London, Ont. places 3rd in ranking of Canada’s best university towns

London, home of Western University and Fanshawe College, placed third behind Regina and Winnipeg, in the ranking of university towns conducted by Preply.

London, Ont. has ranked third in a study done by Preply of Canada’s best university towns. The study was done out of 94 cities, with Regina and Winnipeg being the only places to top London.

“This means London is a great place to seek out post-secondary education,” said Mayor Ed Holder.

“Personally speaking, I think we’re the best city in all of Canada to do so. The institutions themselves, along with faculty and other staff, are first class — but that only begins to scratch the surface. We’re known as the Forest City for good reason with nearly 500 parks and open spaces, along with 330 kilometres of walking and biking trails.”

The vast outdoor space in London was factored into the study, with the main factors being social environment, wallet friendliness, and economic opportunity. The scoring was out of 100, with 100 being the best. The top three rankings are below.

“Western is proud to be located in London, and as a campus community, we are deeply committed to supporting the city’s success, health, and prosperity,” said Western University in a statement.

“London’s vibrant arts and culture scene, its parks and trails, and its location in the heart of Southwestern Ontario, makes it the ideal place to learn, work, and live.”

Both Fanshawe College and Western University are committed to upholding this title and to improving on the education they offer.

“Our programs are always evolving,” said Devin Robinson, Fanshawe’s domestic student recruitment manager.