Historic London Town & Gardens is a 23-acre park highlighting Maryland’s unique colonial history. Some are surprised to learn that London Town is older than Williamsburg and was the original county seat of Anne Arundel County.
It’s an easy drive to Edgewater, Maryland and the site has abundant free parking. You only need two hours to tour it with younger kids, and the ample space to roam makes it an easy visit.
A free family pass, good for a week, is available for checkout from the Anne Arundel County Public Library. Check the schedule with Historic London Town & Gardens as winter hours are limited.
The William Brown house dates from 1760. It was built as a tavern at the ferry crossing to Annapolis.
The carpentry shop has historic hand tools that you can try your hand at. Then climb the stairs into the storage attic to check out the window’s beautiful views.
The Lord Mayor’s Tenement is a recreation of an ordinary colonial home. It’s simple in design and made of affordable wood that a tradesman could build for a farm family. The walk-in fireplace catches your attention, and the rope beds in the attic draw you into imagining Colonial life.
The museum has artifacts from colonial times that archaeologists have excavated in the area. It also highlights Indian arrowheads and African artifacts slaves brought here. It even has a modest children’s corner for little ones.
Historic London Town and Gardens is open in the winter on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am-4 pm. Check their website for more information.
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