Kensington Market
Discover the eclectic nature of this famous vintage Toronto Market
Kensington Market is a lively and vibrant community as well as a vintage market — a small community within the City of Toronto, where most merchants live above their stores in the old Victorian homes that were built in the 1800s and still line the streets of this historic Toronto neighbourhood.
This historic district and marketplace can be found along both Kensington and Augusta Avenues north of Dundas Street and also along Baldwin Street west of Spadina Avenue.
Over the years many immigrants from various parts of the world took up residency here and made it the bustling, diverse, multicultural community that started in the 1800s and is still going strong as of the present. In fact, this neighbourhood has such a rich heritage and history that is was officially designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2006.
Today immigrants are still being welcomed in Kensington with many artists, musicans, and university students regularly frequenting the bars and restaurants. And, speaking of restaurants and cafes, there are many little 'hole-in-the-wall' places to eat in Kensington that serve up homemade foods at bargain prices. No wonder the students love it so much.
Kensington Market is one of the most well known markets and a huge tourist attraction in one of the oldest sections in Toronto. It was the setting for the T.V. sitcom King of Kensington that was filmed in the mid 1970-1980s starring Al Waxman as Larry King. Bellevue Square Park, where a large number of concerts and festivals are hosted throughout the summer, has a statue of him.
This very large long-standing market with its independent shops is still one of the few open-air markets in North America.
Narrow roads make it hard to drive and park in the area. In the summer usually on the last Sunday of the month the road is closed to motorists making it a pedestrian zone where dancing, live music and more are among the events being held as you walk the streets and take in the action.
To checkout what's happening in Kensington Market you can see a list of the upcoming events on their official website linked above.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: No
Hours: Hours vary by business. Most are open 7 days a week. Prime shopping time is from 11am to 7pm.
Address: Kensington Market is located along Kensington and Augusta Avenue north of Dundas Street and Baldwin Street west of Spadina Avenue.
Phone: NA
Official Website: Kensington Market
Accommodations near Kensington Market:
Directions
| TTC Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| University-Spadina | St. Patrick Station | 13 Minutes (1 Minute with Streetcar) |
| Yonge | Dundas Station | 20 Minutes (1 Minute with Streetcar) |
| Bloor-Danforth | Spadina Station | 19 Minutes (1 Minute with Streetcar) |
How to get to Kensington Market by TTC Subway
The closest subway station is St Patrick on the University-Spadina Line. If your on the Yonge Street line you should exit at Dundas. From either station you can cut out most of the walking time by riding the 505 Dundas Street West Street car westbound to Spadina Avenue. Exit the streetcar and continue one block further west to Kensington Avenue and go right.
From the Bloor-Danforth Line exit at Spadina and take the 510 Spadina Streetcar south to Nassau. Exit and continue south to Baldwin and go right.
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Photo Gallery
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Colours of Kensington Market cc licensed photo by Andrzej Wrotek -
Colourful Victorian home in Kensington cc licensed photo by Joey deVilla -
Outdoor Shopping at Kensington Market cc licensed photo by Joey deVilla -
Kensington Market Coffeeshop cc licensed photo by Joey deVilla
