NEW LONDON

New London sits at the mouth of the Thames River, a former whaling port founded in 1646 where 350 years of maritime history press up against a walkable downtown. The 26-block Historic Waterfront District holds the Garde Arts Center and Oasis Pub within a few blocks of each other.

You can catch touring Broadway productions and film series inside the restored 1926 Garde Arts Center, a former vaudeville house with Moroccan-styled interiors. Down in the waterfront district, the Oasis Pub books live bands on a tighter, louder scale. New London earned its Cultural District designation in 2022, and the independent music and gallery scene keeps the downtown blocks active year-round.

This is a working seaport town with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy at one end and Connecticut College at the other. The streets between carry a density you do not expect from a city this size — over 30 restaurants, galleries, and venues packed into a compact grid.

Tip: Park near City Pier and walk. The waterfront district is small enough to cover on foot, and most shows are within a few blocks of each other.

Neighborhoods: Downtown Waterfront District • Fort Trumbull • Pequot Colony