From delightful shops and bakeries to historic heritage sites, those looking for fun things to do in Fort Langley are absolutely spoiled for choice.
Dripping with Hallmark Christmas movie charm, this picturesque gem is our go-to when we want ‘vacation feels’ only an hour away from downtown Vancouver. There may be a lot of great things to do in Langley, but spending a day in Fort Langley is one of our favourites.
Wondering what exactly Fort Langley has to offer? In this post, we’ll be sharing some of the top things to do in Fort Langley, BC, whether you’re in town for a girls’ trip, adorable date, family day out, or solo jaunt.
Have an amazing brunch
We’ve already written plenty about our love for brunch spots in Downtown Vancouver, but in spite of its tiny size, Fort Langley has a surprising amount of brunch places to choose from, with options catering to every vibe.
For a chic and elevated brunch experience, Sabà Bistro is a popular spot that offers brunch dishes like Shakshuka and Braised Short Rib Hash until 12pm on weekdays, and 3pm on weekends.
For a cozier and more casual breakfast/brunch experience, local favourite Wendel’s Bookstore & Cafe offers a simple menu consisting of pancakes, bennys, breakfast sandwiches, and an array of baked treats until 11am on weekdays, and 11:30am on weekends.
For weekend/holiday visitors, Beatniks Bistro offers a classic brunch experience ft. mimosas, caesars, bennies, and avocado toast… with plenty of patio seating in the sun for the perfect start to your day in Fort Langley.
Or, last but certainly not least, if you happen to visit on an awkward weekday afternoon and have missed all the time cutoffs above, don’t worry – Blacksmith Bakery does an all-day brunch, with a delicious “Blacksmith Benedict” that is to die for… along with some of the tastiest baked goods in the area.
On that note, another great thing to do in Fort Langley is…
Enjoy some of the best croissants in Metro Vancouver
Not only does Blacksmith Bakery do a great brunch, they are also known for their mouthwatering baked goods, with the star of their show being their buttery range of perfectly flaky croissants.
While you can’t go wrong with an OG classic croissant, we can highly recommend grabbing one of their double baked hazelnut croissants. They’re simply life-changing. On the other hand, we were a little disappointed by their Pain au Chocolat, which was pretty lacking in chocolate, but we’d love to give their savoury iterations (like Ham & Swiss, and Bacon & Cheese) a try next time!
Go shopping for vintage treasures
Fort Langley is an amazing place to shop, and one of our personal favourite places to browse is the Village Antiques Mall.
This massive shop is home to over 60 independent dealers who present their wares in a sprawling 10,000 square foot haven of all things retro and vintage.
Want retro beer glasses from the 90s? They have them. What about vintage dresses from the 50s? They have those too. This glorious shop is organized in a maze-like layout with thousands of items to ogle, and you’re guaranteed to find at least an item or two to bring home.
Be warned: it’s easy to get lost in here – so keep your friends close!
Admire some cute murals
While we would argue that the entirety of Fort Langley is just one glorious photo opp, those in search of more colourful and unique backdrops are in luck – Fort Langley happens to be home to quite a few beautiful murals.
You’ll be able to find a row of them in “Gasoline Alley”, opposite Republica Coffee Roasters, but keep an eye out for some others that are scattered around town.
Visit the Fort Langley National Historic Site
Long before it became a haven of adorable cafes, independent shops, and picture-perfect photo opps, Fort Langley was best known for its fur trading post that belonged to THE Hudson’s Bay Company.
And while many visitors today choose to soak in the heritage vibes of Fort Langley through other means (food and shopping, mostly), one of the best ways to appreciate the area’s historical significance is through a visit to the Fort Langley National Historic Site, which is a reconstructed fur trading post that visitors can explore to learn more about the site’s important history.
Costumed interpreters & unique demos await at this historic complex, which consists of reconstructed fur trade era buildings and gardens. Whether you opt for a self-guided audio tour or not, this is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in local history (and learn a thing or two).
NOTE: This would be an especially fun thing to do in Fort Langley with kids, as they have plenty of educational kid-friendly activities on-site. Youth up to 17 years old even get in free!
Stop by the former Fort Langley CNR Station
Another great historic attraction to explore in Fort Langley is the former CNR Station, which feels like a beautiful postcard frozen in time.
Originally built in 1915 for the Canadian Northern Railway, the station remains today as a museum of sorts for curious visitors.
While it’s only open seasonally, you can still check out the building’s grounds and exterior year round. Time your visit for Spring, and you might even catch the gorgeous cherry blossom tree that blooms in front:
Go searching for well-known filming locations
Given Vancouver’s status as Hollywood North, it should come as no surprise that Fort Langley has been used for many film and TV productions over the years.
From Riverdale to Once Upon a Time, the streets of Fort Langley have been used time and time again to depict on-screen locations.
Looking for a good place to start? Be sure to…
Make a stop at the Fort Langley Community Hall
Perhaps no building in Fort Langley is as famous as the bright yellow Community Hall, which dates back to the 1930s, and has for decades served as the community hub for local residents.
From weddings and banquets to special festivals and auctions, this beautiful hall is hands down one of the best places to visit in Fort Langley, if even just for a quick photograph.
It helps that it’s a pretty famous spot too, thanks to its multiple features in movies and TV shows.
Enjoy a quaint afternoon tea
In case it wasn’t clear by now, one of the top things to do in Fort Langley is soak in all the adorable small town vibes.
And while pretty much every inch of this place is exceedingly charming, the Instagram-famous Little White House may take the cake when it comes to cutest spot in Fort Langley.
… Quite literally, because they have a cute Parisian-style tea salon that does indeed serve cake.
This lifestyle boutique is like a dollhouse come to life, with dreamy rooms that are perfectly decorated with a gorgeous assortment of home goods, dresses, and accessories.
Perhaps most noteworthy though is its beautiful Salon Café, which offers a classic tiered Afternoon Tea experience, with towers full of dainty sandwiches, pastries, cakes, and… tea (of course).
Go shopping at some gorgeous independent shops
If you’ve grown weary of the usual big box shops and chains ever-present in Vancouver, then Fort Langley is a great place to enjoy some independent shopping.
You’ll be able to find a wide variety of cute boutiques here, all offering curated selections of everything from spa goods and hats to clothing and jewelry.
Bella & Wren is an especially beautiful place to browse, but you can check out the Fort Langley Village Directory for a full list of shops.
Pick up some beautiful blooms
Fort Langley is a beautiful place filled with tempting eye-candy, but the village’s gorgeous flower shops deserve a special shout-out.
Both Floralista Flower Studio and Niche Boutique Florals offer gorgeous spaces crammed with flowers, vases, and arrangements (both fresh and dried). If you’re looking for somewhere to pick up gifts, whether for yourself or others, then these two shops are a must-visit.
… Just be warned that you might lose all self control and buy an unnecessary amount of dried floral arrangements. Not that we’re speaking from experience or anything.
Enjoy some craft brews
Craft beer is an inescapable phenomenon across the Lower Mainland, and Fort Langley (in all its quaint glory) is no exception.
Trading Post Brewery is a Langley-based small batch brewery with an eatery right in Fort Langley, so if you’re looking for a place to enjoy some local beer in the sun, then be sure to add this spot to your Fort Langley to-do list.
Slurp up a milkshake or float in a 50s diner
If you haven’t gotten enough of the retro, old timey charm of Fort Langley, another stop you can add to your list is Planet Java Fifties Diner.
Admittedly, this place needs a little TLC (as reviews will tell you)… but if you’re a sucker for nostalgia and vintage diner vibes, the interior is still fairly cute, and they make a pretty refreshing Root Beer Float!
We can’t vouch for the other things on their menu though, so we’d recommend only stopping by here for a quick treat, rather than a full meal.
Grab sweet treats from around the world
Speaking of treats, Fort Langley happens to be home to one of the cutest candy shops in Metro Vancouver.
Into Chocolate Candy & Confections is a vintage style sweet shop that sells an array of goodies from handmade fudge and chocolates to unique sweets from all over the world.
We personally picked up some Double Double Coffee Crisp here, because it just felt like the proper Canadian thing to do… but you’ll also be able to find unique treats and gifts from other corners of the globe too. No lie, we also bought a pretzel-shaped purse, but that’s enough talk about our poor financial planning.
Go shopping for unique gifts
In case the whole “pretzel purse” thing didn’t make it clear, Fort Langley has a lot of great shops that sell super fun and unique gifts. If you’re tired of sifting through the same old-same old in terms of gift shops, we guarantee you’ll find something quirky and unique in Fort Langley.
We had a lot of fun exploring Mason Jar Merchant, which (true to its name) sells a shocking amount of mason jar and mason jar adjacent items, as well as The Happy Kitchen, which had every kind of fun kitchen gadget you could ever ask for.
Enjoy some locally roasted coffee
If all the sightseeing and shopping is getting to you, another great Fort Langley activity is refuelling with a cup of caffeination from Republica Coffee Roasters, a locally owned and operated purveyor of delicious coffee, roasted right in Fort Langley.
Whether you just want to grab a quick cup to enjoy on-site, or a bag of beans to take home for later, this is a must-visit in Fort Langley for coffee lovers!
Visit the Farmer’s Market
Last but not least, if you’re looking for unique things to do in Fort Langley during the weekend, then be sure to time your visit to coincide with their weekly Farmers Market which takes place on Saturdays from end of April to December.
The Fort Langley Village Farmers Market is a wonderland of local produce and crafts, along with a hefty selection of ready-to-eat baked goods and treats.
If you’re an avid foodie, this is one activity in Fort Langley you don’t want to miss!
Did we miss any of your favourite things to do in Fort Langley?
Let us know in the comments so we can add more recommendations to our list!