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.

History

The Gooderham and Worts Distillery was founded in 1832 and at its height produced over 2 million US gallons of whisky, mostly for export, before it was bought out by its rival Hiram Walker; the railway mainline beside it and the old mouth of the Don River gave it transport links to the rest of Canada and the world. Distilling ended in 1990, the derelict site became a set for over 800 film and television productions, and after Cityscape Holdings bought it in 2001 the district reopened to the public as a pedestrian quarter on 22 May 2003, with no chains or franchises (Wikipedia, Distillery District).

Highlights

• 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.

Practical notes

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.

Key facts