Reviews of Parkwood Estate (Museum)

Amanda Brown

Went for lunch with some friends and absolutely loved everything about it. Lunch was amazing - the estate is gorgeous and we had so much fun interacting with the ladies in the gift shop! Thank you!

Austin Jansz

An amazing walk through a historic part of the downtown region of Oshawa. Surrounded by nothing greenery and beautiful Stone and waterworks this is always a first pick when I need a good place to take a peaceful walk.

Eric.S Viteri.S

The best place, was so great to visit Bill Madison’s house

Jon Mullin

I'm sure it's great but couldn't get in. The website says open all year. The sign at the front of the estate says 'open every day'. What they don't tell you is it's closed in February. Don't go in February!

whatman95

Parkwood, a look into the McLaughlin mansion. A beautiful estate, from the gardens to the architecture. Check-in and take a tour around the mansion, you get to view what it's like to be rich and see the amazing things that were constructed back then, like the indoor bowling alley. Mr (Mr McLaughlin, once owner of GM Canada)

Lee-Anne Dunk

My friend and I stumbled across this place and I legit was concerned we were breaking into some multi millionaires estate, even though the passerbys assured us we weren't! ???? We only had enough time to view the gardens and they were amazing, even though it was too cold to plant anything yet, the perennials were beautiful! Next time I'm going to go through the tours in summer, as it looks amazing!!!

A Shepherd

A great place to visit if you like a good walk. There's a small outdoor patio by the large fountain that sells both cold and hot beverages. If you play Pokemon Go, this place is a gold mine. Tons of pokestops and gyms. And you get to experience a historical gem while you play.

Kim Villeneuve

What a treat! Great tour guide and tonnes of "fun facts". Gift shop is such a gem. Definitely worth a return visit.

EDA ÇETİNKAYA

The garden especially is surprisingly beautiful and extra large. A must see in Oshawa.

Serena Holmes

I had some family in from out of town and wanted to treat them to a special experience. Booking a reservation was a bit odd as it didn't go to a restaurant voicemail, rather someone's personal cell. They called back and we were able to book ok. Their menu is very lean on options but knowing it is so beautiful makes up for it - or so we thought. When the waitress took our order - 3 of their 5 main options weren't available (out of the chicken sandwich and quiche). Additionally a big bridal party came in and we were asked to move seats. I would assume this was reserved so it's surprising they hadn't set up the section in advance. While it wasn't busy, they didn't seem prepared for them, us and the few others guests. Our appetizer arrived before our drinks and with no plates or napkins. One of the salads were brought out with spoiled lettuce. We requested potatoe salad as a side but it was brought with a garden salad and when we ordered refills, they forgot to bring them. To top it off, the one thing we ordered for dessert was also out of stock (macarons) so we left... The grounds are stunning but the overall experience when it came to dining was a big let down.

Booyaka Stubbs (ExplorewithStubbs.com)

Had a great time walking the grounds. Lots of movie history here and they are shooting a new movie here next week. My kids are big X-Men fans so I decided to stop by for them as they aren't with me on this road trip. My first interaction …

Faizal Garasia

This is a place to not miss. Definately shows the kindness the man had and the love and use of technology at the time. He was smart for having the type of entertainment inside the home that he had made space for. Staff must have been treated right for the way their living arrangement is presented.

Anna Genis

We purchased a Groupon for 4 people and planned to visit this site for 2 month. I called 2 days before our visit to verify that site is open and tours are running on schedule. It took us 1.5 hours one way to reach this place and when we did, the doors were locked and security guard just informed us that site is closed. No explanation, no apology, no refund. I can't believe that people running museum or historical site could be so bluntly disrespectful to their customers. We were really disappointed and will never come back!

Jyoti N

The food and the garden were beautiful. I had a vegetarian meal, which was delicious. The only thing is that if you need to use a bathroom, you have to walk a bit.

Scott Gardner

Went on the Auto Baron guided tour - guide was excellent and appreciated the COVID 19 regulations in place. Love that we were able to tour gardens after the tour.

Monika Clark

Beautiful! Falling apart though but still an AMAZING place to visit!!

Meri V

Loved the tour. I definitely recommend it

Vee Elsie (VLC)

Had a great time! Wasn't expecting such a compelling story. Our tour guide was clearly passionate and enthusiastic about her job. She lead her small group through the house, imparting her knowledge and keeping us entertained with just the right amount of humour and levity. We enjoyed it so much we booked a second tour on the same day. Very respectful of covid measures.

Kendall Roth

Gorgeous manor and grounds; cannot recommend a visit enough! I will definitely be going back at some point to experience the other tours!

Anne Sewell

I have volunteered here for 10 years. I love every part of it. So glad the grounds & the Gift Shop & the Tea House are now open to the public. Everyone has missed it.

Anna Maranjyan

Beautiful place!!! Can't wait until the tours are open in July!!!

emily flamingo

it's beautiful and historic! go see the fountain and go take a tour inside. you can also have tea in their green room - I haven't done that yet but I'd love to. very clean and kept up nicely.

Jen M

It is always a fun little walk through the beautiful garden. For free! Of course, tours have a fee. Cute gift shop. It is a landmark of historic Oshawa that is quite famous for film shoots. They have fun events at times and they offer I pre-scheduled tea time with lunch near the fountain. What a beautiful idea. It is great to visit.????

Nancy Jane-Botwin

Great place to walk around, see beautiful gardens and learn some history.

Doug Cosenzo

We had a nice tour only of the mansion. You are not allowed to photograph the interior. The guide was informative the history was interesting. The furniture, all from that time was great to see. The exterior was just beautiful. Go on a sunny day when everything is in full bloom.

Paul Priaulx

This place was a surprise for me. The mansion was beautiful, amazing woodwork, painted ceilings, furniture. There are two tours of the house. The cheap tour shows the main floor. We bought the full main and second floor tour. The grounds are equally beautiful and large. I recommend this place for a visit if in Oshawa area.

Alex Haack

Such an amazing historical mansion. It has been preserved very well and the tour of the inside is great and staff is very nice and informative. Only downside is you can't take pictures of the inside. Its crazy the technology the house had for being that old. Also Billy Madison was filmed here.

Justin Kapadia

Beautiful place, tour is too expensive, though.

Raymond T C Chan

Peaceful and beautiful garden. Love it.

Donald Shields

Great place to photograph flowers

Kev Singh

Beautiful garden. The staff at the restaurant were great and good tasted good.

Emily Mulvihill

Attended this property for a wedding and it was just beautiful. The wedding was held in the garden which is both intimate and classy. We walked around the property afterwards for photos and there were so many great places for pictures. A very romantic and well maintained estate. Definitely 5 stars and highly recommended.

Matthew Bayford

Always a beautiful place to visit

M. Perrella

Really nice place for a quick stroll. Not a very big place but the one area where the fountain is located is truly amazing. The garden is beautifully kept. I wish they did a better job with the grass. It’s too bad that such a nice fountain and garden is surrounded by awful looking grass. This place would be great for wedding photos or even model or portrait photo shoots. I’ll definitely will be going back to have a drink and a bite at the restaurant. Please endure to pay a visit if you have a couple of hours to spare on a sunny day.

Jan-Michael Tiu

It's like visiting Europe in the GTA. Worth a visit. There was a catering service you can book a reservation for Italian sandwiches.

Joni P.

Went to Parkwood for their hat show! It was a fun, informative tea/fashion history experience. I'll definitely be returning soon for a tour.

scott B

It was great very interesting want to go back and do the server tour

Minnie Fu

Me and my friends went here on a Thursday. It’s a very stunning place to visit but definitely not a pleasant dining experience. We wait for 30 mins for our water which I think it’s such a simple thing to serve to ppl take no effort and time. All the services ppl just running around without any concept of customer services. My daughter is 15 months old, she was hot and thirsty I have to walk to them to ask for water. Our waitress told us the kitchen was overwhelmed by all the guests. If you can’t handle why still making more reservations? Btw, they mess up our reservation as well. All the kids drinks arrive at the end of the meal. Our server is full of excuses: the chef didn’t see half of the order? Excuse me ? I drop the drink order slip that’s why I didn’t see it...... omg this place is only good for taking some pictures. If you want to experience some real F&B services don’t come here.

Gumbercules007

Had a great time at Parkwood Estate. We have been here a few times before. Our tour guide was really good he knew his stuff. I asked him lots of questions and he knew most of the answers. We had not been there in some time we were a bit disappointed to find out that now the tour is broken up in too a few different formats. Last time we were there it was one price for the "whole" house. We would definitely come back again as we had fun. It a pice of history.

Morgan

An absolutely magnificent place to take a tour and learn local and provincial history. The tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. They really strive to make the History of Parkwood come alive. The house is beyond words, and the gardens are a wonderful place to bring a book, some paints, or your family and a picnic. If a picnic is not ideal, there is a restaurant located in the formal gardens with delicious food and multiple coursed teas. The staff are always pleasant and ready to help when you need it. There is a giftshop on site that sells both Parkwood related goodies, as well as all sorts of fun home comfort items and cottage-y essentials.

D J

Beautiful fountain & gardens.

Kayla Cee

Beautiful hidden gem in the city. Everyone should visit at least once

Anna Segers

Beautiful! Wonderful tour of house and spectacular gardens. Got all dressed up one year to watch a showing of the Academy awards !

Charles K. Wong

Had a light lunch in the exterior pavilion in front of lovely fountains... Strolled the gardens, the boys checked out the gift shop (always ????)... Really pleasent grounds

Anatoli

A cultural marvel. Beautiful garden. Well preserved house. Better than Casa Loma. Nice tea house by fountain.

Priyanka Gupta

I cannot state enough what a wonderful experience visiting Parkwood Estate is. While the sprawling gardens and historic house are undoubtedly reason enough to go, the experience is really cemented by the absolutely amazing staff that work there. My partner and I were booked for the auto baron guide tour and we were unable to make it on time because of multiple collisions on the highway. We called Parkwood and explained our situation and the staff were so kind and moved our tour to another day convenient for us! Furthermore they were beyond nice about it! When we finally reached the estate the staff at the gift shop explained what all we could access for free and it was an absolutely lovely day that we got to spend. Just went up yesterday to complete our missed auto baron tour and I am so glad we went back because the house is gorgeous and our tour guide Morgan was so sweet and knowledgeable. I would suggest to go early so you can take a tour early and spend the rest of the day exploring the grounds and the gardens. What an absolutely stunning place and I cannot believe this is the first time I went there in the 14 years I have lived in Ontario.

Danielle ROBINSON

Great site to visit. Have attended many special events such as the teddy bear picnic, servant tour, basement tour, wreath making etc. I've always had a good time.

Laura Weil

There was a storm looming and we were called to verify if we were still interested in our High Tea reservations. We persevered and the team at the Parkwood Tea House were absolutely professional, accommodating and a delight to share the stormy afternoon with. It was a memorable day for everyone.

Kate Kraversky

Absolutely amazing place! Great for both excursions and visits, and for events such as weddings and anniversaries. The well-maintained park has large trees and green lawns, lots of beautiful spots for photo sessions. The bowling alley is a work of art! The interior of the mansion throws you back into the cozy luxury of 1930s. Must see!

Jakub Danielak

Came here for a wedding. Really great property with fountains and well kept gardens. A nice piece of local history.

Nirusha Saba

Had a photoshoot there and it was wonderful! Really great staff who helped us out.

Karlie Garner

Such a beautiful place to visit, we love coming here!

Anotherone Chance

One of my fav. Places. Bring my girls here a couple times every year. Real gem

bbt_and_cuisine JC

First time visiting the estate to attend the Lawn Maker show on September 19. The show featured local small businesses so we were happy to support local vendors. Beautiful garden and grounds. Limited parking on the estate but there is a parking garage beside the site. We paid $9 for a few hours. They offer tours and high tea in the garden that is booked in advanced. We plan on coming back another day for that but it may have to wait until next year because there are no more slots for the rest of the season. There is a small gift shop to check out. The neat part is to see all the movies that have been shot on the grounds of the estate. A beautiful, peaceful oasis east of Toronto. Definitely worth the visit.

michelle phillips

Been touring the grounds for years.amazing estate and very beautiful. Glad there is still a piece of our heritage accessible to the public. Having lunch in the Tea House restaurant by the pool is so relaxing. Making your way around the property and seeing the beauty of the flowers, trees,plants is very peaceful. I see alot of weddings happen here and I can imagine how amazing that would be. I have been on a tour of the home many times and it just feels like you have been taken back in time. I highly suggest visiting

Garreth Scott

Beautiful grounds and guides are very knowledgeable.

Tim Cruickshank

Incredible building and property. Glad to hear that funds have been raised to restore the greenhouses. The home is certainly in need of some restoration. Nonetheless, a very interesting tour. I have found this tour interesting as a child and years later an adult. Give yourself time to explore the gardens.

Tahseen Imam

Worst customer service and hospitality. Making and confirming reservations is a nightmare and the hostess is very rude/racist. The food is equivalent to grocery store pre-made food. Very bland and tasteless. Despite calling multiple times and making reservations 3 DAYS ahead, they still didn’t have our reservation on file.

Paula S

Great tour, we were really impressed. Our guide had lots of interesting facts about the rooms and the family to share with us.

Dirit Sanghani

Loved the place but be warned they have filming going on site so access inside is not allowed till August 2019. Wife and I were disappointed about that. There is still tons to see.. Lots of gardens, the house/castle view from outside, pool, tons of different trees and flowers.. Perfect place to just enjoy the nature and cool off

Dawn Hicks

My daughter took me to the Pink Tea at the park what is safe for Mother's Day and to celebrate a hundred years of the suffragettes in Canada. It was lovely and I would highly recommend that you attend another year.

Bob Georgiou

Definitely a must visit place in the GTA! Bowling alley!

Sarah B (Sarahb1)

We had pretty bad experience there today. Purchased a Groupon for four people and called in advance to ensure they took walk ins for tours and they confirmed they did. We go into the gift shop to sign up for a tour and find out that the tour starting in a half hour was too full to accomodate the 4 of us and that we would have to wait for an hour and 15 mins. We expressed our concerns over that as it was 40+ degrees outside and my mother uses a wheelchair and we were worried about having to wait outside all that time in the sun or in the hot car. There was really no where to sit near the office to wait. Especially not with air conditioning on such a hot day. The employee helping us suggested we sign up for the next tour and go to this Tea House Cafe they had on the grounds to wait. Sweating, hungry and thirsty we decided to go check it out. We travelled an hour and a half to get there and didn't want to just turn around and leave. They offered to give my mom a ride in a golf cart to the cafe as it was at the back of the grounds and a bit of a walk. We really appreciated it because it would be hard to push her all the way there with the gravel paths and the heat. A man took her, the wheelchair and one other person from our group down to the cafe while my boyfriend and I walked. When we finally found the cafe, there was no sign even stating it was the right place but we went up to it anyway hoping to find the rest of our group. We walked through the little outdoor restaurant to look for them and not one person greeted us. We got some looks by customers and staff like we didn't belong there. We found my mom and friend out back of the restaurant left on the gravel (mom in the wheelchair so they literally just dropped her and left) by the garbage area and in the hot sun, not even in the little cafe. We walk inside covered in sweat and so thirsty and hungry. Again, just stares. Like we didn't belong there, like we weren't wanted. Before we had even all sat down, a waiter came rushing over to tell us that we couldnt be served, that it was reservation only... and despite the empty tables.. that we had to leave. The sun was scorching, we had gone all the way to the back of the estate and we weren't even offered so much a glass of water or to sit down for 5 minutes. They called us a go kart back though. How nice of them.. They wanted rid of us awfully quick. The gentleman who picked my mom and I up (I rode back with her that time to watch the wheelchair on the back) was lovely, he was one of the only positive things about the experience and a big reason for my two stars instead of one. We told him we were thinking of leaving without doing the tour because of our treatment and he felt bad. He showed us a few things on the grounds on the way back so we would at least get to see something. When we arrived back at the gift shop, we still had 45 mins to wait and we were so hot we just wanted to get out of there. We told the girl in the shop about what happened and she apologized, saying she has no idea about the restaurant. She was sorry we were choosing to leave without taking the tour and gave us a voucher for the value to return for a tour and gave us our drinks for free we had grabbed on the way into the gift shop. She was nice too, but the whole thing is very disorganized it seems. We left hot, frustrated, disappointed, thirsty and hungry. We stopped somewhere to eat on our travels home where we were actually wanted, unlike at that unwelcoming and fancy cafe. Will we go back and use our vouchers? Maybe. The lot is beautiful, the mansion is beautiful, but it's very inconvenient the ways the tours work and with all the other stuff. I am not sure why they couldn't just have let the four of us tag along rather then expecting us to wait 1 hour 15 mins in 40+ degree weather. I have to decide if the $30 paid for the Groupon is worth the drive and the potential trouble.

r ploughman

Gardens were beautiful, even for late October.

Arnold Prasad

Great part of Canada's history. Tour is worth taking. Many great little facts on Sam McLaughlin. Tour guide Nadia is awesome. Grounds are beautiful on a summer day.

Rianna

Whether you want to take a 10 minute stroll or one of many guided tours that offer a more in-depth look of the various cultural, historical and architectural nuances of this property; you will be satisfied. The tours are run by wonderful volunteers, the grounds and gardens kept in meticulous condition and I can’t recommend a visit enough.

jesus lopez

This place is worth to visit, the garden and the fountain are well maintained, everything looks so beautiful and relax environment... if you are a tea lover I totally recommended...

Marline

Very relaxing and a great place for photos, lots of history learning ????

Michele Hogg

Whether you are just going to enjoy the beautiful grounds, to tour the home of R.S McLaughlin or both, a visit to Parkwood Estate is a must see if you are planning to visit Oshawa. Also, a wonderful place to spend a summer afternoon if you reside in the area!

Franchesca Hampton

What a beautiful place.... The tour was amazing. We originally only signed up for the 1st floor but tagged on the 2nd because it was that good. The grounds are spectacular. A hidden gem in Oshawa

Petula Thomas

This is very well maintained grounds and the Teahouse restaurant food is very delicious. My only draw back is the bees are annoying and they are every where so if you are allergic stay away.

Ritzie Ritz

I went during an event, so things were a bit different than usual. There was a crowd on this day which never happens on a regular day. I had to wait about twenty minutes or so to get into the house. Regardless of this, the staff was incredibly friendly and fun to joke around with while waiting in line for the special attractions they had set up for the event. This house is stunning regardless if there is an event going on or not. This is an awesome place to visit for something different from the norm. On top of all this, the location is a historical site which gives it some educational value as well.

Ling Ling

We only had time to see the garden but the Estate on the outside looked beautiful. The entrance was a bit hidden.. we drove into the hospital entrance instead. The real entrance was south of the hospital entrance. The Pool Garden was beautiful and relaxing. Walked around and took pictures of other gardens. It was nice and peaceful. Beautiful area to take pictures.

Melissa Chen

Absolutely beautiful. Please make sure you make reservations for the cafe before you go. They are very busy and do not accommodate walk ins.

lynne lyon

Excellent main floor tour and tea! Next time I'll be sure to see the servants' areas and upper level too! Gardens are going in and are going to be amazing!

Emaad Paracha

A wonderful place to bring your family along, especially with small children. The gardens are well maintained and the small cute place for high tea is a great touch. Would definitely recommend visiting once at least if you're in the area.

Nusrat Quazi

An amazing place to visit with your family and friends..friendly staff members. They offer a great selection of food service by the fancy water garden BUT you need to reserve before going there. Its a great place to take your graduation photos or even any event pictures in this place ????

Umar Ahmed

A fun and interesting tour, especially a look at how people lived in the 20s and how it changed over time, and how the wealthy managed their time. The tours are at specific times and fill up quickly so you have to pre-book, which the website didnt mention. Otherwise it was a great experience.

Diana Scanlon

Wow, what an amazing tour, our tour guide was so knowledgable with stories etc. I have lived in the area for 20 yrs and never toured the Parkeood Estate beautiful gardens interesting history. This is a must do

Anika A.

I had my wedding at Parkwood Estate and I choose this place over all other venues because it is breathtaking and beautiful. I would recommend this place based on how gorgeous is it.. but during my wedding, there is a security guard by the name of Bob who was VERY rude. He was disrespectful to my wedding guest and said racist comments to them. He was very unprofessional. When one of my guest spoke to him privately about his unprofessionalism and racist comments he apologized but the damage was done. Another security guard who witnessed Bob's behaviour made a comment to my guest and said that nothing will be done to Bob because he has worked there for many years and he is also a manager. I expressed my concern to the office staff two days after my wedding and also reached out to the executive director Laura Mountjoy who said she would investigate and call me back. They did not take the matter seriously to the point they would ignore my calls and blocked my email whenever I would try to follow up. Until this day I have not heard from anyone at Parkwood Estate.

Gary Tong

Beautiful Garden. The house tour is interesting and the tour guide is knowledgeable. An European style estate and garden in Oshawa

James Nash

Great place for a walk round the gardens and a cold drink in the Summer.

Julie Ann Samia

Loooooove the place and free entrance. Can roam the whole park. The tea house unfortunately was always fully booked on the time we want, so haven't try that.

Steph Mitchell

Beautiful location, hidden gem in Oshawa. We went for Hi Tea. It was ok, not as fresh, or as a high a quality as others I've had. All though not their fault, the wasps were insane. Covering the food with saran wrap or some environmentally friendly wrap may help keep them off and away from the food, they were on everything. Some of them landed in our compote and they never came by and replaced. Wasps aside, the gardens are beautiful.

Sandy Colautti

Very beautiful and the guide (Susan) was very knowledgeable.

Sylvie c

Parkwood Estate plant sale was great. Adding more plants to my collection. The staff at the Parkwood Estate gift shop are,as always, ...awesome.

Mike Gazo

Parkwood Estates is a perfect example of how life use to be for very fortunate people. The grounds are beautiful and are constantly used for movies, ceremonies and wedding receptions. An indulgence in the past.

Jill Herbst

Attended a wedding on the grounds this past weekend and it was such a beautiful venue! Immaculately maintained grounds and beautiful unique trees to admire and explore.

Impress Me With your business

My mom always comes down from out west once a year, and almost always stop here to visit the good old parkwood manor. This home has put oshawa on the map. If not for this beautiful place to just go for a walk in the park, free btw. Look at the beauty of this garden. The infamous backyard and fountains, watching the birds flying around singing, you forget your in oshawa. Haha! It takes me back to a much better time. That's for sure. You can also do so much as donate some money to help keep this beautiful park and home alive, and go inside for a great tour. Walk the halls of Famke Janssen, bill skarsgard, ricki lake, Adam Sandler, Richa4d Gear, Catherine Zeta Jones, and many more stars have walked these halls. Let's not forget the beautiful family that owned this home and what really put oshawa on the map. General motors. Its definitely a site worth seeing, and feeling. I recommend exploring the creepy rooms upstairs.

Jessica T

I just love this place. I’ve been twice and would definitely go again. The property is stunning and the tours are fabulous! The tour guides I’ve had have always been energetic and informative, making the experience that much better. Definitely a local gem!

Aaron Lo

Came here for afternoon tea at the tea house! The gardens are well-maintained and beautiful, with almost a European palace vibe. Took one star off because a surly security guard was aggressively confronting us about doing a professional photoshoot, even though we were clearly just taking photos on our phones.

Bernard To

Good food. Very amazing service.

Victoria Gee

I always enjoy a trip to Parkwood. The grounds are beautifully maintained and the maintenance staff are very friendly. Its free to roam the grounds but if you enjoy a trip into history like me then you have to check out the inside of the house. The tour guides are great at presenting and very knowledgeable. I sat down at the tea house for the first time to enjoy lunch recently and was pleasantly surprised by the great selection of food and once again friendly staff. Already looking forward to my next trip back to Parkwood.

Vanessa Anton

Beautiful grounds and you must reserve at teahouse restaurant it was amazingggg. Best steak I've ever had!

Elaine Knight

What a disappointment cannot book a tour for 4 people so I call a day ahead to make sure filming has wrapped up and they can accommodate 4 people. I'm told yes 10:30am is perfect tours roll in at 12:30. So I make arrangements to pick up my Mom meet my sister and her friend for 10:30 tour. Only to drive in from Orono and be turned away. Could not tag on a tour that was there told to come back at 12:15 when we already planned our whole day. What's with the communication there why isn't the person answering the phones know when stuff is booked. Glad I didn't drive in from further away or the rest of my party....

chad johnson

Very pretty and free place to enjoy. To go inisde is I believe $15 for a tour

Alicia B

Parkwood Estate is a stunning historical gem within Oshawa's history and properties. I love taking friends here to experience the amazing garden, grounds, fountains, and mansion. I love seeing Parkwood Estate in movies and TV shows. It makes it so fun!

Dawn Brooks

Parkwood weddings are always amazing! Very organized staff, breathtaking grounds, outdoor ceremony options are beautiful, tented receptions are gorgeous, lots of parking and lots to explore! A stunning historic venue with lots to offer. Always a pleasure being invited to photograph weddings here!

Kenny Phillips

Got the chance to walk the property while working on some trees for the 23rd annual arborist day of service. I was blown away at the beauty of the gardens trees and buildings. I'm coming back again the show my family in the summer when the trees and gardens are in bloom

Adam Donner

Beautiful! The tour was very interesting and the gardens in the back were very nice with a cute quiet cafe.

Darrell Clarke

This gorgeous landmark in Oshawa is a must see. The Parkwood Estate, was the residence of Samuel McLaughlin and was home to the McLaughlin family from 1917 until 1972. A popular spot for filming movies (hint, celebrity sightings). Also a great place for weddings. The gardens are well kept and lush. As a National Historic Site, they give tours all year.

Veronica Lord-Annis

The whole house is so pretty! Its amazing to be able to step back in time and visit the home of someone who was so important to the city of Oshawa. The tour guide we had was really knowledgeable, and super friendly! Even though I've been to the house a few times now, I still like to go back and take a tour through the house.

Priscilla Fitzmaurice

Had a beautiful afternoon here. I started with lunch at the tea house and a ceaser. Then we walked around the gardens. It so beautiful and a wonderful day.

Sandy Gibb

Attended the Christmas tea event there today. Was my first time inside this historic property. Would live to go back to see the rest of the estate.

mangshra lite

The grounds are lovely. It's wonderful to be able to just walk around them and take in the garden and architecture around the fountain. For the first time though my family and I went on a tour of Parkwood it's self. Parkwood inside is gorgeous and the tour guide was very knowledgeable and was able answer all of my questions. We found out that they also do a servant and basement tour, I'll be back to do those, I wish to see more of the old girl. I had no idea there was a pool in there!

Niki Mehta

This place is a total hidden gem. Didn't know it existed until our visit here. Beautiful gardens. Didn't have the opportunity to tour the indoors, but will definitely do so on the next visit.

missjuliej1

Beautiful gardens! Great for photos and events. 5 star for gardens... 4 star because food could use more flavour.

Deanna Yee

Grounds are kept clean. Very peaceful. Took my 4 year old for a nice walk. He enjoyed the fountains and the hedge “maze”. Next time, I would bring a nice blanket and lunch for a picnic ???? This was during Covid-19 (July) and everyone kept their distance. Security was on the grounds, very friendly.

Christine Borden

Spent a few hours doing yoga in one of the back yard areas. But what I did get to see was beautiful. I'm going to go back for a full tour. It is worth the price because it is a sight to see

Shaifa Kremer-Niblett

My husband's family has a memorial tree planted here for his brother, and I always go to take scenic pictures. Beautiful grounds.

Andy Warrier

Okay guys, you really need to visit this place. Forget casaloma. This place is better and it's like a hidden gem of history and architecture. Above all, you get guided tours with commentary from cute and well versed in their job girls. They really know inside out of the place.

Lloyd Graham

Amazing gardens!

Diane Wilkinson

Beautiful estate everyone should visit .Takes you back in time in a rich lifestyle .The architecture is stunning .How one family lived in the 1915 on .You must go check in out .Home is filled with furnishings from all over the world ..right down to all decor.

susan,ellen Freeman

Staff are friendly, knowledgeable about the Estate and with the servants quarters open you can see how things where done. Well done staff and workers

Arif Sobhan

A beautiful garden park in Oshawa!

Mara Vukosavljevic

I had my wedding photos taken here. Lovely place and the security guard was quite helpful. I'd be interested in going back for a tour.

Anne Elliott

Oshawa was once a great economic power in Canada, and I think we all deserve to show our respect to one of the men who pioneered this movement. The grounds are meticulously well kept and the sights are pristine. You almost forget you're in Oshawa. It is something out of a movie, hence why movies have been filmed there. Be respectful of the heritage and enjoy the sights.

Jacob

Beautiful gardens, fantastic landscaping, and a romantic restaurant compliment a picture-worthy view. The estate features an elaborate mansion with a vast history. Students who participate in horticulture programs from colleges help attend the gardens as well. You’ll see film productions, weddings, and even venues held on the grounds. Defiantly consider a walkthrough or tour!

Helen M

Absolutely love, love, love visiting this special place. The tours are well worth it...I always feel like I’ve stepped back-in-time whenever I go for a visit ...the knowledgeable & friendly guides are always great at sharing interesting details about the Mclaughlin family and the special era when this was their family home.????

Engel Garcia

Lovely afternoon having tea and scones with my daughter, her best friend and her mom. Can't wait to go back to check out the grounds.

Bonnie B

Beautiful place but i had my wedding there and the staff are very unprofessional. They have their head of security named BOB who is VERY rude and unprofessional. They were yelling at people to get out of the sunken garden because there was another wedding party. but you don't yell at people, they should ask people to kindly leave. The wedding coordinator is NOT knowledgeable she didn't do anything but stand around. She wasn't even available to answer questions. They NEVER answer their phone or voice messages. The wedding planner Suzanne never returns calls. I called her for 4 days straight and emailed and never got a call or email replied. The catering company they hire is also hard to get a hold of. their excuse was that they are short staff. When I contacted the director Laura Mountjoy she returned my call once and then after calling her back several times to resolve the issue, she blocked my email address from contacting her. None of my calls and voice messages has still not ever been returned. Parkwood is a beautiful place for wedding ceremonies but with the service is received I would NEVER have my wedding there again.

Yogesh Arora

The grounds were great but the restuarant was bad not worth the money

Bonnie Colvin

Great selection, great prices. Everyone was nice and helpful. Hot apple cider was delicious. Gifts in the Gift Shop were lovely.

C Mo

Hidden gem in Oshawa, absolutely breathtaking scenery and grounds. Ideal for wedding photography. The tea room is at the end of the garden, online booking, great food great service.

cindy carinci

What a beautiful place to visit. Historically and for movie buffs. Grounds are kept very nice. Excellent spot for pictures or events

Candice DeClute

Suzanne, we want to thank you for making our wedding day, April 28, 2018, such a memorable day. From the first email, you were extremely professional, and always had a smile. Your calm demeanor made the day run very smoothly, We cannot thank you enough for everything you did. Parkwood is a special place, we were so fortunate to be able to have a piece of it in our hearts forever. With Thanks! Candice and Dan DeClute (Baker0

Rivky Good

Really cool mansion! Amazing tour guide! Just would have loved to see the bedrooms and servants quarters which were off limits due to covid-19

Michelle Ma

This is a really cool old house. Great if you like architecture and history and architectural history! The art on the walls is really neat too. Also this house has been used in a lot of filming, so you might recognize parts of it (or maybe not cause movie magic)! The curator and guides are all really friendly and knowledgeable and FUNNY people.

Debbie Robertson

Don’t have your wedding here!!!!!!!! The place is a wreck!!!!!! Not even enough tables and chairs for the guests!!!!! Brides father fell on the “NOT CODE” washroom stairs and was thrown out for being drunk!!!!!! Wasn’t even given the opportunity to say goodbye to the bride !!!! No refrigeration on premises so I don’t know how many people may have gotten food poisoning!!!!!

Cynthia Layne

The view from the top was so amazing. It‘s like in heaven.

******

We went to celebrate our anniversary. So beautiful first place I see in Canada look like you are in Europe gardens design love it????????❤️???? Good service and freindly poeple ????

Brian Osborne

We had a great tour .The guides are knowledgeable and friendly . They answered all my eight year old Granddaughter's questions as we toured all the main floor rooms . After we went out a toured all the gardens . I highly recommend this tour .

Jim Batko

Only irritation not allowed to take photo's this takes away from further enjoyment with others otherwise quite nice. Tour guide knowledgable and very pleasant. Lunch in tea room very good and friendly just need to work on details like cuttlery and napkins very enjoyable day. Looking forward to finish the main house tour we did the basement tour this day.

Elisha Ribeiro

The grounds are pretty. Note for weddings they won't let more than 10 people inside at the time. It's frustrating when they don't advise you of that in advance.

Jane Webb-Sankey

Absolutely fabulous place. Very "gatsby-esque" However so much more could be done. The food is not awfully good but view makes up for it. Needs to be more wheelchair accessible

Auntie Em

Afternoon Tea I had booked afternoon tea this past weekend and while the food was great the service was not. We were given a normal menu and I had to ask the server to check because I had booked afternoon tea. He had just assumed and didn't check my reservation. We were given our berries and cream rather quickly but the main took about 30 minutes. No plates, no napkins, no cutlery was provided. I asked for all 3 and received only plates. I had to ask for napkins 3 times before we finally got any. No knife to cut the scones so we had to try and halve them without, didn't work out! I had to ask for tea and even with the 2 of us was only brought one small pot. No milk or sugar provided or even offered until about 15 minutes later. No offer to top up the pot with hot water either. I have had high tea at numerous places at various price points and this was by far the worst. Very disappointing and considering the $40/person I would not recommend afternoon tea here.

K J

UPDATE: after almost a month I got a full refund from berry hill food co, who’re so unprofessional. Parkwood is such a lovely space, they took no part in the bad service I experienced Currently sitting outside for tea with my family and let me tell you it’s the WORST service ever. Our server didn’t know anything on the menus, she took forever to bring out our tea. We’ve been here about an hour now and nothing but fruit. Definitely going to look into being refunded for this “tea”. I understand being busy but this is full on bad service

Jen W

I bought tickets for me and my daughter to attend a “Teddy’s bear picnic” event, it was our first time visiting. I feel totally ripped off. The grounds were beautiful. The staff were pleasant. BUT I do not recommend spending $25 a ticket on the Teddy Bear Picnic event. All it was was a lousy brown bag lunch. The drink weren’t cold. My sandwich was waterlogged - and when I asked for another I was told that the caterer did not provide any extras and “sorry” with a shrug and awkward look - although then they did find one extra lunch they could offer but unfortunately didn’t work with my dietary restrictions.The activity book was pathetic. The photocopies weren’t oriented properly, and most of the activities included in it were waaaay too difficult for the (mostly) toddler and pre-school aged attendants (lots of word puzzles, scrambles, word searches, etc). They did include the most heinous doll - a LOL surprise doll. This is something I would never buy for my own child and DO not want in my household. The pieces are WAY too small (they are choking hazards). As well, it doesn’t align with my family’s values. IF they had included a small teddy bear that would’ve been a nice surprise and fitting to the event but a doll that is all about ripping open “surprise” packages, pop star singing and fashion, aesthetically unpleasant etc was not a pleasant or welcome surprise. I feel totally ripped off and will be contacting them to request a refund. Maybe it was naïve of me to expect more of an “event”, but there was literally NOTHING but the lame lunch and ugly doll. No music, no decorations, no activities, nothing. The estate is lovely, but the Teddy Bear’s Picnic was a total disappointment and a waste of money.

J C

Magnificent mansion and colorful garden. This is the best of the best. Unfortunately perhaps I am a perfectionist; the tall modern buildings close by has somewhat affected the charm of this magical place as I am sure all you could see when you look up from the garden was an open sky a century ago. You can also join a paid guided tour of the mansion. If you like Casa Loma, you will like this.

Amanda C

Beautiful grounds. I need to come back. Was there for the artisan market which is an excellent place to have it.

Bernie Carinci

Awesome place! Great little gift shop

Brendon K

The McLaughlin family kept a lot of culture alive. The examples of architecture are inspiring and make one think about possibilities. Limestone as opposed to drywall. I would prefer limestone. There is this mystical mystery. When it comes to emotional luxuries.

Joanne Carr

I took my Mom to the Tea House Restaurant for her 75th birthday for lunch. It was a wonderful experience! Our server Christina was excellent and the food was delicious. Pricing was reasonable as well. I would highly recommend that everyone visit this lovely venue.

James Cooper

Wonderful experiences. I’ve been twice with friends from out of town. Friendly staff and a great local heritage sight. Proud of its heritage.

Elliot L

Great scenery, beautiful fountain, good vibes, and wonderful staff- especially the security guard whose name I can't currently remember but was particularly helpful, knowledgeable, and kind. The story behind the tastefully decadent mansion he told added intrigue and allure to the mansion and its former owners. Did you know that during WW2 the creator of what became GM Canada snuck spies in through tunnels to train in his home? Or that his wife named Adelaide opened the hospital across the street - and she's where our own Adelaide Street draws its name? I didn't but do now. Recommend you visit! Romantic, beautiful, interesting, and with great staff.

Zohaib Khan

Beautiful estate, free to roam around and enjoy the well maintained gardens. The guided tour was so nice and there is a lot of history which our tour guide explained very well.

Jen

Food was mediocre. Took over an hour before they brought grilled cheese for the kids. My party ordered salmon which was bland (several tables were requesting salt and pepper to season their food!), pot pie which was glutinous and like jello inside, chicken salad which was so dry like it was leftover from the night before. I wish I took pictures of the food as evidence of the low quality but after an hour and a half of waiting we were starving and no longer in the mood for photos! Spent over $200 but left feeling hungry, unsatisfied and disappointed! Grounds are pretty, so I recommend exploring the grounds for free but skip out on eating there!

Mary Harris

One of the most beautiful places I've been! There is much to explore and do.

Melanie McIvor

Absolutely amazing. We did 2 tours. The specialty greenhouse tour followed by the auto baron tour. Both tour guides were phenomenal. So passionate and knowledgeable. Cannot wait to return and learn more about the fascinating McLaughlin family and their estate.

Mo Alnatee

I had amazing experience with my wife. The restaurant in the Estate has beautiful romantic views, it is better to reserve a table as it is usually busy. The food is good, and the customer service is outstanding.

Michael Walton

Warning: kids will be bored to death. But for history buffs, the home is really a revelation about both the role of the owner in the Canadian auto industry and how the rich lived at the time. It is reminiscent of many of the mid-sized homes of the aristocracy in the UK and Western Europe.My only complaint is the tour is divided into two or three parts, each with a separate charge. Tours like this, which is fairly short, should be united for one price. I still recommend it if you love, or even just like, Canadian history.

Seemab Farook

Stunning location with beautiful fountain, colourful garden and spectacular architecture, the food was delicious too and service was top class

K

Excellent tour. Definitely a must for residents or if traveling to Oshawa. Very informative and educational. Pictures aren’t allowed which lowered the rating to 4. We had a Christmas tour of the main level and weren’t allowed upstairs to the second and third floor. Will return in the spring for another tour to see the gardens /property and full tour of the entire house.

Chantale Brazier

Beautiful area for an afternoon walk/picnic. Many selfi opportunites or a photo day with the fam jam. I hadn't realized you could go onto the property and enjoy the scenery and beautiful gardens without a pass for one of the tours they offer inside the house. After 15 years of living here I went on the Auto Baron Guided Tour and it was very interesting, would highly recommend. I look forward to booking a different tour next time. This was also where I learned the property was also open to the public regularly. Worth going to see for some fresh air and nice scenery or for an afternoon of knowledge on a guided tour.

dimaberezovski

A hidden gem. Nice park, mainly shaded for a great quiet stroll.

Lucie Berthelette

Amazing .I can't wait till the estate is open for tours .The gardens and grounds are so enjoyable.

Rich Shoemaker

Had lunch by the fountains. Beautiful location and great food.

Ibillymadison

A must see for every Billy Madison fan! You can visit the gardens with the wonderful pools, where Billy used to chill with his buddies and where the "musical number" takes place. (This part is free!) Have a tour inside the house with highlights like the "tumble for you"-steps, the dining-room where billy speaks gibberish, the kitchen where Juanita packed Billy's lunchbox with a banana instead of a snackpack, the office of Brian Madison and the billiard-room. The room where Billy and his friends watched TV is also here. I absolutely love this movie so it was great to see all this!

Mary Chatz

The place looks beautiful and gardens are well maintained. We didn't get to do the tour, however we ate at the Teahouse Restaurant located in the gardens (see my review on the Teahouse restaurant)

Paal Vel

Beautifull place & very good hospitality

Sandra Reid Swanson

Grounds are beautiful. Lunch at the outdoor cafe was good,no hot meals though.Service was good.I had a salad had to ask for goat cheese, as there was none, yet it stated on the menu there was.

Laura Barrett

Interesting and informative Baron tour given by Carol although they are only covering the main floor at this time due to COVID-19. Grounds are beautiful but water was drained last week therefore fountains were empty. Look forward to returning for the Christmas event and/or in the summer when the fountains are in working order. Tour was less than an hour. Some cute things in the gift shop from Parkwood memorabilia to locally made winter gear, soaps, home decor etc.

Teresa Berezowski

Great tour guide and interesting tour of the McLaughlin house. Beautiful gardens. Cute items in the gift shop. Everyone was warm and welcoming. Worth the drive from Toronto.

Kay Silva

Such an amazing place to go and relax. Whether on your own to take a stroll through the garden, sit and meditate on one of their benches or sitting on the grass. Or going with friends or family to enjoy a light lunch or dessert at the tea house. Make sure you take a tour of the house. It's amazing.

W Bell

Excellent scenery. Brunch for four was excellent. Thanks to my sisterinlaw and her husband to include this tour during our visit from Jamaica. Only issue distance to washrooms. I would recommend this nice quiet place for a clean quiet occasion.

Janet

Awesome staff, great lunch and beautiful setting.

Amirah

Beautiful architecture and landscaping. It's perfect for filming, photography, or just a morning/afternoon date. Theres a cute little coffee/tea/sandwich spot in the garden. It was very easy to get a permit for photography. Suzanne, the Wedding Producer & Event Design Manager was easy to work with and very accommodating.

Lisa Wade

Beautiful peaceful place to just breath I go after my visits to the DRCC to relax and decompress

Mark Zaffino

A magical place with knowledgeable tour guides bringing you back to the time of an wealthy vehicle barren and his family’s life inside the home…

joseph cheung

Some fifteen years ago I worked in Oshawa and go to estate often for a walk during lunch time. It is awesome in architecture and arts. Now I am old and revisit it, but this time with a walker. I find it, though historically significant, socially inconsiderate and inaccessible. Inside the building there is not elevator for me to visit the upper floor. Outdoor the rocky path is hard for me to move. I cannot reach all the viewpoints which I plan. What a missed chance. Please modernise Parkwood Estate and make it ACCESSIBLE.

fam M

Way beautiful in summer, gr8 place for photo shoots in any occasion.

Jinu Chang

This is a great place to visit if your visiting Oshawa. Plenty of beautiful photo opportunities and it's pretty empty. The opening hours are only from 2pm - 5pm however so plan accordingly.

Karishma Jain

Words fall short of this beautiful estate. You should go there once and se for yourself if you're reading this review :)

Fran Fryters

Parkwood never disappoints! I took my daughter and son-in-law for a walk around the property and I think they loved it too.

Steve T

Oshawa still needs to bulldoze this eye-sore and put in a sparkling new Walmart.

Salima Sajan

Beautiful garden. Tea house restaurant was very good with reasonable prices.

Garth McLean

Had a friend from out of town, it was nice to show her a location so many films have been shot at

Chris Haughton

My sister had her wedding here, the staff did a great job at setting it all up. The grounds are beautiful and it's definitely a tourist hot spot.

Susana Brubaker

Amazing Museum to go to. The house is huge. Its a good place to go and visit

Vera Bala

Historical place, every time I visit I learn something new. General Sam McLaughlin has been a true example of community involvement and great philanthropist. His home has many features that were hardly known at that time and his love for Adelaide, his wife, shows throughout the whole place marked by subtle designs or visible additions to the house. The gardens which are free to visit by the general public, are stunning, throwing your soul in an era of garden parties and high-teas... No wonder Parkwood Estate is booked for movies, weddings and other gatherings which require a special and unique place.????⭐

Kingsman Tang

Love this place! The gift shop is awesome and has tons of varieties!

mo harris

Free entry & parking. You can book & pay for a tour online. Beautiful peaceful gardens with plenty of benches. Pack a picnic and enjoy the day. Gates locked @ 5pm.

Natalia Halenda

Really liked. Its so wonderful and beautiful.

Jojo Agogo

This rating is for their tea house new mngt. Before we could get high tea for $20 and share, now at $40 you cannot share anymore which is ridiculous for this price