New London–Norwich
Around New London–Norwich
Photo: Bobphoenix · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Connecticut · 282k people
New London–Norwich
Locals say Southeastern Connecticut · “Submarine Capital of the World”, “Whaling City”, “Rose of New England”
Norwich · New London · Willimantic
Salt air and shipyard steel
Deep Navy BlueBright Sea Blue
Welcome to Southeastern Connecticut, where the Thames meets the Sound and the casinos light up the night. Whether you're here for the seafood, the history, or the shoreline, you'll find a relaxed vibe with plenty to do.
Clubs for New London–Norwich
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The room
One room for everyone around New London–Norwich. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around New London–Norwich. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Mystic Seaport Museum Historic seaport village with tall ships and exhibits.
- Mystic Aquarium Home to beluga whales, sea lions, and a jellyfish gallery.
- USS Nautilus (Submarine Force Museum) Tour the world's first nuclear-powered submarine.
- Mohegan Sun Massive casino resort with concerts, dining, and gaming.
- Foxwoods Resort Casino One of the largest casinos in North America, with a huge complex.
- Fort Trumbull State Park Historic fort with scenic views of the Thames River.
- Outdoors Kayak the Thames River
- Outdoors Hike Bluff Point State Park
- With kids Mystic Aquarium
- With kids Mystic Seaport
- Evenings Casino nightclubs and concerts
- Evenings Brewery taprooms in New London and Willimantic
- Locals love Seafood shacks along the shoreline
- Locals love Casino entertainment venues
Through the year
- Sailfest July New London's summer waterfront festival with music, food, and fireworks.
- Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival June Celebrates maritime music with concerts and workshops.
- Norwich Rose Arts Festival June Arts and crafts festival in Norwich's historic district.
- Willimantic Riverfest August Family-friendly festival along the Willimantic River with music and activities.
- Brooklyn Fair August One of the oldest agricultural fairs in the country, with livestock and rides.
Southeastern Connecticut has a humid continental climate with warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Best: Late spring through early fall, especially for beach days and outdoor festivals.
Talk like a local
- “Grinder”
- A submarine sandwich.
- “Packy”
- Liquor store.
- “The shore”
- The coastal areas of southeastern Connecticut.
- “The casinos”
- Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.
Getaways
- Providence, RI Arts, food, and the WaterFire event.
- Hartford, CT Mark Twain House and Wadsworth Atheneum.
- New Haven, CT Pizza, Yale campus, and Shubert Theatre.
- Springfield, MA Basketball Hall of Fame and the Quadrangle museums.
Local flavour
Teams
- Connecticut Sun WNBA
- Norwich Sea Unicorns Futures Collegiate Baseball League
- Coast Guard Academy Bears NCAA Division III
Also rooting for UConn Huskies (NCAA Division I, football and basketball), New England Patriots (NFL), Boston Red Sox (MLB)
Eat and drink
- Lobster Roll Classic New England seafood, served cold with mayo or hot with butter.
- New England Clam Chowder Creamy, hearty chowder with clams and potatoes.
- Fried Clams Whole belly clams, a local favorite at seaside shacks.
Where people go
- Beaches and shoreline Rocky Neck State Park, Ocean Beach Park, and the Connecticut coast.
- Casinos
- Maritime museums and historic sites Mystic Seaport, USS Nautilus Museum, and the Submarine Force Library.
- Rivers and harbors The Thames River and the ports of New London and Groton.
Heritage and traditions
Southeastern Connecticut is proud of its deep maritime heritage, from whaling and shipbuilding to being the home of the U.S. submarine fleet, and its rich Native American history with the Mohegan and Pequot tribes. The region also celebrates its small-town charm, historic villages, and a resilient, hardworking culture shaped by the sea and the mills.
This time of year in New London–Norwich
- Fall foliage and apple picking Autumn Local orchards open for apple picking and cider donuts as the leaves turn brilliant colors.
Say it like a local: “bubbler” — A drinking fountain.
Festivals
- Norwich St. Patrick's Day Parade March One of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in New England, held on the Sunday before March 17th.
- Mystic Irish Parade March A lively St. Patrick's Day celebration in downtown Mystic with bagpipes and floats.
- Mohegan Wigwam Festival August A Native American heritage festival on the Mohegan Reservation with traditional dancing, crafts, and food.
- New London Greek Festival June Held at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, featuring Greek food, music, and dancing.
- Willimantic Boom Box Parade July 4th A unique July 4th parade where participants carry boom boxes playing music instead of marching bands.
Landmarks with a story
- Monte Cristo Cottage The boyhood summer home of Eugene O'Neill, now a National Historic Landmark in New London.
- Groton Monument A 135-foot granite obelisk commemorating the Battle of Groton Heights (1781), with a museum at its base.
- St. Patrick Cathedral A historic Catholic cathedral in Norwich, known for its Gothic Revival architecture and stained glass.
- St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church A beautiful Byzantine-style church in New London, a center of the Greek community since the early 20th century.
- Mashantucket Pequot Museum The world's largest Native American museum, telling the story of the Pequot tribe through interactive exhibits.
- Hempsted Houses Two 17th-century houses in New London, among the oldest surviving structures in Connecticut.
Food traditions
- Baked stuffed clams Local seafood restaurants prepare these with breadcrumbs, herbs, and chopped clams, often served as an appetizer.
- Grinders The New England term for submarine sandwiches, often filled with Italian cold cuts and served at local delis.
- Clam fritters Fried dough mixed with chopped clams, a seaside snack often enjoyed at summer fairs and clam shacks.
- Steamers Soft-shell clams steamed in broth and dipped in butter, a classic New England shore dinner.
- Apple cider donuts A fall favorite from local orchards, often paired with fresh cider during foliage season.
Music and arts
- Sea shanties and maritime music The region's maritime heritage keeps sea shanties alive, celebrated at the Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival.
- Garde Arts Center A restored 1920s movie palace in New London hosting theater, concerts, and films.
- Lyman Allyn Art Museum Houses a diverse collection from American paintings to European decorative arts, with a focus on local history.
- Native American art The Mashantucket Pequot Museum showcases contemporary and traditional Native American art and crafts.
A little history
- 1636–1638 Pequot War
- 1781 Battle of Groton Heights
- 1800s New London becomes a major whaling port
- Mid-1800s Willimantic earns the nickname 'Thread City' for its textile mills
- 1954 USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, is launched in Groton
Rivalries
- UConn vs. Providence College basketball rivalry with nearby Rhode Island.
- Coast Guard Academy vs. Merchant Marine Academy Annual football clash between the two service academies.
- New London vs. Norwich Friendly city pride and high school sports.
- Groton vs. Ledyard Local high school football rivalry.
- Game day Coast Guard Academy football
- Game day Norwich Sea Unicorns baseball
- Outdoors Clamming and oyster harvesting
- Outdoors Fishing off the piers
- With kids Willimantic Boom Box Parade
- With kids Mashantucket Pequot Museum
Locals speak with a classic New England accent, softening the 'r' in words like 'car' and 'park.' They use terms like 'wicked' for emphasis, 'bubbler' for a water fountain, and 'grinder' for a submarine sandwich. Place names have distinct pronunciations: 'Norwich' rhymes with 'porridge,' 'Groton' sounds like 'graw-ton,' and 'Willimantic' is 'Will-im-an-tic.'
Only here
- The Willimantic Boom Box Parade, where the entire town marches with portable radios on July 4th.
- The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, is permanently docked in Groton as a museum.
- Two of the largest casinos in the world – Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun – are within a 20-minute drive of each other.
- Mystic Seaport is the largest maritime museum in the United States, preserving historic ships and crafts.
New here? A few tips
- Expect cold, snowy winters and humid summers – dress in layers and be ready for nor'easters.
- I-95 can be congested, especially near the shoreline; learn back roads through Norwich and Mystic.
- You'll need a car – public transit is limited, though the Shore Line East train connects to New Haven.
- Try the local seafood: a lobster roll or clam chowder from a shoreline shack is a must.
- Learn the local pronunciations: 'Norwich' rhymes with 'porridge,' 'Groton' is 'graw-ton,' and 'Willimantic' is 'Will-im-an-tic.'
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Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.