New London Town Guide: A Classic Village Near Lake Sunapee

Some New Hampshire towns are known for a single attraction. New London is known for a feeling: a hilltop village with a college in town, a Main Street lined with old houses and shops, and lakes and mountains in every direction. It sits just off Interstate 89, which makes it one of the easiest classic villages in the state to reach, and it is a natural base for exploring the Lake Sunapee region in any season.

This guide covers the things to do in New London NH that hold up year after year, plus places to eat, stay and unwind from our directory. It is written for early fall, when the village is at its most photogenic, but most of it applies year-round.

New London at a glance

New London is a town in Merrimack County with 4,400 residents at the 2020 census. The town center, where about 1,266 people live, sits on a hilltop along New Hampshire Route 114, north of Route 11 and Interstate 89.

The town's history goes back to the 1770s. Land in the area was granted to speculators in 1773 as the "Alexandria Addition," and by 1779 sixteen families had settled there and petitioned to incorporate as New London. The first town meeting was held on August 3, 1779. In 1807 the northern half of the town was split off and merged with neighboring land to form the town of Wilmot.

Today New London is home to Colby-Sawyer College, and the college has hosted the Gordon Research Conferences, a long-running series of scientific meetings, since 1947. The college adds students and year-round activity to a small town.

Walking Main Street

The best first thing to do in New London is park and walk. Main Street runs through the hilltop village center, lined with inns, town buildings and a string of independent businesses. In early October, with maples turning along the road and the hills beyond, it is one of the prettiest village walks in this part of the state.

Take your time. The appeal here is not a single landmark but the overall picture: old clapboard houses, stone walls, broad lawns and a steady flow of students, residents and visitors. Bring a camera, and plan to stop for coffee or lunch along the way.

The New London Barn Playhouse

The New London Barn Playhouse is the cultural landmark of the village. According to the theater, it is the oldest continuously operating summer theater in New Hampshire, a distinction that earned it a place on the state's Register of Historic Places.

Its story starts in the summer of 1933, when Josephine Etter Holmes, chair of the speech department at Mount Holyoke College, founded the New London Players and staged three one-act plays in town. That winter she bought the Everett Barn on Main Street, which was built around 1820, and the first performance in the barn took place on July 12, 1934. Porches, better seating and improved stage areas came later, and the barn became known for developing young theater artists.

The main season runs in summer, but the Barn also lists education programs, children's theater and workshops on its website. Even when there is no show, the barn on Main Street is worth seeing on a village walk. Check the theater's site for what is on when you visit.

Where to eat and drink

New London has a compact but solid dining scene for a town its size.

The Flying Goose Brew Pub and Grille on Andover Road is the town's best-known gathering spot. It describes itself as the first solar-powered brewery in New Hampshire, and it pairs house-brewed beer with a full food menu and live music. It is a dependable stop after a hike or a day on the lake, and a good place to get a feel for the local crowd.

The name is a nod to local lore. Lake Sunapee is often said to take its name from a Native American phrase meaning "wild goose waters," a reference to the geese that pass over during migration.

Main Street and the area near the rotary have more cafes, bakeries and casual spots within a short walk or drive. On fall weekends, especially during peak foliage, it helps to plan around busy meal times.

Where to stay

New London has a handful of small lodgings rather than large hotels, which suits the village character.

• Maple Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast is a year-round country inn in a farmhouse that the owners describe as more than 200 years old. It has ten guest rooms, common rooms with a fireplace, and a home-cooked breakfast served each morning. The inn also offers a lake house rental off-site.
• Lamplighter Motor Inn sits in the center of New London. It has 14 rooms, four of them with kitchens, all with private baths, and it offers a continental breakfast. Its location puts restaurants and shops within walking distance.

Fall foliage weekends fill up quickly in the Sunapee region, so book early if your dates are fixed.

Wellness and slowing down

New London is a good place to do less, and two businesses in town are built around that idea.

• Walk In Beauty Spa and Wellness is on County Road near the rotary. It offers Dermalogica facials and skin care, massage therapy, cupping, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture and foot reflexology. The spa works by appointment only, so book ahead.
• Crescent Moon Wellness and Yoga is a yoga studio on Main Street with drop-in classes, multi-week series, workshops and special events. Its online calendar is the place to see what is running during your visit.

Beyond the village: Lake Sunapee and the hills

Part of New London's appeal is what surrounds it. Lake Sunapee is the fifth-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire, about 8 miles long with roughly 70 miles of shoreline, three historic lighthouses and a scenic drive of about 25 miles around its shore. It is a short drive from the village center.

The lake is a glacial lake, and the woods around it are scattered with glacial erratics, the large boulders left behind when the ice melted about 11,000 years ago. In fall, a loop around the lake makes an easy foliage drive, with stops in Sunapee Harbor and the surrounding villages.

The broader region also offers hiking, paddling in the warmer months and skiing in winter. Our other Lake Sunapee guides cover those in more detail.

A suggested fall day in New London

• Morning: Arrive early, park near the center, and walk Main Street and past the Barn Playhouse while the light is soft.
• Midday: Drive the loop around Lake Sunapee, stopping at a harbor or overlook for photos.
• Afternoon: Book a massage or facial, or drop into a yoga class.
• Evening: Dinner and a pint at the Flying Goose, then back to your inn.

Frequently asked questions

How far is New London from Interstate 89?

The village center sits just north of Route 11 and Interstate 89, so it is only a few minutes off the highway.

Is the New London Barn Playhouse open in the fall?

The main performance season is in summer. The theater also runs education programs and other events, so check its website for current listings.

Is New London a good base for visiting Lake Sunapee?

Yes. The lake is a short drive from the village, and the town's inns, restaurants and shops make it a convenient base for the region.

When is the best time to visit?

Every season has its appeal, but late September and early October bring fall color to Main Street and the surrounding hills. Summer brings the Barn Playhouse season and time on the lake.

Sources

• New London history, population and geography: Wikipedia, "New London, New Hampshire" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_London,_New_Hampshire)
• Lake Sunapee facts and name: Wikipedia, "Lake Sunapee" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Sunapee)
• New London Barn Playhouse history: https://www.nlbarn.org/history
• The Flying Goose Brew Pub and Grille: https://www.flyinggoose.com/
• Maple Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast: https://maplehillfarm.com/
• Lamplighter Motor Inn: https://lamplightermotorinn.com/
• Walk In Beauty Spa and Wellness: https://www.walkinbeautyspaandwellness.com/
• Crescent Moon Wellness and Yoga: https://crescentmoonwellnessnh.com/