Situated on the northwestern shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto is the anchor of the Golden Horseshoe—an urban stretch that includes Niagara Falls, Waterloo, Guelph, Hamilton, and Durham Region. The Golden Horseshoe is Canada’s most industrialized region, encompassing an area of 7 million people. And the City of Toronto is at the heart of this prosperous area. 

Downtown Toronto

Downtown Toronto is home to some of the city’s most iconic buildings and places of interest including the enormous CN Tower, where you can marvel at 360º views of the city while dining at the revolving restaurant 553 metres in the sky. For those who love the arts, there are dozens of galleries and museums throughout the city’s downtown core displaying the best local and international works. 

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in Grange Park remains one of the largest art museums in the world, and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), is one of the largest museums in North America and the most visited museum in Canada. In the mood for a live performance? Head to historic Meridian Hall (formerly the Sony Centre and current heritage building), or Massey Hall, a designated National Historic Site of Canada for an intimate evening of concerts or other live art.

Sports fans can enjoy Toronto FC soccer games and watch the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts on the gridiron at BMO Field, or catch the MLB’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors play at the Scotiabank Arena.

You can access world-class shopping at the Eaton Centre and enjoy live entertainment across the street at Yonge and Dundas Square or shop at the many luxury retailers along Bloor Street. You can also shop at the numerous independent retailers lining the world’s largest underground shopping complex, The Path, which spans 30 km. For trendy shopping and lively nightlife activities, head to the city’s popular shopping district on Queen Street West, and check out the designated Entertainment District in King West Village.

Downtown Toronto is also home to the city’s iconic Gay Village located along Church Street, as well as the popular communities of Liberty Village and Trinity Bellwoods. Whether you want to experience the city’s exciting nightlife, indulge in the arts, or you want to immerse yourself in the multiculturalism permeating the city, there is definitely a community within Toronto’s downtown that will cater to your ideal lifestyle.

The West End

Toronto’s west end is a combination of eccentricity, eclecticism, and heritage. Here you’ll find a true mix of residents thanks to the wide range of housing options available from affordable rental and condo apartments to modest semi-detached and detached single-family homes to stately manors, and everything in between. This mix of real estate brings with it a wonderful mix of people and cultures that add to the area’s liveliness.

The Bloor West Village (BWV) shopping district running along Bloor Street West comprises more than 400 restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, bakeries, boutique stores, service providers and other amenities, many of which are locally owned independent businesses. Many family-friendly events, classes, and other activities take place in BWV, so this neighbourhood is a favourite among families.

Toronto’s west end is also home to the city’s largest park and community hub of activity, High Park, which shares the same name of the neighbourhood it lies in. High Park offers residents the serenity of being immersed in nature and the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while traversing the winding paths, exploring the conservation areas, or admiring the iconic cherry blossoms in the spring season. 

In this enormous greenspace you can spend your day exercising with a game of tennis, swimming in the community pool, or biking along the trails before picking up something to eat at the restaurant inside the park and sunbathing under one of the mature trees.

Residents in Toronto’s west end neighbourhoods like High Park, Swansea, Roncesvalles Village, and Parkdale are walking distance to Lake Ontario and even enjoy views of the water from some properties. Toronto’s west end neighbourhoods generally carry a strong sense of community and togetherness which is why so many families choose to settle here. 

The East End

Toronto’s east end neighbourhoods include the trendy-but-family-friendly area of Leslieville, the iconic Danforth Village, and the laid-back neighbourhood of The Beaches. With such a variety of lifestyle options, Toronto’s east end is an area sure to meet any criteria, while lying just outside of the city’s downtown.

Leslieville still feels much like a small town with its quaint shops, tree-lined streets, and peaceful atmosphere. It’s these characteristics that have made Leslieville a favourite among young families who enjoy the slower pace while still living in the city and having access to every amenity like great shopping and excellent transit.

There are many independent retailers running along Queen Street East that create the main shopping district of the neighbourhood, while the Indian bazaar on Gerrard Street is an East Indian commercial hub with local vendors selling everything from imported silk to authentic cuisine against a backdrop of traditional music and the smell of incense.

Leslieville is home to multiple parks and recreation centres that offer plenty of options for family-friendly fun and activity. Homes in Leslieville are generally older with lots of character, as many situated around Queen Street East were built in the late 1800s. North of Queen Street East the housing stock consists of detached and semi-detached homes as well as bungalows from the early 1900s. 

Danforth Village in Toronto’s east end is one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods and is home to the annual Taste of the Danforth street festival—Canada’s largest street festival! Every year more than 1.5 million people from across the country come to this community to enjoy the different cuisines and be immersed in the Greek culture that is the defining characteristic of this east Toronto neighbourhood.

Danforth Village has seen a change in residency in recent years, with many young families moving into the area and renovating older homes and an influx of artists and young professionals who’ve come for the warm atmosphere, communal environment, and relatively affordable housing. 

Danforth Village is home to many locally owned businesses offering everything from authentic cuisines to vintage goods and everything in between. Though the demographic of this neighbourhood has shifted, there is still a distinct Hellenic influence that is the defining element in the charm of Danforth Village. 

If you prefer a slower pace that life by the water offers, you’ll love the neighbourhood of The Beaches, adequately named for the four beaches that anchor this community. You can enjoy a small town atmosphere and tight-knit community while still being close to the heart of the city. Many of the stores throughout the main shopping areas of Queen Street East and Kensington Avenue embody a nautical theme, with the businesses along the latter catering to the local clientele.

Homes in this neighbourhood range across a variety of styles. Most of the homes in The Beaches were built in the ‘20s and ‘30s, however there is a cluster of newer heritage-inspired homes at Woodbine Avenue including detached and semi-detached homes, as well as townhomes and a few apartment condos. The neighbourhood is also home to many original cottage-style homes built between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries which have been upgraded and modernized.

Midtown

Midtown Toronto is home to the affluent Rosedale neighbourhood as well as the incredibly diverse university community of The Annex. Rosedale, originally named after the once-abundant wild roses that covered the area, is home to some of Toronto’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, with many homes in the area structured in Victorian styles built between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries. 

Many Rosedale homes are actually designated heritage properties which adds to the character of this community. This enclave also has a handful of newer condos and affordable rental apartments that provide a good entry point into this established neighbourhood. Residents in Rosedale can enjoy the serenity of nature without leaving the convenience or excitement of the city, as there are many ravines and beautiful trails that wind through the neighbourhood.

The Annex is truly a diverse community as residents include business people, artists, students, and University of Toronto faculty. This lively neighbourhood gets its energy from the students who frequent the local bars and pubs, creating the exciting nightlife this community is known for. This area is home to many boutiques, bookstores, markets, cafes, and restaurants, as well as art galleries, antique shops, and specialty stores that add to The Annex’s colourful nature.

In this centrally located neighbourhood residents are just minutes from U of T as well as major transit stops. As for the housing stock, most homes in The Annex were built between the late 1800s and the early 1900s in various architectural styles, with many converted into multi-unit dwellings. The cluster of homes built between 1910-1930 are less elaborate but still represent the heritage of the community.