New London (Connecticut)

New London is a city on the southeastern 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. New London Union Station 📍 is located at 27 Water St, with easy connections to buses and ferries.

By ferry

From Central Long Island

Port Jefferson Ferry (dead link: June 2020), Phone: +1 631-473-5138.

From Orient Point, Long Island, New York

Cross Sound Ferry, Phone: +1 631-323-2525 or +1 860-443-5281.

By plane

T.F. Green Airport (IATA: PVD), (Exit 13 off Interstate 95), Warwick (Rhode Island). About 1 hour away by car.
Bradley International Airport IATA: BDL, 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, +1 860-445-8549. 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 O’Neill Drive at Golden St. Phone: +1 860-443-1209.
Port City Taxi, 33 Belden St. Phone: +1 860-444-9222.
SEAT (Southeast Area Transit), 21 Rt. 12, Preston. Phone: +1 860-886-2631.

See

Connecticut College Arboretum, 270 Mohegan Ave, 41.38°, -72.11°, +1 860-439-5020, 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.
Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams St, 41.3737°, -72.1072°, +1 860-443-2545. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. 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. Adult $8, senior or student $7, children under 12: free
Custom House Maritime Museum, 150 Bank Street, +1 860-447-2501, nlmaritime@gmail.com. Apr-Dec: Tu-Su 1-5PM, Jan-Mar: Th-Su 1-5PM. 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. Suggested donation $5, free for active military or Coadt Guard and children under 14
Hempstead Houses, 11 Hempstead St, +1 860-443-7949. Open from mid-May through mid-October from noon-4PM. Colonial houses dating back as far as 1678.

Monte Cristo Cottage, 325 Pequot Ave, 41.331944°, -72.09625°, +1 860-443-0051. May 24-Sep 1: Th-Sa noon-4PM, Su 1-3PM. Playwright Eugene O'Neill's home and setting for two of his plays. Adult $7, student or senior $5
Garde Arts Center, 329 State St, 41.3553°, -72.0991°, +1 860-444-7373. Ticket prices vary with act. A restored Vaudeville/movie theatre with multiple arts programs.
The United States Coast Guard Academy, 31 Mohegan Ave, 41.3737624°, -72.0992548°, +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), +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

Ocean Beach Park, 1225 Ocean Ave, 41.31121°, -72.09952°, +1 860-510-SAND (7263), BCGOBP@aol.com. 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, +1 860-447-2501. Nautical gifts; new & vintage maritime books; whale bottle openers, cards, & coffee mugs.
Monte Cristo Bookshop, 13 Washington St, +1 860-574-9056. New, used, independent bookstore.
New London Antiques Center and Seaport Imports, 123 Bank St, +1 860-444-7498. New London's largest antique cooperative.
Thames River Greenery, 70 State Street, +1 860-443-6817. Two floors of greenery and gourmet products plus a coffee bar.
Brie and Bleu, 84 Bank St, +1 860 437-1204. Specialty cheeses and wine tastings.
Caruso Music, 94 State St, +1 860-442-9600. Pianos, guitars, music lessons, audio equipment, banjos and DJ gear.
Spirit Gallery Tattoo, 207 Bank St, +1 860-443-0484. Fine art gallery and custom tattoo studio with rotating art shows, one-of-a-kind-jewelry, and excellent customer service.
Sailfest, New London (Connecticut). Year: 2022. Month: July. Head down to the harbor and view Connecticut's premiere summertime event featuring hundreds of vendors, rides, and activities. Very child friendly.

Eat

Tony D's, 92 Huntington St, 41.356003°, -72.099861°. Italian and Continental. $20/person on average 2017-04-19
Captain Scott's Lobster Dock, 80 Hamilton St, 41.347568°, -72.097850°, +1 860-439-1741. Seafood. $30/person on average. 2017-04-19
The Broken Yolk Café, 825 Montauk Ave, 41.323088°, -72.092696°, +1 860-437-0898. American Breakfast. $15/person on average 2017-04-19
Recovery Room Restaurant, 445 Ocean Ave, 41.334249°, -72.104980°, +1 860-443-2619. Italian and Pizza. $20/person on average 2017-04-19
Chili's Grill and Bar, 369 North Frontage Rd, 41.371030°, -72.120247°, +1 860-444-0335. American Cuisine. $20/person on average 2017-04-19
Outback Steakhouse, 269 North Frontage Rd, 41.370438°, -72.117444°, +1 860-447-9205. American Cuisine. $20/person on average 2017-04-19

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

Stash's Cafe, 95 Pequot Ave, 41.339091°, -72.100110°, +1 860-443-1095. A great night spot with pool tables, live music, full bar. All for a $5 cover fee. 2017-04-19
Bean and Leaf, 463 Bank St, 41.350567°, -72.100655°, +1 860-442-3387. Fresh coffee roasted right in front of you, and a very environmentally friendly business! 2017-04-19
Muddy Waters Cafe, 42 Bank Street, +1 860 -44-2232. Tuesday 7AM to 3 PM. Cup of oatmeal $3 2019-11-19

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, +1 860-444-0001. 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, +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, +1 860-442-0631. Amenities: Health and fitness center, WIFI, and kids eat free. From $80

Holiday Inn New London - Mystic Area, 35 Governor Winthrop Blvd, 41.356501°, -72.097862°, +1 860-443-7000. 2017-04-19

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.
Take the Cross Sound Ferry to Orient on Long Island's North Fork and then continue on to New York City.

New London (Connecticut) - city in Connecticut, United States