Living in Sherwood Forest, London Ontario: A 2026 Neighbourhood Guide

If you're looking at homes for sale in Sherwood Forest, London Ontario, you're looking at one of Northwest London's most established communities — mature trees, a mix of housing stock from cozy bungalows to larger executive homes, and direct access to one of the city's best natural spaces. I'm Gloria Roman, a REALTOR® with Century 21, First Canadian, and I've helped buyers and sellers move through this pocket of the city for years. Here's what you actually need to know before you make a move to Sherwood Forest.

Key Takeaways

• Sherwood Forest sits in Northwest London, off Wonderland Road and Gainsborough Road, bordered on the north and east by the Medway Valley Heritage Forest, an environmentally significant area with roughly 12 kilometres of walking trails.
• The neighbourhood's housing stock is a mix of single-family homes and townhomes, largely built in the 1980s, offering more variety in size and price point than many newer London subdivisions.
• Local students are zoned toward Orchard Park Public School and St. Thomas More Catholic Elementary, feeding into Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School and St. André Bessette Catholic Secondary School.
• Orchard Park Public School posted an 8.1 out of 10 score in the Fraser Institute's 2025 Ontario elementary school report card, ranking it among the stronger public schools in the province.
• Citywide, the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) reported 686 home sales in July 2026, with sales activity in line with the past four years even as prices have eased from 2025 levels.

Where Sherwood Forest Sits in London

Sherwood Forest is tucked into Northwest London, just north of Orchard Park and within a short drive of Wonderland Road's shopping corridor. The neighbourhood shares its northern and eastern edge with the Medway Valley Heritage Forest, a protected natural area that runs along Medway Creek. That's not a small detail — it means a big chunk of Sherwood Forest homes back onto green space instead of another backyard, which is unusual for a neighbourhood this close to the city's core amenities.

I show a lot of buyers around Wonderland Road and Gainsborough Road, and what strikes people first is how quiet the interior streets feel considering how close you are to everything. Western University and University Hospital are both a short drive away, which is part of why this neighbourhood has long attracted a mix of young families, university-affiliated professionals, and long-time London residents who bought decades ago and never left.

The Housing Stock in Sherwood Forest

Most of Sherwood Forest was developed in the 1980s, and it shows in a good way — mature trees line the streets, lots tend to be a bit more generous than newer builds, and there's real variety in what you'll find. You'll see everything from modest bungalows to larger two-storey family homes, with some streets leaning more toward starter and mid-size properties and others offering more space for growing families.

That mix is one of the neighbourhood's strengths. Unlike a brand-new subdivision where every home was built to a handful of similar floor plans in the same two years, Sherwood Forest gives buyers real options depending on budget and lifestyle — and it gives sellers a wider pool of potential buyers, since the neighbourhood isn't pigeonholed into one price bracket or home style. If you're weighing Sherwood Forest against other Northwest London options, I'd rather walk you through current listings and comparable recent sales directly — pricing shifts street by street here, and a citywide average won't tell you what your specific home or target home is actually worth in today's market.

Schools Serving Sherwood Forest

Families moving to Sherwood Forest are typically zoned toward Orchard Park Public School for the Thames Valley District School Board, or St. Thomas More Catholic Elementary School through the London District Catholic School Board. Orchard Park serves both the Sherwood Forest and Orchard Park neighbourhoods and includes a Junior 5/6 and Intermediate 7/8 gifted program that draws students from across the city, according to the school's own program information.

On the secondary side, students typically move on to Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School or St. André Bessette Catholic Secondary School. For families comparing options, Orchard Park Public School scored 8.1 out of 10 in the Fraser Institute's 2025 report card on Ontario elementary schools — a strong showing that consistently comes up when I'm working with families prioritizing school zones in their home search. As always, I'd encourage double-checking your specific address against the Thames Valley District School Board's boundary tool before you buy, since boundaries can shift and some streets sit close to zone lines.

Parks, Trails, and Green Space in Sherwood Forest

This is where Sherwood Forest really sets itself apart from other Northwest London neighbourhoods. The Medway Valley Heritage Forest borders the community and offers roughly 12 kilometres of trails winding through floodplain forest, wooded valley slopes, and wetlands along Medway Creek, according to Tourism London. It's a genuinely peaceful escape — I've had clients tell me it was the trail access, more than anything else, that sold them on the area.

Inside the neighbourhood itself, smaller green spaces like Gretna Green Park, Ruskin Park, and Rollingwood Circle Park give families closer-to-home options for a quick walk or an afternoon at the playground. It's the kind of neighbourhood where you can get your steps in without ever getting in the car.

The London Housing Market Heading Into Fall 2026

Zooming out to the citywide picture: the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® reported 686 residential sales in July 2026 across the London-St. Thomas market, down 4.9% from July 2025 but described by LSTAR as being on par with activity over the past four years. Year-to-date sales through 2026 have run roughly 7% below 2025 levels, and LSTAR's own reporting has pointed to a market that currently favours buyers, with more choice on the resale side than we've seen in recent years.

What that means if you're considering Sherwood Forest specifically: buyers heading into fall 2026 have more room to negotiate and more time to make a decision than they did during London's tightest market years, while sellers who price realistically and prepare their home well are still finding buyers — sales are steady, just not frenzied. If you want a read on how that plays out for a specific Sherwood Forest property, that's exactly the kind of conversation I'd rather have one-on-one, since neighbourhood-level and street-level conditions can differ from the citywide numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sherwood Forest a good neighbourhood for families in London, Ontario?
Yes — Sherwood Forest offers a mix of family-sized homes, two well-regarded elementary schools, and direct access to the Medway Valley Heritage Forest trail system, making it a popular choice for families who want green space without leaving the city.

What school board serves Sherwood Forest in London?
Homes in Sherwood Forest are generally zoned to the Thames Valley District School Board (Orchard Park Public School) or the London District Catholic School Board (St. Thomas More), though I'd recommend confirming your specific address with the board's boundary tool.

How old are the homes in Sherwood Forest?
Most homes in Sherwood Forest were built in the 1980s, giving the neighbourhood mature trees and larger lots compared to some of London's newer subdivisions, along with a good mix of bungalows and larger two-storey homes.

What's within walking distance of Sherwood Forest?
The Medway Valley Heritage Forest trail system borders the neighbourhood directly, along with several smaller neighbourhood parks including Gretna Green Park and Ruskin Park. Wonderland Road's retail corridor is a short drive away.

Is now a good time to buy or sell in Sherwood Forest?
It depends on your specific goals and timeline. Citywide, London is currently leaning toward a buyer's market with steady but softer sales activity than 2025. I'd need to look at recent comparable sales on your street specifically to give you an accurate answer for your situation.

Ready to Explore Sherwood Forest?

Whether you're drawn to Sherwood Forest for the trail access, the school options, or the mature streetscape, I'd love to help you figure out if it's the right fit. I know this pocket of Northwest London well, and I can walk you through current listings, recent comparable sales, and what to expect from the process. Call me directly at (647) 883-7135, or schedule a free consultation to get started.