Fort Langley Day Trip
Enjoy an day trip from Vancouver to Fort Langley where you can explore the historic site as well as many boutique shops and restaurants
Located east of Vancouver in the lower Fraser Valley, Fort Langley can be reached from downtown Vancouver in under 2 hours using public transit. You will easily be able to spend the better part of a day exploring this historic site and the neighbouring village making this an ideal spot for a day trip from Vancouver.
Fort Langley is both a historic village which is home to about 2700 people as well as the location of a National Historic Site. It is also home to the BC Farm Museum, a CN Rail Heritage Site, and several art galleries.
Fort Langley National Historic Site
The Fort Langley National Historic Site was a former trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company. The original fort was set up in 1827 about 3 kilometres west of the present site. It was built on the south bank of the Fraser River to ensure British claims to both sides of the river and it then became the colonial capital until New Westminster was named the capital in 1859. The trading post was a major exporter of salted salmon packed inside cedar barrels as well as cedar lumber and shakes much of which was shipped across the Pacific all the way to Hawaii. In 1921 a major sawmill opened along the riverfront bringing considerable prosperity to the town, but by the 1980s the aging mill was in decline and it finally closed in the mid 1990s. Today the site of the mill has been converted to a housing development called Bedford Landing and the historic village has been revived as a popular tourist destination.
A visit to the Fort Langley National Historic Site will take you back in to early colonial times making this an interesting and educational and fun experience for the entire family. You will be greeted by people dressed in period costumes and you will learn a lot about the early evolution of British Columbia and the significant role of the First Nations who traded with the Colonial settlers. Much of this early period of trade and development was fueled by the Gold Rush.
Fort Langley Historic Village
As engaging as it is, the National Historic Site is just a portion of what the village has to explore. The BC Farm Museum, open from the beginning of April until the end of September, is located right across the road. The old buildings and shops along the main street as well as some side streets have been beautifully restored and are now home to many boutique shops and restaurants. There are also a couple of art galleries and you will find numerous antique shops located throughout the picturesque village which are very interesting to explore. The selection and range of wares on display is second to none. You will find many of the shops here, unlike most tourist areas, offer good value for your money.
There are wonderful places to enjoy a meal as too. We would suggest Sushi Hinode Japanese Restaurant on Mavis Avenue for excellent value on sushi and Japanese cuisine, or visit the rustic Trading Post Eatery on Glover Road and choose from their selection of hearty burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads. It is good to note that several restaurants in Fort Langley take Monday as their day off so there are more choices for dining during the balance of the week.
A day trip to the quaint and beautifully restored village of Fort Langley is an exciting journey back in time and a pleasant change of pace from the big city.
For more information about the town of Fort Langley visit: Tourism Langley
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: No with the exception of visiting the National Historic Site and other local museumsFort Langley National Historic Site of Canada Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: 23433 Mavis Ave, Langley Twp, BC V1M 2R5, Canada
Phone: (604) 513-4777
Official Website: Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada
Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada Reviews
Rated out of 5
I had not been to Fort Langley since 2017 or so .
We took 3 classes here for a field trip, grades 2-5 and it was spectacular!
Kind of like a scavenger hunt where you go from building to building learning about the different aspects of Fort Langley and answering questions for tokens upon return to the main house.
My students absolutely loved how hands on the field trip was. And we all learned so much!
I do lots of field trips and will definitely go back again next year. Amazing day! Kids and adults loved it.
Jo-Ann Ashly - a month ago
We had an amazing experience, it is calming and beautiful in every season, and we learned about fur traders and settlers in reconstructed buildings. The site is well-maintained, and wandering around feels like stepping back in time. There are lots of lovely shops, cafes, and restaurants just a short walk from the site.
Aylar A - 2 months ago
Our family camped overnight and it was a pretty cool experience. The tent was fairly comfortable (though we found some of the decor cumbersome for the space). It was fun to run around and play cornhole at night. Everything was clean, staff was friendly, and it was neat to start the day inside the fort already.
Kyle Corbin - 2 weeks ago
Beautiful spot, so much history, the large building upstairs was however not very organized and the girl at the front desk spent the whole time talking on the phone and didn't help at all, seemed very new on the job tho..
Stephen Smith - 2 months ago
It was good experience knowing about the history of meties people, how life was there back days. I had a good day that I spent. Whole town is beautiful. You can come with family and enjoy good time and food with lots of cafe.overall great experience
shubham poudyal - 3 months ago
Directions
| Skytrain and Bus Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Expo Line | Surrey Central Station | 0 Minutes |
How to get to Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada by Skytrain and Bus
From the Expo line exit at Surrey Central Station catch the #501 Langley Centre bus at bay #2. Get off at Carvolth Exchange and Ride (about 39 minutes on the bus) and transfer to a #562 Walnut Grove / Langley Centre Bus at bay #11. Ride the #562 bus to the corner of 96th Avenue and Glover Road (about 18 minutes on the bus). The village is located along both sides of Glover Road - mostly to the north.
If you need to use a washroom after your trip out from Vancouver there are public washrooms in the beautifully restored Fort Langley Community Hall on the east side of Glover Road just north of where you get off the bus. You can access them via the public library which is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 12:30pm and 1pm to 5pm and located at the south end of the hall. There are also public washrooms just inside the main entrance of the Fort Langley National Historic Site.
To walk to the National Historic Site go north on Glover Road to Mavis Avenue (just before the railway tracks) and then go right (west). The entrance is a couple of blocks ahead on the left. You will also find Langley Centennial Museum right across the road.
For the return to Vancouver you can simply reverse the trip.
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Accommodations near Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada:
Photo Gallery
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A glimpse inside Fort Langley National Historic Site cc licensed photo by The Hadfields -
Photo Credit: Darcy.Rezac - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Darcy.Rezac - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Ruth and Dave - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Ruth and Dave - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Ruth and Dave - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Ruth and Dave - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Arbron - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Ruth and Dave - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Ruth and Dave - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Arbron - cc license via Flickr
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