Thames Street in Ingersoll, Ontario

Ingersoll is a town of about 13,700 in Southwestern Ontario, southwest of Toronto between Woodstock and London.

Understand

The town is named after its first European settler Thomas Ingersoll, who was the father of Laura Secord, a Canadian war hero of the War of 1812. Ingersoll arrived in 1795. The Town of Ingersoll was a destination for runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad.

History

Ingersoll’s founder, Thomas Ingersoll (1751–1812), was a native of Massachusetts who moved to the Niagara District of Upper Canada in 1795. In 1793 he received a grant 1200 acres, which became the site of the community of Ingersoll. He established a farm for his family and settled other families nearby. Thomas's eldest child, Laura Secord, was a heroine of the War of 1812.

Ingersoll became Oxford County’s principal industrial centre with the Noxon Brothers and the Eastwood foundry, both manufacturers of agricultural implements. By the 1860s, dairying was an emerging industry, sparked farm-wife production of cheese and butter, and then by the introduction of the factory system of cheese production in 1864. In 1866, to promote Ingersoll cheese as a high-quality, standardized brand, a cheese producer, James Harris, and local businessmen produced a 7,300-pound mammoth cheese, exhibited it at the New York State Fair in Saratoga, and then exported it to England.

Get in

The nearest airport with local flights is in London, and the nearest major airport is Toronto Pearson International Airport, which is 140 km away.

By car

• Ingersoll is about 156 km southwest of Toronto along the Gardiner Expressway/Queen Elizabeth Way/Highway 403 to exit 218 then north on County Road 119/Harris St.
• It is 215 km northeast of Windsor. From Hwy 401, exit 218, then north on County Road 119/Harris St.

By public transit

• Middlesex County Connect (stops at the parking lot across from the public library), toll-free: +1-888-465-0783, countyconnect@middlesex.ca. Operates bus route #2, Monday to Friday between Woodstock and London via Ingersoll and Dorchester. This route makes only one stop in Ingersoll. A connection in Dorchester is available to a bus route #3 that travels between Dorchester and St. Thomas via London. (updated Mar 2024)
• TGO Transit, ☏ +1 519-688-3009 ext 4470. Operates two bus routes that stop in Ingersoll. Bus route #1 operates Monday to Friday travels in a loop between Tillsonburg, Ingersoll, Woodstock, and Norwich with trips alternating clockwise and counterclockwise. Busr route #4 operates Mondays and Wednesdays between Tillsonburg and London via Ingersoll. Bus route #1 stops in Ingersoll only at the parking lot across the street from the public library and at the hospital, while bus route #4 only stops in Ingersoll at the hospital. (updated May 2022)

By train

See also: Rail travel in Canada

• 1 Ingersoll station, 1 Thames Street North. (updated Aug 2023)
  • VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1 888-842-7245. Operates a train route daily between Windsor and Toronto including stops in Chatham, London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Brantford, Burlington and Oakville. From Toronto, twice daily, 1 hr 47 min. One-way fare: $29 advance purchase, $49 economy. From Windsor, twice daily, 2 hr 20 min. One-way fare: $33 advance purchase, $67 economy. (updated May 2022)

Get around

• Old Tyme Taxi, ☏ +1 519-425-0110. (updated Jul 2024)
• KTN Taxi, ☏ +1 519-425-5055. (updated Jul 2024)

See

Ingersoll Cheese Factory museum inside

• 1 Ingersoll Cheese and Agricultural Museum, 290 Harris Street, ☏ +1 519-485-5510. The cheese capital of Oxford county. The museum brings the history of Ingersoll to life through engaging displays and demonstrations. The volunteers that give guided tours are very passionate and knowledgable. free, $3 per person for guided tours. (updated Jul 2024)
• 2 Ingersoll Theatre of Performing Arts, 88 Thames Street South, ☏ +1 519-485-3070. A volunteer, non-professional community theatre company. (updated Aug 2018)

Do

• 1 Leaping Deer Adventure Farm & Market, 544212 Clarke Road (just off Highway 401, Exit 222; follow Oxford #6 north to first intersection (Clarke Road) and turn left; it is the first farm on your left.), ☏ +1 519-485-4795. Family activities. 10-acre corn maze, wagon ride, discovery barn, mini-golf, country store, bakery/cafe. Many activities (e.g. corn maze) are open only Aug-Oct. The store, bakery and cafe are open Apr-Dec. Hours vary. $8.50-15 per person, children 2 and under free. (updated Aug 2018)
• 2 Ingersoll Creative Arts Centre, 125 Centennial Lane, ☏ +1 519-485-4691. Regular Hours: M-F 9AM-noon & 1PM-4PM, Su 1PM–4 PM. Classes, exhibitions, shop. Painting, quilting, fibre arts, pottery, and rughooking. (updated Aug 2018)

Eat

• 1 Elm Hurst Inn & Country Spa, 415 Harris Street, ☏ +1 519-485-5321, toll-free: +1-800-561-5321. M-Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 10:30AM-2PM and 4PM-8:30PM. Fantastic Sunday brunch. (updated Aug 2018)
• 2 Dino's Grillhouse, 15 King Street West, ☏ +1 519-425-0937. M-Th 8AM-9PM, F Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-2PM. A great setting, fine food, particularly the chicken fingers. It's in the core area of the town. (updated Aug 2018)
• 3 Louie's Pizza & Pasta, 440 Bell St, ☏ +1 519 485-4441. Su 8AM-10PM, M-Th 7AM-10PM, F Sa 7AM-11PM. Large portions, great food and service. You won't leave hungry! Salads, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, wings, nachos, quesadillas, pastas, chicken, steaks, seafood, panzerottis, and pizza. $5-25. (updated Aug 2018)
• 4 Mango Salad, 95 Thames S, ☏ +1 519-425-1188. M-F 11AM-2:30PM and 4PM-9PM, Sa Su 4PM-9PM. Thai cuisine. Lunch combos $10, mains $12-18. (updated Aug 2018)
• 5 Miss Ingersoll Family Restaurant, 105 Thames Street South, ☏ +1 519-303-2262, info@missingersoll.com. Daily 7AM-8PM. Home-style cooking from Shepherd's Pie to Baby Beef Liver -- made fresh, from scratch. Breakfast special starting at $4.95. (updated Aug 2018)

Sleep

• 1 Elm Hurst Inn & Country Spa, 415 Harris Street, ☏ +1 519-485-5321, toll-free: +1-800-561-5321. Fitness room, whirlpool, sauna. Aveda spa. Jacuzzi and fireplace rooms available. Internet access. From $130. (updated Aug 2018)

• 2 Jet Set Motel, 334109 Hwy 19 South, ☏ +1 519-485-0539. TV, phone, beds, 3pc bathroom, internet access. Very reasonable rates. (updated Aug 2018)
• 3 Comfort Inn, 20 Samnah Cres, ☏ +1 519-425-1100. Free hot breakfast, smoke-free, pet-friendly, fitness centre, business centre. From $95. (updated Aug 2018)

Cope

• 1 Oxford County Library (Ingersoll branch), 130 Oxford Street, ☏ +1 519-485-2505. (updated Jul 2024)
• 2 Alexandra Hospital Ingersoll, 29 Noxon Street, ☏ +1 519-485-1700. Has an emergency department operating 24/7. (updated Jul 2024)

Go next

Stratford, Ontario, a picturesque town that hosts the world-famous Stratford Shakespeare Festival, is about a 30-minute drive north of Ingersoll.

London, Ontario, is a 30-minute drive west of Ingersoll.

Routes through Ingersoll

Windsor ← London ←	W  E	→ Woodstock → Toronto
Windsor ← London ←	W  E	→ Woodstock → Toronto
Becomes Oxford 119 ←	N  S	→ Tillsonburg → END