ride from these Groton hotels.
- Red Roof Inn, 707 Colman St, β +1 860 444-0001, fax: +1 860 443-7154. I-95 Exit #82-A/83. From $50. Amenities: WIFI, pets allowed, cribs available, data ports, complimentary coffee, and kids under 17 stay free.
- Relax Inn and Suites, 380 Bayonet St, β +1 860 443-3440. Amenities: Free continental breakfast, pets allowed, free coffee, and high speed internet access. From $60.
- Holiday Inn, 269 North Frontage Rd, β +1 860 442-0631. Amenities: Health and fitness center, WIFI, and kids eat free. From $80.
- π Holiday Inn New London - Mystic Area, 35 Governor Winthrop Blvd, β +1 860-443-7000.
Learn
- Connecticut College, Private liberal arts college located on the Thames River.
- Mitchell College, A liberal arts college that sits on the Thames River.
- United States Coast Guard Academy, The military academy for the U.S. Coast Guard.
Go next
Mystic and the Rhode Island South County beaches are nearby. Foxwoods casino in Ledyard and Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville are close.
Routes through New London |
New York City β New Haven β | SW |
β Providence β Boston |
New Haven β Old Saybrook β | SW |
β Mystic β Providence |
Providence β Groton β | N |
β Waterford β New Haven |
Providence β Groton β | N |
β Waterford β New Haven |
New Haven β Old Saybrook β | W |
β END |