Reviews of Billings Estate National Historic Site (Tourist Attraction)

Registered Naturotherapist

Today was the classic car show. What a wonderful event and beautiful site to tour. Always enjoy learning about the history of venue's. What a fabulous site for family events and weddings too!

Jamie Lunn

Yummy Vietnamese food!

zoe wind

Great Halloween tour!

Jenni Tanimoto

We came here for a family wedding which was held in an open-sided marquee. One can also go into the (historical) house which was the home of the Billings family in 19th C for a taste of social history.

Carole S

Tea in the garden!

Ryan M

Very nice place.

KarenLynn Ouellette

This a beautiful and historic spot to enjoy a fee hours. Lovely!

shona woodland

My family got the takeaway tea (total of 7, 2 of which were but free). We chose to bring a blanket and eat on the grounds. Such a beautiful location! The food was delicious! The mint in the cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches (total of 2 included) was an unexpected, but pleasant surprise. It truly enhanced the flavour. The egg salad sandwich was good. The scone was so buttery, fresh and delicious! For the 2 with nut allergies a large orange was given for dessert :) for the rest of us, a delicious slice of cake. The littlest one got lemonade and the rest of us received a fantastic variety of choices of loose leaf teas (black or herbal)

Kati Mackie

Great place to take in a bit of history. Their kids programs and activities are well run and a lot of fun. Great for families and schools.

Jocelyn Lamarche

Awesome venue for a wedding ceremony

Celine Mac

Beautiful grounds, very interesting history

许可

nice tea service

Brennan Fox

A well maintained and preserved historic site. It is really a lovely spot nestled in a cozy corner of Alta Vista. The grounds are a beautiful space to walk around. If you're visiting for the first time, I would imagine you'd be able to soak up the entire experience the site has to offer in under 2 hours. If you have young children, some of the content may not be exciting for them. Being a historic home and property, only some of the Billings Estate is wheelchair accessible ♿

Josée Ducharme

Musuem great, I was at a wedding on Friday. Unfortunately no lights for the bartender he was using his iphone. Also no lighting on the paths to go to the washrooms. Even solar lights would be a good idea.

Mel Boyer

Perfect venue for a perfect wedding.

Glenda Ramirez

It was fascinating discovering the pioneers who live in Ottawa 200 hundred years ago. I have been living in Ottawa for 19 years and I always wanted to go, but something came out and I couldn't go. Today was the time because Meghan was there. She is the perfect guide to enjoy the history of this place: she is so fascinated about the history of the Billings family that I fell like I was traveling to the time and place she was vividly describing. I really recomend this place to everyone living in Ottawa to get to know about why Billings Bridge has that name and about the Byward Market in downtown, and much more! Place do so, you will be surprised!

Gabriela Menocal

I like the museum the house well preserved,but Only for visit it once though

Guy Souliere

Basic museum was ok

Debbie Kuchciak

A hidden gem in Ottawa

Tristen James Fannon

Beautiful little museum with very knowledgeable staff

Ross L.B. Laugher

Beautiful gardens and the staff are great

Al

Great looking old house. So much history on this ground. One of the oldest house still standing in Ottawa.

Robert Marchessault

Historical, beautiful, relaxing, big trees.

David Perry

Haunted house is terrifying at Halloween.

Sunshine In Sparks

Great visit.enjoyed my time visiting for an event

Dan Yuyideng

amazing historical site. Went for the haunted walk event. Love the decors and actors that made up the venue. Very spooky yet cultural joint

Mike Fraser

Went for curse at park hill. Was a fantastic experience. I look forward to visiting during the regular season to learn more and see things in better detail

Nicholas Koutros

Beautiful historic house on well maintained lawns. Parking is easy and the park is pretty quiet most afternoons. Excellent programming by dedicated staff, with historical plaques around the always clean grounds.

Antonio Cucca

(Translated) Very interesting place that tells the story of the ancient Billing family who contributed to the development and growth of the city (Original) Luogo molto interessante che racconta la storia dell'antica famiglia Billing che ha contribuito allo sviluppo e alla crescita della città

Kevin Haratian

Here is one of the must seen historical place for all Canadian lovers.

F Pingyin

Interesting history about the Billings family and fantastic afternoon tea. Delicious sandwiches, scones and dessert. Lemonade and ice tea were delicious

Sonja Kruitwagen

Interesting history of the area. I love the local graveyard.

Bobby SHARKS

There may be ghosts here . A great place to spend 2 hours and learn about the history of drunk crazy people who lived in Ottawa in the 19 the century

Jenn Mary Kay “MrsMk1” Gates-Mackinnon

Very pretty property. Only seem to go in the spring. We went for a Father's Day car show in 2018. It was a gorgeous warm day. We were to enjoy our picnic afterwards with the "grandparents":).

Nermine Fouad

Nice and we'll maintained historical center.

Brian D

It look cool

Gabby L

Amazing "Christmas Tea" event, beautiful decorations, delicious food, and some beautifully singing carolers! Will have to return for their summer "Tea on the Lawn".

Nick Shar

The tour was awesome and far more entertaining then I had expected. Reserve your time online in advance and it will cost roughly $6 per adult. Our guide - Margaret - was a gem. She took us through the entire estates history and was able to inform us of its relevance as well as that of the neighbourhood. With the COVID environment we lucked out and the tour to ourselves for the three of us. Bring a picnic - plenty of tables, a one minute walk to your car from the picnic tables, and indoor washrooms if the museum is available.

yoni chanowitz

BILLINGS not BLINGS. That second 'L' makes a big difference

Heather O'Leary

The Billings Estate is a peaceful historic place in the city. You can often see bunnies on their grounds. It also seems to be a popular place for weddings and events on summer weekends.

Rogers Auto

went for a car show it was a beautiful place but over priced

Red Velvet1920

Went for the Jane Austen tea with friends. The grounds are beautiful and I very much enjoyed sitting at the back of the house near the garden for tea. Having the characters running around was so much fun! The English dance lessons were amazing and really made me feel as though I traveled back in time! The price for the tea was very reasonable and I plan to go back for tea next summer as well. I hope they do an Anne tea next year, I was very upset that when I found out about it I had missed it already.

Matt Champlin

Beautiful grounds and estate - a nice refuge at the end of a residential development with ample historical interest.

Emilie Stewart

Lovely Museum & surrounding green/wooded area.

Nick Zinck

The mystery tour was well done and lots of fun.

Katy Yount

High tea was delicious!

F A

This place was awesome, and not crowded at all. I recommend it if you have the time.

Seeing the world In a different way

Near Pleasant Park and Riverside road (2100 Cabot st) you will find the oldest standing wood frame houses in Ottawa, the Billings Estate. It was built in 1829 by the Billings family and has been their residence for over 150 years. This historical landmark provides a glimpse of the past, with Victorian tea on their gardens, wedding ceremonies and you can visit one of Ottawa's oldest cemeteries. During Halloween they hold special haunted tours where maybe you will see the ghost of Braddish Billings himself on the prowl. I recommend that you take a tour, if you dare.... If you like my reviews, photos or videos please give it a thunbs up.

Brooke Anderson

Jane Austen tea was a delight.

Jen

High Tea in the garden is excellent! Great price too.

A. Franklin

A must visit for local history buffs

cheryl chongsiam

We went for the Fairytale Halloween. My 9 year old felt "too old" and was reluctant to participate at first. The treasure hunt got her excited and the "characters" were friendly and enthusiastic. While we were leaving she told me she loved our outing and had a great time. The children were happy PLUS we got 2 pumpkins to take home. It was well worth the $17.

Stefano Sandri

Very interesting historic site nestled in the heart of Ottawa. We were lucky to participate in a live interactive performance of "A Practice of Deceit," a historically accurate adventure through the grounds of the estate.

Liam Prost

I was at an wedding here, it was crazy hot, but the estate was rad

Mike Giovinazzo

Lovely grounds

Tripper BvT

Very beautiful. Even in sunny -30C. Did not take a tour inside.

Lindsay Schubert

Went on a Saturday, which is apparently an "open" day. A portion on the grounds was closed for a wedding, which we expected, so no biggie. There are no gardens whatsoever. Just some grass, trees, a dirt road, a small area with some flowers, and what looks to be a overgrown, neglected patch of something or other. Also, the museum was closed with no one on the grounds that appeared to work there. The main house is in desperate need of a face lift! Sad!

xXMegzXx xXDaCutenessXx

Historically Beautiful! Lovely place to visit ????

Timothy Bloedow

Interesting history of Ottawa that is worth knowing.

Divya Johnson

They serve high tea. Probably would not have come here if not for the wedding as there are so many other things to see and do in Ottawa.

Anna Grenier

Went for the Christmas tea! It was delicious and in an enchanting setting. I think we started a tradition!

Dahn Jeong

We went for the Christmas tea; the teas were good and the treats/bites were tasty! Great service and heart warming decor. It’s one of my favourite things to do during holidays!

Casey Thorhauge

I participated in their Halloween themed escape room with friends here and we had a wonderful time! The staff really knock the experience out of the park!

robert mcrae

Quite a place in the middle of Ottawa. Unfortunately the Museum was closed due to Covid.

Hannah Skinner

A great little hidden gem of a museum! Picture perfect spot to get married or host any kind of outdoor event. The grounds are stunning and the staff are incredibly helpful.

David Li

Nice

Jason Fox

This historical facility is run by the City of Ottawa and is very well set up. The staff is super friendly and they well versed in the history of the building. It is quite the experience. During the holiday season, they do a great job at preparing child friendly activities. Recommended for a family visit.

Patrick Sinnott

Interesting history, and they serve a wonderful afternoon tea with all the trimmings

Steve Mattiussi

A fantastic National Historic Site, and the grounds are a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city

Mark Hayward

Ok to visit.

CG

This place is a dream for history buffs like me.

Danielle

Tea was great and staff were friendly, but the house is empty (not set up as people might have lived) and all other buildings were locked and empty. Unfortunate as I took two kids on a PD Day and there was next to nothing to do or see.

Marlon Lane's

Was lovely had high tea wonderful

Colin Townsend

A small local museum about a early settler family. They do delicious teas in the summer which brings us back regularly.

Ray Perrier

Uniquely built and well maintained. Great place to learn about local history or just share a relaxing cup of tea with friends on the lawn.

John Smith

Great venue for weddings.

will bain

Great historical venue

Vlad Juste

Beautiful wedding venue

Robert Lariviere

cool place worth the trip

Todd White

This piece of Ottawa, and indeed Canadian history, is a hidden treasure within Ottawa. Located in an 8 acre park, the last remaining piece of the Billings Estate from which much of the Billings Bridge and Alta Vista areas of Ottawa were formed, the house provides a monument to the Billings Family and their impact on the early days of Ottawa's capital. A wonderful wedding venue, or corporate meeting space, the House has excellent catering facilities for events, and the mature trees of the park provide a tranquil setting within a few hundred metres of the Billings Bridge shopping and transit hub. Worth a visit for the history, definitely a worthy venue for consideration for a wedding or corporate event, and and often there are fun events hosted by the City of Ottawa at the museum, so check their schedule.

Deitra Kimpton

Interesting to learn about your local history. Inside displays were excellent! And the take away tea with finger sandwiches, scone, dessert and tea was fresh and yummy enjoyed outside on the property grounds. Pity that more has not been done around the property though especially the old family cemetary and the bent fence.

April Brewer

Attended an outdoor wedding here. The grounds are beautiful. They serve high tea. Probably would not have come here if not for the wedding as there are so many other things to see and do in Ottawa.

Jesse Legault

We had are wedding here and everything about it was amazing. The onsite coordinator Merideth did an excellent job of answering all our questions and setting our expectations for the day of. This is a beautiful venue and we couldn't be more impressed with Merideth and her team.

Team Frid

I'm a wedding planner and have worked at Billings Estate Museum more times than I can count. Billings is one of my favourite venues to work at. The property is stunning and always well-kept. The staff are friendly, organized and efficient. I always look forward to working here.

viola caissy

Great evening and interesting facts about the Billing Family

Rosemary O'Connell

Lovely place to visit. Nice grounds to roam around. The Estate has set up a Halloween Mystery on the grounds. Lots of fun activities to do as you tour around.

Jono Woods

Very welcoming staff and volunteers. Great atmosphere for the whole family.

Siana L

Spent the afternoon with some friends. Learned some local history with a wonderful, informed guide. The City run museum has been really well set up, they've done a great job with renovating and maintaining the building. The grounds are lovely and also well maintained. We stayed for High Tea on the lawn. My friend and I chose three-tier tea service for two which included finger sandwiches, scones, and desserts. We found the sandwiches rather tiny, would have prefered a bit larger sized sandwiches. The scones were fantastic. And delightful with the cream and jam. Desserts -- well not really.... it was a selection of cookies and tarts --- all delicious and a great selection. The gal serving us was fabulous, kind and cheerfully answered our question. Aside from the tiny sandwiches, my only other criticism is the tea. Rather weak for our tastes. Could have used at least 2 more scoops of tea leaves. Pretty sad given that this is about the tea? Which is why I've given 3 stars and not 5. Overall, a very enjoyable afternoon. The weather was wonderful, which just topped it all off

Liz Winkelaar

Unique

christa fleury

Went at Easter the activities were good. I thought that there would have been more original artifacts. The family tree was cool. Couldn't go in the ice house and smoke house. Disappointing

Jordan Masson

Very interesting place! Tons of history but only one clue to a buried treasure

Matthew Lamb

Fantastic gem in the city.

Madeleine Gomery

Had a lovely tour from Laura - thank you for answering all my questions! Definitely a site worth seeing in all its detail.

Edwin Nwafor

Lovely

Sandy Indy

High tea was excellent in the backyard under the big tent! Scones were warm. Tour of the house was filled with interesting stories. Very knowledgable, friendly staff. One pokestop nearby.

Mona Ortiz

Yummy pizza! Easy order and you pick up using a self service machine. So quick! No idea why people are so upset about this place! Good pizza for a great price!

Criss Faulk

Great place to learn the history of bytown.

Jack Gemmell

Was there for an outdoor wedding. Super beautiful. Would definitely recommend this spot for any event.

Alex Dolyniuk

Great throwback experience.