The area was formed during the retreat of the glaciers during the last ice age, which produced areas of marshland, notably the Sifton Bog (which is actually a fen), as well as some of the most agriculturally productive areas of farmland in Ontario. The Thames River dominates London's geography. The North and South branches of the Thames River meet at the centre of the city, a location known as "The Forks" or "The Fork of the Thames." The North Thames runs through the man-made Fanshawe Lake in northeast London. Fanshawe Lake was created by Fanshawe Dam, constructed to protect the downriver areas from the catastrophic flooding which affected the city in 1883 and 1937.

Prior to European settlement, the present site of London was occupied by several Neutral, Odawa, and Ojibwe villages, which were driven out by the Iroquois by circa 1654 in the Beaver Wars. Archaeological investigations in the region show that indigenous people have resided in the area for at least 10,000 years.

When someday comes you'll need to get in.

When someday comes you'll need to be able to get around.