New LondonNew London at a Glance
Costs: Moderate - $120-200 per day - mid-range hotels, seafood dinners and ferry fares; summer weekends cost more.
Safety: Generally safe with low violent crime - generally low violent crime; take normal precautions and lock cars near the waterfront.
Best Time: May-October (best for weather and ferries) - warm summers and colorful coastal fall foliage; ferries run more frequently in summer.
New London Bucket List
Don't Miss
Fort Trumbull State Park - Coastal fortifications with harbor views, interpretive exhibits, and picnic areas.
Lyman Allyn Art Museum - Regional and American art collections housed in a compact, well-curated museum.
New London Harbor Walk - Waterfront stroll past marinas, historic plaques, and views of Long Island Sound.
Hidden Gems
Garde Arts Center - Historic downtown theater presenting films, concerts, and local performing arts events.
Local seafood shacks - Order fried clams or lobster rolls at small family-run waterfront eateries.
New London Farmer’s Market - Seasonal market offering fresh produce, baked goods, and community fare on weekends.
Day Trips
Mystic Seaport Museum - Living-history maritime museum with historic ships, exhibits, and working shipyard nearby.
Block Island (ferry from New London) - Island beaches, lighthouses, and scenic coastal trails accessible by short ferry ride.
New London's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -15°C to 28°C. Moderate rainfall (790 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -15° - -4° | -16° | 33 mm | overcast | 90% | 3.7 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.1h |
| February | Poor | -12° - -1° | -12° | 26 mm | partly cloudy | 88% | 3.6 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.3h |
| March | Acceptable | -6° - 5° | -5° | 54 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Acceptable | 1° - 13° | 4° | 66 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 4.1 m/s | 1.0 high | 13.3h |
| May | Good | 7° - 21° | 14° | 90 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 3.8 m/s | 1.5 high | 14.6h |
| June | Excellent | 12° - 26° | 19° | 89 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 3.2 m/s | 1.8 very high | 15.3h |
| July | Excellent | 15° - 28° | 21° | 94 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 3.0 m/s | 1.8 very high | 15.0h |
| August | Very Good | 14° - 26° | 20° | 100 mm | partly cloudy | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 1.5 high | 13.8h |
| September | Very Good | 9° - 22° | 15° | 89 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 3.1 m/s | 1.0 high | 12.4h |
| October | Acceptable | 3° - 15° | 7° | 61 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 3.5 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 10.8h |
| November | Acceptable | -4° - 6° | -3° | 52 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 3.7 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.5h |
| December | Poor | -11° - -2° | -12° | 36 mm | overcast | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.7h |
Nearby Cities #
How to Get to New London
How to Get Around New London
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Where to Stay in New London
Budget
Downtown / Mystic corridor - $70-160/night
Budget choices are limited; a few motels and economy inns operate around the waterfront and nearby Groton. Consider buses or drive to Mystic for more options.
The Whaler’s Inn (Mystic) - Historic inn located in downtown Mystic, near seaport.
Hilton Mystic (nearby) - Large riverside hotel near Mystic Seaport attractions.
Mid-Range
New London / Mystic - $100-220/night
Mid-range hotels include chain properties in the New London-Mystic corridor and small boutique B&Bs; these are convenient for Connecticut College and ferry access to Long Island Sound.
The Whaler’s Inn (Mystic) - Historic inn located in downtown Mystic, near seaport.
Hilton Mystic (nearby) - Large riverside hotel near Mystic Seaport attractions.
Luxury
Mystic / Groton - $180-350/night
Luxury options inside New London are minimal; for high-end stays consider Mystic or Groton where waterfront inns and full-service hotels provide upgraded amenities.
The Whaler’s Inn (Mystic) - Historic inn located in downtown Mystic, near seaport.
Hilton Mystic (nearby) - Large riverside hotel near Mystic Seaport attractions.
Where to Eat in New London
Breakdown of cuisine types found across New London’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Nightlife in New London
New London’s nightlife centers on dinner-and-show spots and waterfront bars rather than a late-night club scene. The Garde Arts Center brings regular live music, theater and film events, while small bars and restaurants in the downtown area host evening crowds.
Shopping in New London
Downtown New London has independent boutiques, maritime-themed shops and practical stores along the waterfront and cross streets. For bigger-brand shopping and malls, nearby cities offer fuller selections.