Distillery District

Gooderham and Worts began milling and distilling here in the 1830s and by the 1860s were the largest distillery in the British Empire, shipping whisky worldwide. Production ended in 1990, leaving more than forty brick buildings across five hectares, the largest collection of Victorian industrial architecture in North America, and because they were preserved rather than modernised the district became one of the most filmed locations in Canada. It reopened in 2003 as a pedestrian-only quarter of galleries, studios and restaurants. Chain retail was excluded by policy in favour of independents. A Christmas market runs from mid-November.

What you actually see

• The Victorian industrial buildings - over forty brick structures on cobbled lanes.
• The pedestrian streets - no cars anywhere in the district.
• The galleries and studios - independent operators rather than chains.
• The Christmas market - a large seasonal market from mid-November.

When to go

Year-round; the Christmas market from mid-November to late December is the busiest period and charges admission on peak days. Summer patios fill the lanes.

Honest expectations

The district is compact and walked in an hour or two. It has grown expensive and touristy. The Christmas market is extremely crowded and ticketed on weekends.

Nearby

Toronto downtown lies west; the Toronto Islands are offshore.