New London, New Hampshire was first granted in 1753 as Heidelberg,
in honor of George II's visit to his German possessions at the time. The town was granted again in 1773 as Alexandria Addition, but the name didn't last long. It was incorporated as New Londonderry, shortened to New London, in 1779. New London is home to Colby-Sawyer College, and includes the village of Elkins and the hamlet known locally as Scytheville on Pleasant Lake. Also is New London is the villages of Crocket Corner, Otterville, Lakeside, Hastings, and Soo Nipi Park. The New London Barn Playhouse is located here - one of the oldest summer theatres in the country.
Bodies of water located at least partially in New London include; Lake Sunappe, Little Lake Sunapee, Pleasant Lake, Messer Pond, and Clark Pond.