If you hear “Tillsonburg” and immediately think of Stompin’ Tom Connors or tobacco fields, you’re not alone. However, while that history is worth celebrating, today’s Tillsonburg is so much more. From a charming downtown dotted with a cheese shop, art gallery and family-run restaurants to lush farmland on its outskirts, there are plenty of unexpected spots to discover.
Want more nearby? Check out all the Oxford County goodness waiting for you!
Unexpected Delights
Keep reading for our top 7 unexpected and highly delicious stops to check out in Tillsonburg and the surrounding area! From flower farms and fresh markets to cheese makers and more, you won’t want to miss this.
1. Bre’s Fresh Market
Where: 224276 Ostrander Rd, Tillsonburg, ON (View Map)
For all things fresh and local, Bre’s Fresh Market is a must-stop. What started as a roadside corn stand in Bre’s youth has flourished into a full-fledged open air market complete with goats, chickens and a whole lot of fresh goodness. If you find yourself arriving before opening, you’ll love seeing the bright red barn against a backdrop of beautiful open sky — and likely a few folks waiting for the doors to open.
Step inside and you’ll find loads of local produce with each farm given a shout out, fresh baked goods made on site, locally-sourced meats, cheese, granola, pies, charcuterie boards, soap and more. A love letter to Oxford County and nearby Norfolk County, this is a great place to stock up for a picnic or grocery shop for the week ahead.
Psst! Travelling with kids? Grab some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and farm fresh berries to enjoy on the picnic tables outside while you watch the goats play in their pen!
2. Makkink’s Flower Farm
Where: 164604 Kellett Rd, Tillsonburg, ON (View Map)
For a relaxing and delicious experience, point your wheels towards Makkink’s Flower Farm. Located right on the Trans-Canada Trail, it’s an excellent stop for cyclists tackling this section or anyone just looking to get back in touch wth Mother Nature. Select from a variety of experiences available, crafted by the talented and passionate Hilde Makkink.
We recommend signing up for their seasonal Pick & Bloom Experience where Hilde will show you how to pick and cut your own bouquet and then show you how to arrange it. Wander the rows of beautiful, blooming flowers, listen to the birds and take a deep breath of fresh, rural air.
Afterwards, head over to the on-site bakery and cafe for a tasty handheld treat like their Brie & Proscuitto Melt using Gunn’s Hill Cheese or go extra decadent and book the high tea service. If you did the Pick & Bloom package, you can add the high tea service to your experience.
Want to go even deeper? The farm has loads of seasonal experiences from their Bloom & Bonfire Experience which has you picking flowers followed by a bonfire complete with s’mores and their Fall Flower Workshops making dried wreaths, centrepieces and more!
3. Red Dragon Dairy
Where: 383723 Salford Rd RR#1, South-West Oxford, ON (View Map)
We’d be remiss if there wasn’t at least one cheese maker on this list. It is Oxford County after all! Red Dragon Dairy specializes in artisanal sheep milk cheeses as well as charcuterie meats, a variety of local goods and some specialty import items from the United Kingdom. Just 15 minutes from Tillsonburg, hit the back roads to this farm property.
Run by Ellis Morris and his family who immigrated to Canada from Wales, you’ll find tiny shout outs to the country through out the shop (even the name, Red Dragon Dairy, comes from the Welsh flag).
We recommend selecting a few of their cheeses (don’t sleep on the 20-year aged cheddar or their pecorino) and pairing it up with some fresh produce, curds, sourdough bread baked in-house and perhaps some salami to enjoy on the patio out front. If it’s a warm fall day, don’t miss out on grabbing a scoop of fresh soft serve to enjoy out there too!
4. JTK Meat Shoppe
Where: 293193 Culloden Line, Ingersoll, ON (View Map)
Five minutes away, you’ll find JTK Meat Shoppe. This local hot spot may look unassuming from the outside but trust us, you want to make the stop. Don’t be surprised if you find a pretty big lineup either!
Part butchery, part retail space and part takeout lunch spot, we recommend bringing a cooler. Actually, that would be handy for this whole trip, wouldn’t it? From ready-to-go pulled pork and some damn good jalapeno poppers to chicken, steak, dairy, eggs and more, you’ll be able to stock your freezer or host an epic backyard BBQ this fall.
You’ll also want to make sure you try the lunch special! When we visited it was a philly cheese steak sandwich complete with all the ooey gooey goodness you’d hope for.
These specials change regularly though so you can leave that to the element of surprise or keep an eye on their social media to see what’s happening on the day you visit! Then it’s time to hit the road and enjoy on the go or grab a spot on their front yard patio.
5. The Skyway Cafe
Where: 244411 Airport Rd, Tillsonburg, ON (View Map)
If you love small town diners or planes (or both!) then Skyway Cafe in Tillsonburg should be on your itinerary. Located at the Tillsonburg Regional Airport, the vibes here are laid back and fun. Order a classic breakfast with bacon and eggs, a breakfast sammy or French toast and waffles! Of course, don’t forget to keep that bottomless coffee coming too.
On sunny warm days, grab a spot on the patio for the chance to see a number of small, private planes take off as well as the occasional commercial plane and heritage planes like the bright yellow Harvard Aircraft.
Find yourself here on a chillier day and don’t want to brave the patio? No worries! The dining room boasts huge windows with views of the runway. Perfect for those travelling with kids, you’ll get breakfast (or lunch…or brunch) and a show!
Hot Tip: If you find yourself here on a Tuesday or Saturday, be sure to check out the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Museum on the same property and learn all about these historic aircrafts used to train pilots in World War II. To really kick things up a notch, book a flight experience!
6. GoodPud
Where: 39 North Street E Unit A, Tillsonburg, ON (View Map)
Run by sisters Polly and Sarah who immigrated from the United Kingdom, GoodPud is all about making dessert fun and delicious. Pop in to try a lineup of their decadent puddings made wth Ontario cream and Belgian chocolate. Delight in their three flagship flavours: Salted Caramel & Belgian Dark Chocolate, Belgian Dark Chocolate and Belgian Milk Chocolate before checking out some of the other desserts they make in house.
When we were there, Sarah and Polly had a great line up of treats that included a local strawberry and vanilla tiramisu topped with edible flowers from Makkink’s, brown butter and haskap blondies with haskaps sourced from local Plaid Shirt Farms, Haskap Mojitos and Shaw’s Vanilla Ice Cream for good measure.
Want to learn to make some of their epic desserts? Keep an eye on their Instagram for their monthly dessert social club where you can learn to make treats just like these in the GoodPud kitchen!
Delight in Delicious
Fall in Tillsonburg is a chance to slow down and delight in delicious things! From handcrafted desserts and breakfast with a view to fall farm produce and more, start planning!
