Reviews of Fort York National Historic Site (Museum)

Jessica Wu

I've been to Fort York a number of times for music festivals, and it does not disappoint. Rare that you find an outdoor venue in the city that's large and blocks off noise pollution from the street. Well-kempt grassy expanse, and the area is large enough that the stages are far apart so there's no bleed, but close enough for convenience. In the summer, it's quite beautiful.

Nabeel Hasan

Nice place to enjoy history of Toronto and how the British built forts near the lake to prevent intrusions on Canadian territory back in the day. Enough things to keep a family with young children occupied for at least 4 hours....

Scott Kerrison

Hard to believe this site was actually once along the shore, now somewhat inland with land infill to support a growing city. A great combination of 1812-era building and artefacts and more modern information. There is apparently a guided tour, but I didn't available myself of that, and just wandered around myself with the provided map. Was a little strange to otherwise have just a single employee dressed in presumably period attire in the kitchen of one of the buildings, who provided an engaging insight. Would have either expected no such encounters, or otherwise additional people around the site.

Brandon Yamada

Nice park but too many dogs off leash

Laura Sheridan

Great festival Space in the heart of downtown!! I visit every year for Vegandale Festival and there's tons of fresh, open space! The festival boasts a stage w tons of space to dance and room for a wide variety of amazing vendors. There are no bathrooms on site, but stations are set up, including handwashing stations. Not to mention, the IG- worthy props and greenery throughout! Love this space!

ramona taharally

Great place to take the kids, love the history lessons. Before going you must check the free tour schedule, shame to miss them, they really make a difference & there are 4 different ones! I recommend the Barracks one because you get to have a food sample in the kitchens.. Cool! There are some amazing events that happen on the grounds, festivals, food???? exhibits & powows, that are great for families & adults. The grounds are extensive & have trees????, but if it's a day event, take a hat????, sunglasses???? & sunblock! If you want to eat in the area, your surrounded by condos, you will have to walk a few blocks north on Bathurst for food????. Parking available by meter, not too bad unless it's a festival, then you have to park off front street, better to take the Bathurst street car which drops you off on front street. They have an ice rink for the winter⛄, its fairly new, more of a trail style rink. You could probably roller blade in the summer. Check the website for listings.

Glenn Dickler

Great Toronto landmark

matti mclean

Toronto needs more spaces like this. History is so rare here.

Victoria Mclean

Had amazing experience here, everyone was so nice and friendly! The children had a wonderful time.

Dhruvil Patel

This is an interesting historic site hidden right downtown. You can often get a free sneak peek when an event is happening. The only downside is shade can be hard to come by in the summer sun.

Victor Wong

Came here during Canada for canada day celebrations. The Fort is small but historically accurate. It is a nice place to visit to see some of the history of Toronto, and there are nice displays in the buildings of arms, costumes, food, and other artifacts of its time. I would recommend to visit this place if you have extra time to spare, but not worth the visit if you are tight on time. I think you could spend around 2 hours here.

Pilar García García

Nice visit for a sunny day out. There's limited parking on the premises though, we parked near Exhibition and walked. They have pic-nic areas inside the Fort, in case you want to bring your lunch.

Travis Kelly

Awesome place to take a date. Have lockers in heated buildong. Easy skate rentals. There is a bar with liquors... i went for the whiskey and cider mmmMmm... also had free kahula samples the day i went.

Alan Kirschbaum

Great interpretive your of Fort York. Learned a lot about the geography and history of Toronto. Sorry to President Trump, but the Americans burnt down Ontario's parliament before the British burnt down the White House. Incredible view of Toronto's sky line behind the Fort's building.

Anita Windisman

Every Torontonian should visit this important historic site. At 43 acres, it's the largest Canadian collection of historic buildings relating to the War of 1812. There is also a wonderful display that explains of the involvement of the First Nations people who sided with the British to fend off the Americans. Be sure to take the live guided tour offered by the informative and enthusiastic guides. Pro tip: Toronto residents can get FREE pass from their local library.

Richard Cunha

Its a bit of Canadian history. They have a museum and souvenir tuck shop. A excellent collection of paper backs on historical topics of the past. Excellent place to take in festival events.

Rebecca Rodrigues

Wonderful to spend a sunny afternoon time traveling in Fort York. The new visitor centre and audio visual experiences are a nice addition.

Anant Saxena

Nice open and shaded area for outdoor workouts and chilling.

Anant Saxena

Nice open and shaded area for outdoor workouts and chilling.

DrFeetspinach

I went with my class for history, we didnt even get to go to half the buildings there our tour guide just kept talking about stuff we had already learned and our teacher specifically asked for everyone to hold the musket and only a few people did

Ryan G.

Really nice place if you're into early 19th Century history as I am. Went on Canada Day when it was free admission. Bought some Napoleonic memorabilia so I contributed to the site. My only complaint is 1 of the 3 display boards highlighting the African Canadian contribution to the War of 1812 was on the floor leaned against a wall with poor lighting. Bit of an insult that it couldn't be leaned against a table or chair instead of on the floor. Hopefully it gets mounted & lit as all the other displays soon.

Sally Totaram

Absolutely magnificent. Amazing Dining room, great war room, smell was off setting although. But over all, tour was great history was learned, 4-stars.

Alexandru Tudor

Great place, relaxing, historical and friendly.

Jess Joyce

Very interesting place and definitely a bit eerie. This is a well preserved historical landmark in the heart of Toronto and definitely worth seeing and learning about the city's history.

Jonathan Lau

We went for the frost fair. Very informative. Very authentic. My daughter loved the colouring and ice painting. I liked the shooting display. I remember coming here as a child. Not much has changed aside from the surroundings. Inside the officers' barracks, they were baking cookies and some sort of pancakes (I forgot the name, but it sounded delicious). My daughter tried a cookie and we both enjoyed the apple cider.

Jamie Carr

Reasonably interesting 45min tour, with enthusiastic guide. Recommend dropping into the building with some 19th/20th century government posters

Danny Lawrence

I give them 5 stars but they deserve many more than that. I have always had a great time here! It is worth any price they ask to learn as being among living examples of Fort York life brought to life. Amazing! Loved the history. Great events there too!! Love this place.

R.G. Carter

Pretty important to the colonial history of Toronto...and a great connection to the past.of our city. Often interesting activities and the best remembrance day service in toronto, in my opinion.

Vitor Vieira

Great place to understand the history of Toronto. Very clean and the lady at the front desk was so helpful. As a foreign visitor I didn't know anything about Toronto history and she gave a brief of it. The whole historical site is very conserved and the items were well displayed. I wish I had more time to spend there. I was for 1 hour and half and could have seen more.

J Mitch

Beautiful place so much fun

Ken Fraser

Tour was great but no buildings were open.

Pooja S

Very educational. Sure the Americans invaded and we lost that battle of York...but we burnt down the White House!!! (Yes, I know it was the British Army fresh from Spain but they did it for us!!!)

Isabella J

Nice place in the middle of downtown. Historic and beautiful

Donovan Luff

A walking tour with guide and several buildings were open. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and knew her history of the Fort and the time period. The music and musket demonstration was great!

N P

Amazing place. A must-visit destination for Torontonians and travellers alike. Tells Toronto's early history including the American attack during the War of 1812.

Jim B

Went to the Bentway skate park. Skate rentals avaliable. Accessable washrooms on site. Check ahead to see if the food trucks are open. Large figure 8 skating track in the winter. Yet to be seen what happens in the summer but there is talk of a market. Really great stuff.

Stefan Curcic

I am always amazed how in North America, with the little history (the colonial one) there is, they always make an enjoyable experience out of it. We did a guided tour and our guide, Sam, was very informative, friendly and nice. Too bad we did not know it closes at 4pm on the weekends so we did not have enough time to see it all but will definitely be back, a truly interesting piece of Canadian history and a nice info session about the history of Toronto as well!

Malik Nash

I remember visiting Fort York during a school trip 15 years ago and re-enacting scenes of the Canadian revolution. The place seemed so far away then. Now with all the condos this fort seems like it's part of the city!

Rebecca Rivera

Fort York was a strategically important military installation prior to and after the American Revolution. Under British/Canadian and US control during this period. During the War of 1812 (April 1813 to be exact) US forces wrested control of the Fort from the Brits, Canadians, and First Nations and used it as a base to loot and burn the growing town (including Parliament). It was for this action that the Brits burned the US White House in August 1814. We enjoyed the exhibits and restored encampments near the heart of Toronto. Plan on spending at least two hours to view the Fort and exhibits.

P. Spence

Review based on concert - The National - sound good. Vibe cool. However it was line up after line up. Not equipped to handle that many people for everyone to have a good experience. Guests shouldn't spend concert in line ups. 20 mins for water. 20 mins for beer. 30 mins for food. Not going back for concert despite great location.

Viktor Vas

Beautiful venue! Super clean washrooms. This was a great spot for an outdoor movie

Didi Diminni

Nice large park, interesting to be on a site where a battle took place and think of all the lives lost over ridiculousness. However the rates charged are definitely steep for what is available.

MJ

No one will see my review ????

Amulay Chadha

Amazing location for events, with serenic views!

Nina Denise Stolle

The year is 1793 and Fort York is first established. Ontario was known as an Upper Canada Province. Toronto, only a settlement at the time was renamed to York in honor of Prince Fredrick, Duke of York by the Liuetenant Governor Simcoe. The fort was an important military outpost, reshaping Ontario 's and Canada's history. Today you will be able to visit and experience this military installation first hand. You will be able to see how the soldiers and officers lived, it's armory and what has transpired inside the fortification. You can book a walking tour or attend an reenactment. Due to region's instability during the 19th century and it's proximity to American border the fort has been the front of many battles and played a key role in stopping an American rebellion and in the end stopping the war. Ottawa was conferred a capital of Canada after construction of the Rideu Canal and after the war of 1812 where the fort was easily captured and burned to the ground in April of 1813. The fort was then rebuilt, fortified further and was able to hold close to 2000 troops to repel attacks At the time of the war Niagara was a capital of Upper Canada which was then moved to Toronto.

Jade Gilbert

Great spot to spend a couple hours walking around, kid & pet friendly. Historical exhibits are well displayed and informative. Within walking distance of Liberty village, Exhibition Place, BMO Field, Budweiser Stage, Ontario Place, RBC Echo Beach & the waterfront.

TK Hogg

It's free, and amazing in itself that this piece of British North American history has survived with so much new construction around it. Definitely worth a visit if you're interested in seeing period military fort.

Larissa Lio

Fort York is a great getaway to learn about some history about the city and the importance of the fort. The land is well kept and no matter how many times you keep going it’s always enjoyable.

Rebecca M

A must-visit site for locals and tourists alike. Lots of local history, as well as interesting events like cooking hundred-year-old recipes or holiday fairs complete with period costumed carollers. Check their Facebook page for the next event. Stop by the gift shop for a taste of Toronto; honey made onsite.

Stephen Kobus

It's free, and amazing in itself that this piece of British North American history has survived with so much new construction around it. Definitely worth a visit if you're interested in seeing period military fort.

Kurt Von Krausewitz

Overall it's a great place to learn history the tourguide breifly explains what each building was meant for and you learn about the war of 1812.The wall around the fort wasn't much of a protection for the fort it was the steep hill surrounding the fort, there is a museum in the fort that shows you different guns and cannons and how toronto looked before.

Rixon Monteiro

Good place to learn to skate during winter. The bentway also has some support rails to skate with.

Frans Paap

Travelled here from our hotel and spent the entire day just walk and feeling like we were in olden times. Everytime I see places like this it always feels the same. I love it

Brooke Dale

Nice mix of original historic monuments and displays, along with newer museum like section within the Bentway. 1.5hrs time spent here, cheap GreenP parking

Jermaine Blake

Very cool place great on weeknd of holladays always something going on for the kids especially the enactments that take place there from time to time staff always dressed up makes it feel like you went back in time

Robert Karbaum

I’ve only ever been here for music and art festivals, but arguably that is what this area is best for. Grounds are well groomed, spacious and easy to get to via public transit. The area surrounding is very scenic. It’s a little pocket of green in the middle of a giant city. A little slice of wonder and magic.

Nico Bock

The Bentway is an excellent seasonal addition to the Fort York area.

H Kee

Nice mix of original historic monuments and displays, along with newer museum like section within the Bentway. 1.5hrs time spent here, cheap GreenP parking

Marc Fowler

Went to the Bentway skate park. Skate rentals avaliable. Accessable washrooms on site. Check ahead to see if the food trucks are open. Large figure 8 skating track in the winter. Yet to be seen what happens in the summer but there is talk of a market. Really great stuff.

Keith Wall

Fort York played a prominent role in the war of 1812 but had a much longer history and impact on Toronto. The venue consists of the welcome center, monument of gravestones, and the fort itself. You can pay to enter at the fort or the welcome center, but the welcome center is strongly recommend for the introduction it gives to the events of this fort. Almost the entire fort is open for exploration, and is a combination of restored and excavated original buildings, and some reproduction buildings. Entry was $14 and expect to spend 2-4 hours here.

Mark Mullett

Good place to kill a few hours. The skating is good in the winter.

Tuhin GT

Nice historic place. Learned a lot from this place about Canada

Agatha Grant

Fort York is a bit of an anachronism in downtown Toronto, tucked between an expressway and the main rail line (and because of all the land reclamation efforts, about 250m away from the lake). A brand new Visitors' Centre helps, telling the story of the Fort and the role it played in the development of Toronto, with special focus on the War of 1812 and the burning of the Fort by the Americans. Definitely worth a visit.

Izzy Levy

good place to know about Canadian History

Stephanie T

Great park. So many dogs

Jenny Morgan

This is a really cool place to visit on a day when the weather is decent (u can check out different buildings on the grounds). Very informative and interesting and nice visitors center. Much more than what i expected from the Google info

ridhita ghose

Went here when the open door event was going on in the city. They had a small concert for the on lookers as well as a proper artillery display and show. The blank shots were louder than I expected. Everyone working there were more than eager to answer questions and were very knowledgeable. I would go again during the open door event but maybe not pay the regular ticket price haha. Learnt heaps about the 1813 battle. The gift shop had really good souvenirs like old locks, old recipe books, old school wooden toys for kids etc.

Stefonknee Wolscht

Amazing history! The place is great and the tour guide is amazing! On our school trip, we learned to march, hold a wooden gun, and the history of the fort and Toronto!

George Kavuma

Great attraction with a lot of thought put into it. The inclusion of American, British, and First Nations stories. The story of the birthing of modern day Toronto. Also the chance to step back into time architecturally

Ferdinand Filardo

Went there on Simcoe day 2018 and despite it being thoroughly rainy the family enjoyed the venue immensely... our tour was very very informative of our Canadian history and enlightened Yours Truly as to how the city itself was formed not to mention our prior relations with our brothers and sisters down south????... be sure to take the walkthrough video tour inside the museum or gallery it's kind of cool to see the timeline displayed in video or picture format. At one of the houses if you we were treated to a sampling of some pies that the folks had available to them during that era apparently sugar was quite the commodity. Wrapped the day up with some retail therapy in the pretty well stocked novelty shop even managed to pick up a t-shirt... all in all a good day to be had by I would assume anyone and those interested in our fine City's history. And point of note no one was hurt during the test firing of the artillery in the picture provided ????

Flipe Fumonacci

People is very simpatic, they explain everything with a big smile

Warzonehanzo

Good place to play fetch with your fur friend. Need a dog park with fencing till.

Trevor Clarke

At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to Fort York but it was definitely worth it. I liked the actors playing music, rising the flag and shooting so much!

Bosmat Kamchaji

Nice urban spot close to the lake. Has space for picnic and a park just walking around :) the kids enjoyed also watching the train and playing some ball

Anthony Ishkhanian

Detailed historic tours

La Comel

Unique eatery in an equally unique site. Be careful outdoors as the train tracks allow rats to roam. Food is very tasty and innovative But it takes a really long time to get prepared and it is a costly meal to pick up from the counter and eat outdoors The staff are earnest and want you to like the experience - high Marks for effort but a bit costly for a family dinner while out a nuit blanche Great space and great taste combinations

Daniel Goutovets

A fine historic site with marvellous exhibits, informative tours, vivid descriptions, and a worthy gift shop. A great couple of hours can be spent touring the fort and exploring the wonderful and historic exhibits.

Ilia Litinetski

The year is 1793 and Fort York is first established. Ontario was known as an Upper Canada Province. Toronto, only a settlement at the time was renamed to York in honor of Prince Fredrick, Duke of York by the Liuetenant Governor Simcoe. The fort was an important military outpost, reshaping Ontario 's and Canada's history. Today you will be able to visit and experience this military installation first hand. You will be able to see how the soldiers and officers lived, it's armory and what has transpired inside the fortification. You can book a walking tour or attend an reenactment. Due to region's instability during the 19th century and it's proximity to American border the fort has been the front of many battles and played a key role in stopping an American rebellion and in the end stopping the war. Ottawa was conferred a capital of Canada after construction of the Rideu Canal and after the war of 1812 where the fort was easily captured and burned to the ground in April of 1813. The fort was then rebuilt, fortified further and was able to hold close to 2000 troops to repel attacks At the time of the war Niagara was a capital of Upper Canada which was then moved to Toronto.

tim wilkinson

This site is so very special. We need to keep our heritage alive and showcase the way things were for the next generation. Just needs more budget for advertising to get people there to see the history, not just special events.

Mark Dean

A great walk back into history. Beautifully restored and taken care of this fort offers the story of our rich history. I highly recommend a visit.

V F

Really like this place. We frequent it quite often during the summer esp when there's something going on. I've never witnessed the firing of the canon's but friends have told me it's really cool. The ground are big and lots of space to walk. Being a foodie, I usually go to the old kitchen to listen to the cooks talk and demo various cooking methods and dishes.

Ian McKenzie

Really cool site to visit to learn about Toronto's history.

Nikita Iyer

You'll find this place under the Gartner expressway nestled in a corner, one can't tell much from the outside. Only when you go in, you'll find a fairly simple memorial kind of a place that offers visitors information about the history of Toronto and has a gallery attached. Every year in the month of Feb, the Ambassador of Toronto celebrates Toronto's Anniversary and invites all the residents of Toronto for fun activities and free snacks and lunch (and I happened to go there for my first visit that particular day, not knowing and met with the Ambassador Hand Dong who seemed like a nice gentleman), and enjoyed some snacks myself. With the Bentway skating rink now open for skating enthusiasts, this place attracts attention more than ever! The rink is more like a track field not an arena and is less busier than the one in Nathan Philips Square(maddeningly crowded all weekends), offers rental for skating gear (and thankfully an ATM, if you forgot to get cash for renting).

Zach W (Awesome Cheese)

I was not expecting this to be very well done but wow I was wrong when I took the tour because both guides where very informative about there tours. I was wondering why there was fort in middle nowhere, which the tour guide will explain why the fort is middle of nowhere. It is worth checking out and doing the tours.

Benjamin Phelps

I drove from Wisconsin for a weekend wedding and I wanted to find one historic thing to do for a couple of hours. I have no regrets! The interpretive center had some nice displays and a great immersive battle simulation. The fort itself was well maintained and full of artifacts and displays. I highly recommend a 2 hour visit for to take full advantage of this War of 1812 site.

Calin Alexander

Great place to experience a little bit of super short history. Lovely and well kept.

Jackie Flood

Fort York National Historic Site is History Personified!! Go back in time to the War of 1812 between the British and the Americans!! Toronto then York (hence the name Fort York), defending our land against invading Americans crossing Lake Ontario! Much to be seen and enjoyed by tourists and Torontonians alike!! Come spend the day going back to the future!! You won't be disappointed!!

Shivkumar Nistala

Beautiful place no matter the time of the year. Lots of open space; so you can maintain social distancing in all scenarios. Right next to The Bentley. The historical site itself tells a story of its own. Definitely worth a visit.

Clarise Dandan

Went here for Field trip music festival 2018. Great venue.

Deadsoulcutie

Vegandale festival was help here this year and it was pretty decent

David L. Brooks

It is a nice place to get a good grasp of what the whole of Toronto is.

Andrew McCallum

You get some insight into Toronto's history before confederation, especially with America within spitting distance. While the site seems to have a lot of open space, it's good to keep in mind that during its active use it was full of personnel and equipment.

John Hamer

The new visitor centre and museum are excellent. Many informative and interactive exhibits explain the context of the War of 1812 including perspectives of Anglo-Canadians, the British, the Americans, and the First Nations participants.

Aakash Kapoor

Cheap parking (Green P - $1 per 1/2 hour) and a beautiful spot to go ice skating. Much more peaceful than Nathan Philips or Ryerson rink. Rentals are cash only, but there's an ATM on site

Denise Athaide

Excellent guided tour.

Tiziana Francesca

Very interesting historic site with great people working there.

Jumana Ch

A quaint little place with a good feel for history and the workers all seem to enjoy what they are doing. If you enjoy history, I'd definitely recommend you pay this place a visit

Iulian Baciu

We have visited Fort York during Toronto Open Days. I have to admit the expectations were not very high, however, we had a great time there. People are all dressed up in old uniforms and they are very knowledgeable. It was a very pleasant visit and we learned a lot about 1812 war.

Michael Scott Connolly

Visited Toronto a number of times and never had the time to pop down to the fort. This all changed in 2015 and the whole family had a great time. They really do provide a variety of activities for young and old, as well as learning about Toronto history and the bravery of its inhabitants. Well worth a visit.

L Johnson

The birth place of toronto open year round. Cooking class, over night and group events.

Mathieu

I've only ever been here for music festivals but it's a great venue. It's large enough that lots of people can enjoy the show without it being too large. I love cooking here even though the commute there isn't fun.

Matthew Wong (Wongo Bongo)

Love learning about the history of our great nation. We went during the WWI reenactment and it was such an amazibg experience. Learned alot about the Canadian armed forces and the Royal Air Force. Also about the German army and the Swiss.

Ryan Ferguson

Not a bad place to see once but not sure I'm going to rush back. Only about half of the buildings were worth looking inside but those that were are worth it.

Lisa Macklem

So many interesting details and artifacts preserved here. Excellent value.

Feldmarschall Von Braunschweig

Exactly what you expect from a historic site. Great cannon demonstration. The grounds are free to wander and the barracks are neat. I feel its falling behind Discovery Harbour and Fort George though. As these places have more to offer for a bit of a cheaper cost.

Don Irwin

Great history and park in the middle of Toronto.

Krista Rollings

This is not a huge site so it is very manageable for a half day visit with a family. The tour guides were helpful and knowledgeable, welcoming questions. The arms firing demonstrations are a highlight but are extremely loud so cover your ears if you are sensitive to sound. The volunteer soldiers wear earplugs to protect themselves. Small children may be startled and should be kept close. All in all a pleasant visit, easily accessed by TTC street car. The shortest walk is from the fort york stop on fleet street, the second fort york stop, not the one still on Bathurst.

Leandro Freitas

It is nice spot to spend a couple hours. The visitor center with the videos exhibit hallway was very cool. They should make batter use of the empty buildings however.

Rob Hall

Nice little guided tour which includes a chat with a cook of the period about her duties. Interesting fort with good weapon exhibits in the block house. BUT the exhibition centre is poor. The video is more about Canadian nationalism that the fort, skip it. The exhibition is totally disjointed with little or no info about the fort and its historical context. 12000 artifacts were recovered from the sites but about 10 are on display? Why so very few. Very disappointing exhibition /museum. Skip this and go straight to the court itself to get your value for money.

Kim Kaye

Really nice huge place! I like how The Bentway attracts crowd to visit the place more often too. Came here last weekend to attend a Videography Workshop.

Viktor Gsteiger

The park is a great spot to discover a quiet part of Toronto. Toronto is usually quite busy, hpwever, this park is very quiet and nice. The view over the harbour is gorgeous and the archidecture around here is extraordinary. I definitely recommend this place for a visit.

Adrian M

This historical site lets you visit the fort buildings built by the British and Canadians to defend the town against military attacks. In addition to the historical buildings outfitted with historical fittings and furniture, there's also a small museum with artifacts, and a gift shop. There are guided tours as well as performances by staff in uniform during summer that you should check out. This is a great place to go and learn about a part of the history of Canada. It doesn't seem to get too busy, so it's good for going at your own pace.

K K

This is a beautiful park that was recently renovated. There’s loads of people hanging out in the green spaces. There’s a bridge with stairs and a ramp from Wellington. There’s also an access point on Strachan and Fork York Blvd so it’s easy to get to. There’s bathrooms available at the Fort York museum when it’s open otherwise there’s no men nearby.

Sandra Persaud

The bentway is beautiful for skating, but I wouldn't go back since novice skaters take up the entire Lane way. If you like skating, I would suggest sticking to other places.

Yuk Yu, Alison LEE (Alison)

I have been living in this area for more than a year but only visited it a month ago. Be ready to spend at least 1.5 hours to finish visiting all rooms/bungalow/magazines and the information centre. I like the "war time demo tunnel" in the information centre a lot. Pretty interactive telling the timeline of the war.

Nelson Da Silva

A great place for some early Toronto history. Very different from your typical museums as this is an actual historic site. The interactive gingerbread making for the kids was great as well, kept the little ones engaged. If your getting their by TTC, look for the short cut from Strachan ave on the bridge.

Trevor Rodrigues

This such a cool place. It's hard to believe it was built to deter the U.S from attempting to engage in conflict in Canada.

Brandon Schaus

Historic fort in downtown Toronto. Located on what was formerly shoreline, decades of construction and in fill have left this historic location in the heart of the city, under the shadow of the gardener expressway. Some interesting buildings and artefacts from the 19th century. Often used for local events and tours.

Izabela Melon

It's perfect and very educational. Especially the way they show you around.. you should visit it.. especially in a sunny day you'll have a great time in the fields.

Aleasha Liddle (ALiddleRun)

Really interesting facts about the war of 1812. Kid friendly in the sense that when the kids were bored, I brought them outside to play on the grass. They loved seeing the Soldier dresses up and cannons.

Rebecca J

I remember visiting Fort York as a kid and it has defiantly improved with its new interactive building. There is alot of cool buildings and displays to take you back to the early 1900's. The views from Fort York are stunning as well.

Jeffrey Grabell

I have to say while all the info was certainly interesting (especially after having lived in Toronto for a while), some of the exhibits didn't have descriptions and some of the maps were hard to follow (no legends, etc.). Also, I was expecting to see at least one attendant/staff member in period costume, but no such luck.

JaLaL A.

Such a good place, I've literally been there 3 times already. Staff are friendly, and the gift shop has a lot of interesting objects to buy

Graeme

A historic monument in Toronto's history. The fort can be viewed from the edge of Garrison Commons but to really experience it you have to go inside. You can sign up for tours by the newly designed exhibits underneath the fort. It's a clean open concept space that also includes a short film about the history.

Cpl Aaron Zhang

Reservation recommended

CM_ Kuncham

The new visitor centre and museum are excellent. Many informative and interactive exhibits explain the context of the War of 1812 including perspectives of Anglo-Canadians, the British, the Americans, and the First Nations participants.

Oryan February

Loved having a skating right right outside during this winter. It was a creative idea that brought me to this place that I would not otherwise continue to visit after my first time there.

Max Stocker

A nugget of interesting history buried in the heart of the city. Welcoming and friendly staff. Quite a bit to see really. Fair prices. My only complaint is that especially with little kids access by public transit is not great. A good amount of walking is needed, frustrating because you can see the streetcars right there. Better access to bathurst would be a big plus.

Brandy Daoust

We were at the bentway under the gardner and it was tucked away but still get to see and feel all that is Toronto...there was an amazing art installation of the moon with an electric glow that was truly spectacular....felt like you were looking through a telescope with your eyes....breathtaking...

Oliver Lara Fernández

Ghost tour is awesome.

Orlando Gomez

It is unfortunate that we have an important historic site in the middle of Toronto that could be utilized better. It has nice green areas and intact museums that must cost big funds to maintain. However it lacks promotion and sense of welcoming.

Michael Schweigert

Worth visiting the museum. Free entrance fee

Dave Lapsley

Decades I've lived here and I've only finally visited this place for the first time. The people who work here know their stuff. And love it. And it shows. I had no idea that so much stuff went down here in the decades and centuries gone by and I'm glad the country/province has preserved it the way it has. Completely worth the visit.

Sabrina Paez-Parent

What can anyone say! Great place for family. When I was young my Aunty, Mom and Grandmother would bring the family here every year before back to school.

Randi G

I love this place!!! It is in a bit of an upheaval at the moment due to the pedestrian bridge being built, but I have high hopes for its return to greatness. It is a comfortable, almost secluded spot from all the city noise, offers a taste of nature, mature trees and a wonderful place to run the pooch. All I would ask is, respect this place dog owners, clean up after Rover and fill in his holes if he is so inclined to dig.

Jacob M

I used to work for the "Friends of Fort York" and one of my majors for my bachelor's degree is in history so I do have a special place in my heart for Fort York. From a historical perspective, this is essentially Toronto's birthplace. Learn about the city of Toronto, formely known as the Town of York and the War of 1812. The historic site houses buildings which were built primarily just after 1813 (as Fort York was destroyed in the Battle of York). I would recommend visiting this venue specifically in the summer as the guided tour will include demonstrations by the Fort York Guard as well as the always welcomed cannon firing. Come and learn about the history of the amazing city of Toronto.

James Hart

Offers a good insight into the war of 1812. Could be good fun with children. Overall I preferred my time downtown in the city, as I have seen many forts like this one in the past.

Ian MacDonald

Great historical museum. Buildings are well preserved, easy to explore, and full of interesting information. As an addition, it's fascinating to see such a well preserved historic fort utterly surrounded by gleaming glass skyscrapers.

Bria Mitchell

Great place to host a festival! Have been for Vegandale a few years now, even in the rain it wasn't too bad (mud and dirt wise!)

Husain Campwala

Yes

Colleen Rodericks

Definitely worth doing to learn about the history of Toronto. We attended a ginger baking class for kids where they teach them what it was like before electricity. All the kids got to participate and take home the cookies. While they were baking we visited the buildings. Takes about 2 hours to do.

Adam Donner

A nice historical attraction in the heart of Toronto! A nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Andrew Neary

Great time walking back in time through Fort York. The staff clearly love history and care. They were great at answering our questions and when we mentioned the show Edwardian Farm, they had actually seen it and love it too. It doesn't take very long to walk through, maybe a generous hour and a half so I would recommend going during an event to get the most out of your time here. Was a great experience with Canada's history and I'm excited to visit again during a cooking event.

Shandi-lee

Great attraction with a lot of thought put into it. The inclusion of American, British, and First Nations stories. The story of the birthing of modern day Toronto. Also the chance to step back into time architecturally

Chris Orbz

Awesome graffiti everywhere, great paintball games daily, Hooters cafe was underwhelming.

Sean Hudson

A great place for some early Toronto history. Very different from your typical museums as this is an actual historic site. The interactive gingerbread making for the kids was great as well, kept the little ones engaged. If your getting their by TTC, look for the short cut from Strachan ave on the bridge.

armin zamani

Good to visit for paying respect and few good items to watch and thibk upon the past era and sacrifices...but ticket price should be reduced for such places to around CAD 10 max

David Sutherland

They have really done an amazing job in the new visitors center. The quality of the exhibits are top notch. Plus the staff is the reason to go, friend and knowledgeable and they provide an awesome experience.

Ilana Y

Interesting enough historic landmark. Large territory with a few old barracks demonstrating the life led by the British soldiers stationed there some 200 years ago. There's also a new visitors centre building located outside the gates with a few informative exhibits. You can spend an hour - hour and a half here.

Pam Aggelakos

Thoroughly enjoyed all the art installations on display during Nuit Blanche. The food trucks were also tremendous ????

Marjan Farshadi

I went to the indigenous festival. It was great, and I was amazed of the discoveries theh have had but never advertised nor credit given to them. I hope they can be more involved in the community and teach us the secrets of the nature and how to respect and appreciate it.

Mizenoth 4545

What a lovely place to visit. You can just walk around and enjoy the view, workout in nature, or have a picnic in the middle of the city. Not to mention that this historic site holds many stories of times gone by which can be recounted by taking a tour!

Josef Hoppe

It's a nice and well maintained historical site with a few buildings. Worth going when it's coupled with an event like the beer festival, Otherwise it's somewhat ok.

Nirbhay Patel

I have only been to the grounds for events and it is always set up well and feels like a safe and secluded space in the heart of a busy area.

Gitanjali Verma

History of Toronto. The guides are very friendly and have a good knowledge of the history of the Fort. Recommended for visitors who want to know more of Toronto's history and the War of 1812.

Abbas Bookwala

Neat looking building, with far too costly an entrance fee. And the new skating "trail" has hot to be a joke. It's like ice skating on a kiddie pool.

MZXDZRROX

The Americans attacked it and we still survived. You'll see barracks, weapons, furniture, clothing, food, drinks and historic accounts of the 1812 war.

Wendy L Martinez-Skinner

Absolutely love coming here whenever possible! You can just feel the history of it all rush through your bones as you go trough those front doors.

Victoria Occhipinti

Fort York is always a ton of fun! I have done the full tour of the site twice now, seen the muskets and cannon fire twice, and been to a special exhibition in the main gallery. Tons of history here, the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly, can't wait for my next trip here!

Effie Dimitriou

Weekend

Whitney Berkman

Toronto theatre and performing arts scene has more than fifty ballet and dance companies, six opera companies, two symphony orchestras and a host of theatres. The city is home to the National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Electronic Ensemble, and the Canadian Stage Company.

Thomas Wall

Well organized. We made an 18 minute YOUTIUBE video of the Fort York including the excellent drummers and the militia. If I was going to recommend anything it would be to have more period people in costume about the place. Definitely worth seeing and in the heart of Toronto.

Ryan Barrett

Definitely worth checking out if you have some time to spend in Toronto. It's amazing to see something frozen in time with the modern city towers looming around it. Lots of really interesting history dating back to the 1700's and 1800's. Some of the most interesting was about the various battles between the British and Americans, many of which I had never heard of.

Wendy Li

This place is generally very busy on weekends hosting a variety of events. I usually come here for the food festivals, wine festivals or a music festival. Great venue and great open space for all the entertainment needs. Depending on festival, there may be a cover to the events. Research ahead of time!

Gad Acosta

Nice ample space with few and not very informative displays, as well as unrelated souvenirs that were made everywhere but here. Usually during related holidays they might have something better, but then again, the last one was in 2012, commemorating the rather forgotten war of 1812.

RSH DVP

Fort York is an impressive experience. The walking tour is educational, cultural and informative. Part of Canada's history is on full display with live firing drills and marching bands. You can see blockhouses, officers quarters and much more. A short distance away from Bathurst St & Fort York Blvd.

Kyle Johnson

Piece of history bang in core downtown

Tyler Rogers

Pretty important to the colonial history of Toronto...and a great connection to the past.of our city. Often interesting activities and the best remembrance day service in toronto, in my opinion.

M K Abbas

Lovely evening at the beltway dinner in a dome

Ayumi Saeki

Anyone interested in History will definitely enjoy their visit here. A very warm welcoming & friendly staff at the entrance.

Mom Shea

They have a tour that comes with the 9 dollar price. It was very informative and I liked it. You'll need about 2-3 hours if you want to see and read everything.

John Crae

Amazing history! The place is great and the tour guide is amazing! On our school trip, we learned to march, hold a wooden gun, and the history of the fort and Toronto!

Sylvian Bamboo

Its a bit of Canadian history. They have a museum and souvenir tuck shop. A excellent collection of paper backs on historical topics of the past. Excellent place to take in festival events.

Dave B

Have been here a handful of times ranging from concerts to a part of a beer tour to a day trip. Learned lots at the different historic houses and reenactments, would recommend having a guide or joining a tour to get the most out of it.

Nancy S.

This is not a huge site so it is very manageable for a half day visit with a family. The tour guides were helpful and knowledgeable, welcoming questions. The arms firing demonstrations are a highlight but are extremely loud so cover your ears if you are sensitive to sound. The volunteer soldiers wear earplugs to protect themselves. Small children may be startled and should be kept close. All in all a pleasant visit, easily accessed by TTC street car. The shortest walk is from the fort york stop on fleet street, the second fort york stop, not the one still on Bathurst.

Ajay Rajendran

Pretty good place but a lot of construction. The views of the downtown skyline and cn tower is amazing from here so if you are a photographer, it might be a good location to check out. It's most scenic during sunset or sunrise since it lights up the buildings very well

Camilo Esteban Galvis Sierra

A very interesting museum. There you can find a lot of artifacts realated to the 1812 war against the USA.

Kevin Kay

Amazing location. Went there for Moon festival. Had a really good time. Parking is a bit limited though. Always advisable to take the transit.

Sara Teixeira

Absolutely love coming here whenever possible! You can just feel the history of it all rush through your bones as you go trough those front doors. It is a great family trip for me, my husband and my son. Would love to visit every week!

Virginia Marshall

This is a great place to take kids. My son really enjoyed it. The re-enactments were fantastic, some of the best I have seen. The staff were very friendly, even to kids. It was fairly quiet when we went so we didn't feel rushed at all. The visitor's center was top notch. I would take any visitor that's new to the city to see it. The downtown location makes it easy to get to and there are plenty of signs.

.

Great interpretive your of Fort York. Learned a lot about the geography and history of Toronto. Sorry to President Trump, but the Americans burnt down Ontario's parliament before the British burnt down the White House. Incredible view of Toronto's sky line behind the Fort's building.

Scott

If you love history, Toronto history, Canadian history or just a good historical - tour then check it out. This place is in amazing condition and is worth a visit. There is a ton of green space outside of the site, so make sure to bring a lunch and enjoy a picnic.

J. B.

Very nice to see historical places like this being preserved for future generations to see. Gives you good insight as to what life was like back then.

Eric Kwan

Historic local recreation of the bastion on which the city was founded. During special events, the fort has displays of memorabilia from not just the War of 1812 but of other eras. The displays within the buildings provide a well self-curated experience about 19th century Upper Canada. Solid context to the replica and authentic artifacts shown within the site. A small museum space located south west of the fort which provides a small abstract to the area during British rule. Located downtown along the Lakeshore adjacent to the Gardiner Expressway, it feels tucked away behind the modern development but keeps the simplicity of the past. While small, it makes a high point to any busy day to wind down and strolling through the archaic features.

Paul Smith

We are visiting from the UK & were looking for a historical interest place to visit. This place is really clean, well laid out & super interesting from a historical perspective! There are multiple buildings with a range of artefacts, photographs and displays with very fine attention to detail. There was even a historian ‘Emily’ who was very knowledgeable & helpful with information about the site. Dressed in costume she was friendly, providing lots of descriptive detail about the wider Canadian / US history. I thoroughly recommend this place a visit.

M Hurls

Great place to visit and learn about history.... Give yourself extra time... Bring a picnic..

Pepe Carulli

The most important place is Toronto downtown......if it did not exist, Toronto probably would have not been started.

Pepe Carulli

The most important place is Toronto downtown......if it did not exist, Toronto probably would have not been started.

Ross Howey

Great site with an incredible amount of history. Though I experienced a very rude staff member who clearly does not appreciate a 19 year old taking the time to learn about the history of this site. He unfortunately ruined my experience.

Luke Thomas

Walk around the fort wherever you want. Each building is accessible and has much to see. Great history lessons around every turn. My most memorable things: the rifle so big it should be an artillery weapon; climbing downstairs into the basement of one of the officers’ buildings; the large cannons positioned along the walls; reading about the medics and medical equipment with much of it on display; the video reenactment of the battle; seeing the maps and miniature models of the fort and surrounding area. Lots to explore if you’re curious like me.

Mark Woodley

Another great place for people and families to visit. Fun to watch the hourly drills with muskets, cannons and student soldiers in period dress, imagine wearing heavy wool uniforms in the summer; if the heat didn't get you the odour would. The Fort has been wonderfully restored and it used to be on the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Authentic displays detail life and times of the early 19th Century in restored buildings. Fort York also hosts charity events throughout the summer including musical performances by well known Canadian artists. Art exhibits and cooking demonstrations and events also on offer, check their calendar of events. A National Historic Site, admission and limited parking available.

Emily Simpkin

Very fun place to learn about some pretty crazy history in Toronto. Everything is very well preserved and they have so many fantastic activities all year round.

Andrew

Nice large park, interesting to be on a site where a battle took place and think of all the lives lost over ridiculousness. However the rates charged are definitely steep for what is available.

Nella Lucchetto

There wasn't many people when I went but the staff are always with a smile and happy to do what ever it takes to make sure your visit is a good experience.

Edna Uy

Went to Fort York on Doors Open Week. Thank you for the oportunity. Quite an insight. They really take the effort to make it look like coloniel times. People are all dress up. Place is neatly preserve. Good there is a souvenir counter. Very educational too.

Michael Walton

This forgotten treasure turned out to be the best day so far on our March break. It was a fun a relaxing way to go back in time to experience life in Toronto as it was two hundred years ago. Thank you.

Jason James

Absolutely magnificent. Amazing Dining room, great war room, smell was off setting although. But over all, tour was great history was learned, 4-stars.

Yehuda Menachem

Went for vegandale. A great time! There a ton of great vendors and the food was delicious. It's fairly easy to get to and parking was surprisingly easy.

Vibhu Jindal

Always a good time and great staff. Nice new addition worth the time and money to visit. A perfect spot for some history.

Mr Hof

Exceptional staff who made history come alive! The tour guide's historical knowledge about the fort and it's engineering was awesome. The young people who fired the cannons and muskets took their roles so seriously that I felt transported back in time to 1812. All this done while in wool uniforms of the time period during the hot August heat. Well done! This was an incredible experience that I will remember. Well done! Very professional. Thank you!

Sean Cook

I can't say I went for the historic aspect of the site, but it was a great venue for the mini-festival I went to. Plenty of space, some shaded areas to cool off in, etc. A great environment for an event.

Grace

Amazing to have this historic site so close by and amazing to see the new modern buildings with a node to history. It is also right by the Bentway where one can enjoy a nice skate in the winter. I wish, however, that there be better signage and better way finding system. It is incredibly confusing to get around and entrances and directions are not clearly marked with large signs. Show more interest, participate more, and the signage may come in time though for the community to enjoy this wonderful location more regularly.

Barry Hills

Walking tour only with advanced booking band and musket Demonstations

John McCain

You can see there how soldiers lived, what weapons they have, some surgical equipment they had at that time. It is interesting mostly for boys. My daughter did not interest. It was open doors day, so it was free. They attracted us with Lego exhibition but it was just one table with moving lego train. So, if next year they try this Lego trick please be aware.

Alanna Yamasaki

Gorgeous visitor centre is free to the public. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. This is a hidden gem of our nation’s history in a beautiful city. Tour was interesting and worth the price.

Ed Leist

Haven't been here in a few years, and can't go now because of Covid and the border. But this was a well restored site, with excellent staff who provided lots of information. Well worth a visit if you are in Toronto and are at all interested in history.

Jonon Ato

It's The Birthplace of Toronto. People fought and died there. The events that happened there with respect to the explosion of the Grand Magazine and the subsequent Sacking of York set off a chain of effects that really shaped us to be a country separate from the US. It is well worth visiting and studying the history of this place and the role it played in the War of 1812 and Canada's history.

DD1986

Historical Fort right near the Toronto waterfront. Host many events like concerts and outdoor movie screenings. A beautiful place to visit on a nice day.

Paco McChavez

Went when I was younger for the history. No I go when there are concerts. It's a decent venue depending on how the event organizers set things up for their guests. It can be hard to find shade.

Michale Orellana

Gorgeous visitor centre is free to the public. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. This is a hidden gem of our nation’s history in a beautiful city. Tour was interesting and worth the price. Gorgeous visitor centre is free to the public. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. This is a hidden gem of our nation’s history in a beautiful city. Tour was interesting and worth the price.

Sean Luedtke

There are very few truly historic places that we found around Toronto on this vacation. Although some of the site is rebuilt, there is nowhere else that you will feel as though you stepped back in time 200 years. The site had few visitors and included access to all buildings. Would definitely recommend getting off the Gardiner Expressway to visit!

Mitchell Janeco

Love learning about the history of our great nation. We went during the WWI reenactment and it was such an amazibg experience. Learned alot about the Canadian armed forces and the Royal Air Force. Also about the German army and the Swiss.

Hamideh Nasseh

The whole museum, its leaders, martial ceremonies and weapons that are now interesting to visit, but on its own time, were tools for killing humans! Sad, but teaching us about the dark side of human being! The time that the York (Toronto) population was only 700 people, but all those First Nations tribes and their people were not counted on that census! Hope we build a world without war and discrimination!

Alan Baker

I used to work for the "Friends of Fort York" and one of my majors for my bachelor's degree is in history so I do have a special place in my heart for Fort York. From a historical perspective, this is essentially Toronto's birthplace. Learn about the city of Toronto, formely known as the Town of York and the War of 1812. The historic site houses buildings which were built primarily just after 1813 (as Fort York was destroyed in the Battle of York). I would recommend visiting this venue specifically in the summer as the guided tour will include demonstrations by the Fort York Guard as well as the always welcomed cannon firing. Come and learn about the history of the amazing city of Toronto.

Helen Owls

Upon arrival, I learned there were tours on the hour and my timing was perfect for taking the tour. I was so glad I did because the guide was extremely knowledgeable. Beyond the history of the fort itself, I learned about Toronto's history and enjoyed seeing how the shoreline had changed so much over 200 years. There was a wide variety of exhibits. For example, I liked being able to make selections in the blockhouse to hear musical selections of historical compositions. The information about the state of healthcare 200 years ago was also interesting. I spent a very happy hour and a half there, but could have spent much longer if I didn't have another commitment. I didn't have time to see any of the exhibits in the visitor centre, which serves as the entrance to the whole site. The entrance is under the Gardiner Expressway but don't let that deter you. The fort itself is further north and fully open to the skies. The sun was shining, the students (dressed as soldiers) were marching and offering a musket demonstration and the gift shop had a nice variety of items.

Kurt Logan

Ghost tour is awesome.

Avijit Sinha

Well maintained but nothing much to see

Karen Newton

It was so convenient to get to. You can get free passes from the library, which is what I did. We spent a very pleasant couple of hours walking around here. The gift shop has coffee and cakes made from historic recipes. Well worth visiting.

M Matsu M

There for Indigenous Arts Festival. Was a great location for a fantastic educational experience! Fort exhibits being open was added bonus for many.

M Matsu M

Great historical significance for Toronto and area.

Bob A

Great place to spend time with your family and learn more about history of our city Toronto. There are so many hidden places like this site across the city we should explore. Deffenately worth to visit.

Paul Mann

Enjoyed our visit today very much. We went on Labour Day Monday to see it and also see the Air show at the CNE. The air show was good, but the real highlight was our visit to Old Fort York. We especially enjoyed the 2 tours we took with guides. They were informative and interesting. The parking was great! $6 for 3 hours. A lot of spots for CNE Monday. 1 minute walk from the parking to the front entrance- maybe less. Very good!

1960felipe

Visiting Fort York was an awesome experience, watching the Garrison display their spectacular military drilling as it was during the War of 1812. I highly recommend everyone visit this exciting age of Canada's History????????????

Rico

Very peaceful place for walks and picnicking

Sophie

Gorgeous view of the city and very close to the Bentway (great skating area in the winter). Their museum is also very informative and sometimes they also have historical reenactments of the battle of 1812

Fito H

Beautiful, scenic area with good tasks for walking and cycling, proximity to Lake, green P parking under Gardner for $12 overnight.

Jo Dufay

Guided tour of the walls of the fort gave a good overview of the history.

E Lala

Love this place, lots of great history and the people are super friendly!!

A W

Had a great time at vegan fest. It was well set up, great music, awesome vendors, amazing food. One thing I cant wrap my head around is paying an entrance fee and then also paying for everything when you get in though. It gets pretty pricey.

Corinne De Lille

Don't understand why in sucha wide sapce no playground for kids. Just a waste of space.

Corinne De Lille

Don't understand why in sucha wide sapce no playground for kids. Just a waste of space.

Craig Williams

One of the best historical sites I've had the pleasure of visiting

rob b

Awesome. Plan to visit for the tour in the future.

Evan Davidson

There is no reason why this shouldn't be free admission. The reality is that even though this site is in a great location, very few people actually visit and the asset is poorly utilized to an extreme level. Where are the festivals? Historical events and food exhibits? Toronto should take note of how some other cities utilize their historical assets (i.e. London, UK) and turn this into a proper experience that makes it a must visit for locals and tourists alike while generating additional revenue for the city.

Andrew Hodes

Great historical significance for Toronto and area.