Downtown is certainly one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Toronto. Everyone wants to live where the action, close to work and close to play. Located entirely within the former municipality of Old Toronto, it is approximately bounded by Bloor Street to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, the Don River to the east, and Bathurst Street to the west. The area is made up of the city’s largest concentration of skyscrapers and businesses.

The Financial District, based around the intersection of King and Bay Streets, is the heart of Canada’s financial industry. It contains the Toronto Stock Exchange, which is the largest in Canada and seventh in the world by market capitalization. The retail core is along Yonge Street from College Street to Queen Street. There is a large concentration of retail here, including the Eaton Centre. The area also has Dundas Square, a public space some call the Times Square of Toronto.

Downtown Real Estate Map

The area also includes live theatres, a movie complex and historic Massey Hall. Historical sites and landmarks include the Arts & Letter Club, the Church of the Holy Trinity, Mackenzie House, Maple Leaf Gardens, Old City Hall, and the Toronto Police Museum.

To the east, the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood is the oldest area of Toronto. It has many gorgeous heritage buildings, a community of distinct downtown neighbourhoods including the site of the original Town of York – where Toronto began back in 1793. St. Lawrence has one of the largest concentrations of 19th-century buildings in Toronto. Some of the best are St. Lawrence Hall, St. James’ Cathedral, St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. Paul’s Basilica, the King Edward Hotel and the Gooderham (Flatiron) Building. Further to the east is Corktown and the Distillery District.

West of the Financial District is the Entertainment District, home to many restaurants, nightclubs and live theatre. The district was formerly an industrial area and was redeveloped for entertainment purposes in the early 1980s, starting with the Mirvish family refurbishing the Royal Alexandra Theatre and then building the Princess of Wales Theatre. The area is also the site of Roy Thomson Hall and the Canadian Broadcasting Centre.

Downtown Toronto’s ever-changing skyline

North of Bloor Street is Yorkville, with more than 700 designer boutiques, spas, restaurants, hotels, and world class galleries. The intersection of Bloor and Yonge Streets is where the subway lines meet – and is one of the busiest intersections in the city. At the intersection of Avenue Road and Bloor Street is the Royal Ontario Museum, the largest museum in Toronto.

The lake shore and Harbourfront area to the south was formerly a polluted and forgotten railway area. Since the 1970s, it has been extensively redeveloped. From the building of the Rogers Centre, to the many condos of CityPlace, to the Harbourfront Centre arts and cultural complex. The area to the east of Yonge Street, the Port Lands, is still in transition.

Please explore the neighbourhoods that make up Downtown Toronto:

• Alexandra Park
• Bay Street Corridor
• Beaconsfield Village
• Bickford Park
• Cabbagetown
• Corktown
• Distillery District
• Downtown East
• Downtown West
• Dufferin Grove
• Fort York
• Grange Park
• Kensington Market
• King Street West
• Liberty Village
• Little Italy
• Moss Park
• Niagara
• Regent Park
• South Annex
• St. James Town
• St. Lawrence Market
• Trefann Court
• Trinity Bellwoods

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Contact Laurin Jeffrey for more information – 416-388-1960

Laurin Jeffrey is a Toronto Realtor with Century 21 Regal Realty. He did not
write these articles, he just reproduces them here for people who are
interested in Toronto real estate. He does not work for any builders.
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