Your Guide to London's Top Head Shops & Smoke Shops

Every pipe counter, vape shop, and dispensary accessory wall is often lumped into the same bucket. That's the mistake. If you want collector glass, a dry-herb vape, simple rolling gear, or indoor grow equipment, the best choice in London depends less on who has the biggest sign and more on who specializes in what you need.

That matters more now because London's cannabis and smoke retail scene has changed fast. The city went from four provincially licensed cannabis retail stores to 40 operational or pending-clearance retailers, with smoke or cannabis-related businesses reaching 44 in 2026, according to CBC's reporting on London's retail expansion. For shoppers, that means more options, but also more noise, more overlap, and more mixed quality.

Some spots still feel like classic head shops. Others are really vape-first stores. Others are licensed dispensaries with a decent accessory section, but not much depth once you move past mainstream pieces. If you're searching for the best head shops in London Ontario, it helps to choose by specialty, not hype. Here are the shops I'd separate out first.

1. Hi-Times

Hi-Times is the closest thing London has to a true all-rounder for serious accessory shoppers. It carries the old-school head shop DNA, but in a more structured retail format, with glass, vaporizers, rolling gear, and a grow department under one roof at Hi-Times. If you want one store that can handle both a quality bong and cultivation hardware, this is usually the first stop.

London also has a long memory for head shops. Older locals still talk about The Fig Leaf as a cultural fixture that sold “paraphernalia, music, and clothing,” and the modern market now includes long-running stores such as Hi-Times at 360 Richmond Street, with posted hours noted in a local history discussion of London head shops.

Best for collector glass and grow gear

What separates Hi-Times is range. Casual shoppers can grab papers, grinders, bowls, and cleaning supplies. More advanced buyers can dig into artist glass, extraction accessories, and indoor growing hardware that most general smoke shops don't stock well.

• Collector focus: Better fit for shoppers chasing heady glass or premium branded pieces, not just entry-level imports.
• Grow depth: Strong option if you need lights, ventilation, tents, nutrients, or hydroponic basics in the same run.
• Downtown convenience: Easy pick if you want an established central shop with posted hours and a broad in-store selection.

Practical rule: If you're buying expensive glass, ask where the piece came from, what brand markings to check, and whether the shop can show packaging or maker details.

The trade-off is straightforward. Premium pieces cost premium money, and the grow side can feel like overkill if all you need is a simple spoon pipe.

One more thing matters here. Local shoppers have raised concerns about counterfeit high-end glass, including reports involving fake Stundenglass sold in the market, and that makes authentication questions worth asking before you buy anything expensive, as noted in this Yelp discussion tied to Hi-Times and local trust concerns. Shops in this category also need stronger digital visibility to explain what they stock and how they verify it, which is exactly where focused cannabis marketing strategies help.

2. The Hippy Co.

If Hi-Times is the practical power shop, The Hippy Co. feels more like the browse-and-discover stop. The store leans into the classic head shop mood, and that matters if you're the kind of buyer who wants to see unusual pieces in person instead of scrolling a sterile product grid at The Hippy Co..

For someone seeking character, I'd recommend this spot. Not just a functional rig or a backup grinder, but something with more personality, especially if local or Canadian glass is the appeal.

Best for browsing unique pieces

The Hippy Co. works well for shoppers who don't want a chain-store feel. Inventory tends to reward in-person browsing, and that's often the point with artist-made glass. You're not always shopping by spec sheet. You're shopping by how a piece looks, feels, balances, and catches your eye on the shelf.

A few practical trade-offs stand out:

• Strongest use case: Buyers who want one-of-a-kind or artist-leaning glass over mass-market sameness.
• Less ideal for speed runs: If you already know you need one standard accessory at the lowest hassle, another shop may be faster.
• In-store matters more: The website doesn't always tell the full story, so this is a better walk-in destination than a purely online comparison stop.

The best shops for art glass aren't always the best shops for commodity accessories. Don't judge them by the same standard.

There's also a wider market reason this style of shop still matters. Private head shop owners in London have openly worried about changing rules and future competition from government-linked cannabis retail accessory sales, which creates uncertainty around how independent stores position their inventory, according to CBC's coverage of London head shops and marijuana competition. Shops with a discovery-led identity need to be easy to find locally, and better Google Maps visibility is part of that.

3. Your Highness Headshop & Vapes (London, Richmond St.)

Your Highness is the practical middle lane. It doesn't try to be a boutique glass gallery, and it doesn't feel like a dispensary accessory afterthought either. For many shoppers, that balance is useful at Your Highness Headshop & Vapes.

If you want a broad menu of bongs, rigs, hookahs, vaporizers, papers, grinders, scales, and basic smoke-shop add-ons without overthinking the trip, this is a sensible pick.

A quick look at the storefront style helps set expectations.

Best for one-stop variety

This is the kind of store that works when your shopping list crosses categories. Maybe you need a replacement bowl, a cheap backup battery, shisha, a grinder, and papers. A lot of specialized stores are better at one thing. Your Highness is better at covering the full errand.

What works well:

• Budget spread: Usually better for mixed budgets than a collector-focused shop.
• Mainstream inventory: Easier place to buy familiar category staples quickly.
• Category clarity: Good fit for shoppers who like straightforward product organization.

What doesn't work as well is the top end. If you're chasing named artists, limited glass, or a gallery-type experience, this probably won't be your first choice.

Buyer note: In broad-inventory smoke shops, ask what's regularly restocked and what's one-off. That tells you whether you can rely on the shop for repeat purchases.

For businesses in this part of the market, compliance and category boundaries matter because they often carry products that sit near regulated spaces, even when they aren't licensed cannabis stores. Clear internal processes and a visible compliance risk assessment approach make a real difference in how trustworthy the store feels.

4. Forest City Vape

Forest City Vape sits in a different lane from the classic head shops in London Ontario. It's vape-first. That means it won't beat a true glass shop on bong depth, but it can be the smarter stop if your main question is device performance, maintenance, or replacement parts at Forest City Vape.

That distinction matters because plenty of shoppers say they want a “head shop” when what they really need is help choosing a vaporizer that won't be annoying to clean or finicky to run.

Best for vape buyers who want actual guidance

The advantage here is staff familiarity with devices. If you're deciding between dry-herb use and concentrate use, or trying to troubleshoot charging, coils, or cleaning routines, vape specialists are often more useful than a glass-heavy counter.

Forest City Vape makes sense if you care about:

• Device support: Better fit for buyers who need help understanding vape maintenance.
• Repeat purchases: Handy for cleaning supplies, grinders, and accessory restocks.
• Multiple locations: Useful if convenience matters and you don't want to cross the city for every replacement item.

The drawback is simple. If your goal is a big wall of water pipes or artist glass, this isn't that shop. It's more focused, and that's either a benefit or a limitation depending on what brought you in.

I'd also separate dry-herb and nicotine needs before you go. Stores in this category can overlap with cannabis accessory use, but their strongest value is usually operational help with the hardware, not the broadest counter of traditional smoking pieces.

5. It's Not Smoke

It's Not Smoke is one of those stores that earns points for consistency rather than novelty. It's known more as a longstanding vape retailer than a classic head shop, and that's exactly how I'd use it at It's Not Smoke.

If you want an easy online browse for batteries, chargers, device accessories, and maintenance basics, this is more practical than a shop built around display-case glass.

Best for online browsing and utility accessories

Some stores are better in person than online. This one is easier to shop digitally because the catalogue is laid out in a way that helps when you already know the general product type you need.

That makes it useful for:

• Replacement essentials: Batteries, chargers, cleaning gear, and device support items.
• Local confidence: Buyers who prefer an established London operator over random online sellers.
• Quick reorders: Better than a discovery-style shop when the purchase is routine.

The limitation is obvious. If your definition of a head shop starts with bongs, rigs, hand pipes, and display glass, It's Not Smoke isn't where the strongest differentiation sits.

A lot of buyers waste money by choosing a store for atmosphere when they really need a store for parts availability.

This is the place I'd keep in mind for upkeep, not for the most interesting shelf in the city. It fills the support role well, and every local market needs that kind of operator.

6. Cannabis Link (Accessories Department)

Cannabis Link is the point where traditional head-shop shopping and licensed retail convenience overlap. You can browse legal cannabis and accessories in one trip at Cannabis Link's accessories section, which is the main reason to choose it.

That sounds basic, but it solves a real use case. Plenty of shoppers don't need a destination glass gallery. They need papers, grinders, a mainstream bong or vape, and legal product from the same counter.

Best for buying accessories with legal cannabis

The strength here is convenience plus retail structure. Inventory is organized by category, the shopping environment is more standardized, and staff are working inside a compliant cannabis retail setting.

That's useful if you want:

• One-stop convenience: Buy accessories and cannabis without making a second stop.
• Simple mainstream options: Good for common needs rather than collector hunting.
• Cleaner browsing: Easier for newer shoppers who don't want the old-school head shop vibe.

The trade-off is depth. Accessory sections inside dispensaries rarely match a dedicated head shop for variety, especially if you want niche glass, advanced accessories, or unusual brands.

This distinction matters more in London because the city ranks fourth out of 160 Ontario centres for retail cannabis sales according to London Inc.’s report on OCS figures. In a market that active, licensed retailers will keep pulling accessory buyers who value convenience over curation.

7. Stash & Co. London

Stash & Co. lands close to Cannabis Link in purpose, but the experience is a bit more chain-retail polished. If you like clean merchandising, predictable presentation, and a simpler decision set, it's a comfortable option at Stash & Co. London.

This isn't where I'd send a collector. It is where I'd send someone who wants a no-fuss purchase in a modern cannabis retail environment.

Best for clean retail standards and straightforward shopping

Some shoppers don't enjoy traditional smoke-shop energy. They'd rather shop in a brighter, more uniform retail setting and choose from mainstream accessory categories that are easy to compare.

Stash & Co. fits that preference well:

• Retail consistency: Good for buyers who value chain-style organization and a cleaner presentation.
• Bundled shopping: Practical if accessories are part of a broader cannabis purchase.
• Low-friction experience: Better for quick decisions than for deep browsing.

The compromise is the same one most dispensary accessory sections make. You get convenience and consistency, but not the strongest selection of niche glass or enthusiast gear.

Ontario's average cannabis item price is listed at $21.64 in Headset's Ontario market data, which points to a competitive retail environment where shoppers notice value. In stores like this, accessory buyers tend to respond best when mainstream products are easy to compare and priced in a way that feels sensible beside the rest of the basket.

Top 7 London, ON Head Shops Comparison

Store	Selection & Complexity 🔄	Resource Requirements ⚡	Quality & Impact ⭐📊	Ideal Use Cases 💡	Key Advantages
Hi‑Times	Extensive artist + functional glass; full indoor grow dept, high complexity	Higher budget for premium glass; some cultivation expertise for grow gear	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📊 High collector quality; strong impact for serious buyers	Collectors, growers needing full cultivation gear, premium shoppers	Curated heady glass; broadest accessory & grow selection; ships Canada
The Hippy Co.	Rotating local/Canadian heady inventory; discovery‑oriented	Moderate budget; best experienced in‑store for discovery	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📊 High for unique/artist pieces	Shoppers seeking one‑of‑a‑kind artist glass and local finds	Emphasis on local artists; unique in‑store discovery experience
Your Highness Headshop & Vapes	Wide mainstream assortment; lower specialty complexity	Budget‑friendly options; frequent restocks; multiple locations	⭐⭐⭐ 📊 Reliable mainstream quality and variety	One‑stop shop for variety, balanced price/performance	Broad accessory breadth; clear categories; long hours
Forest City Vape	Vape‑centric selection; limited glass complexity	Moderate spend on devices; benefits from staff advice	⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📊 Strong device performance and support for vaporizers	Buying/troubleshooting vaporizers and device accessories	Experienced vape staff; consistent inventory; multiple storefronts
It's Not Smoke	Nicotine‑vape focused catalog; clear online complexity	Online ordering/local delivery; device‑centric purchases	⭐⭐⭐ 📊 Well‑organized inventory; dependable service	Nicotine vapers needing devices, coils, batteries, online orders	Deep online catalog; longevity and local trust
Cannabis Link (Accessories dept)	Licensed retailer accessories; selection varies by store	Convenient to combine with cannabis purchase; store‑dependent stock	⭐⭐⭐ 📊 Moderate selection; compliant retail environment	Buying accessories alongside legal cannabis; compliant advice	Trained budtenders; multiple locations; convenience
Stash & Co. – London	Chain retailer with mainstream accessory selection; low complexity	Predictable pricing/service; may be slightly premium	⭐⭐⭐ 📊 Consistent retail standards and merchandising	Shoppers wanting consistent in‑store experience and cannabis + accessories	Clean merchandising; reliable chain practices; promotions/events

Finding Your Go-To Spot in London

The best head shops in London Ontario aren't all trying to do the same job, and that's the main thing most roundups miss. Hi-Times makes the most sense for serious glass shoppers and anyone who needs grow supplies in the same trip. The Hippy Co. is stronger when you want something with personality and a more discovery-driven in-store feel. Your Highness sits in the practical middle, with broad category coverage that works for everyday buyers.

The vape-led shops deserve to be judged differently. Forest City Vape is a better bet when device support and vaporizer know-how matter more than a huge wall of glass. It's Not Smoke is useful when you want a dependable local source for batteries, chargers, cleaning tools, and repeat accessory orders.

The dispensary-based options fill a separate role. Cannabis Link and Stash & Co. are convenient because you can handle accessories and legal cannabis in one stop, but they usually won't replace a dedicated head shop if you're looking for collector pieces, a wider range of glass, or a more traditional smoke-shop selection. That's the core difference between a classic head shop and a licensed dispensary accessory section. One is built around accessories as the main event. The other treats them as support products.

If I were narrowing it down by need, I'd think about it this way. Buy from a specialist when the purchase is expensive, technical, or something you want to keep for years. Buy from a broad-inventory smoke shop when you want convenience and range. Buy from a dispensary accessory wall when speed matters more than depth.

London has become a crowded market, and that's good for shoppers. It also means the best stores need to explain their differences clearly online, not just in person. For shops competing in this space, a stronger local search presence, tighter category pages, and compliant paid campaigns can make the difference between being discovered and being ignored. That's where Juiced Digital can help.

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If you run a smoke shop, vape store, dispensary, or other regulated local business, Juiced Digital can help you turn search visibility into real customers. The team works across SEO, paid media, CRO, and compliant growth strategy for cannabis and other niche sectors, with a practical focus on qualified traffic and measurable ROI.