East-central Wisconsin river city known for fishing, boating, and its New Dublin festival tradition.
New London is a small city in east-central Wisconsin, set where the Wolf River meets the Embarrass River. The two rivers and nearby lakes make it a natural base for fishing, boating, canoeing and tubing in summer, with ice fishing taking over in winter.
The town is best known for its St. Patrick's Day celebration, when it renames itself "New Dublin" for a week of Irish festivities, including Wisconsin's largest St. Patrick's Day parade, an Irish ceili (dance social), and corned beef and cabbage in every restaurant in town. The tradition has been running since 1980 and draws visitors from well beyond the Fox Valley.
Downtown New London has a pleasant collection of historic buildings, a few independent shops and restaurants, and an 18-hole golf course on the edge of town.
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Getting There
New London is in east-central Wisconsin, about 30 kilometres northwest of Appleton and 150 kilometres north of Milwaukee. By car, take Highway 45 north from the Milwaukee area or Highway 10 west from Green Bay. There is no commercial air service; the nearest airports are Appleton (ATW) for regional connections and Milwaukee Mitchell (MKE) for broader access.
There is no passenger rail or regular bus service to New London; a car is essentially required for a visit. The city sits at the junction of several county and state highways and is easy to reach from any direction by road.
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When to Go
The best times to visit New London are summer (June to August) for river recreation — fishing, tubing, and kayaking on the Wolf and Embarrass rivers — and mid-March for the St. Patrick's Day "New Dublin" celebration, Wisconsin's largest St. Patrick's Day event. Winter brings ice fishing on the frozen rivers and lakes, which has its own dedicated following.
Summer temperatures are warm and pleasant, typically 20–28°C, with occasional humidity. Winter is genuinely cold — temperatures frequently drop well below freezing, and snowfall is substantial. Spring and autumn are short but attractive, with good fishing conditions in spring and autumn leaf colour along the river in October.