Toronto – the FABULOUS city break you won't stop talking about

It's one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities with internationally acclaimed museums and festivals, a thriving globally-inspired culinary scene and celebrity-packed nightlife.

Toronto is one of the world¿s most cosmopolitan cities, with an enviable style all of its own

Toronto is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, with an enviable style all of its own

Closer to the UK than you think (it's basically dinner and a double-bill of films in the air), Toronto makes the perfect destination for a city break with an enviable international style all of its own. 

Thrills above and below

The first of its kind in North America, the CN Tower EdgeWalk takes daredevil visitors out on the ledge above the Tower’s main pod 356m/1168ft (116 storeys) above the ground. Attached by an overhead safety harness, surrounded by stunning views over the city and Lake Ontario, push your limits and lean back with nothing but air between you and the ground below. Score serious online envy when you post photos and a video of your aerial exploits!

The CN Tower EdgeWalk takes daredevil visitors out on the ledge above the Tower¿s main pod 356m above the ground 

The CN Tower EdgeWalk takes daredevil visitors out on the ledge above the Tower’s main pod 356m above the ground 

The Duchess of Cambridge wore a stylish Smythe jacket when she visited

The Duchess of Cambridge wore a stylish Smythe jacket when she visited

The thrills don’t end in the air, there’s plenty of excitement on the ground too.

You’ll ride that endorphin high all the way to the shops once you discover how far the pound goes in Canada. 

Love big name brands?

Make tracks for the swanky Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood, home to Canada’s upper crust designer department store, Holt Renfrew, as well as a host of well-known international designers from Dolce and Gabbana to Vera Wang.

Wow fashionistas back home when you score perfectly tailored jackets and coats from celeb-fave Canadian designers Smythe whose fans include Blake Lively and the Duchess of Cambridge (see right), who owns two of the chic label's aptly named 'Duchess' jackets.

Launched in 2004 by Canadians Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe, the cult brand is known for its beautifully cut wardrobe essentials - take a leaf out of Kate's book and try one on for yourself!

If retro style is more your thing then look to the cool Kensington Market district to browse vintage fashions and newbie designers

If retro style is more your thing then look to the cool Kensington Market district to browse vintage fashions and newbie designers

Make tracks for the swanky Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood, home to Canada¿s upper crust designer department store, Holt Renfrew

Make tracks for the swanky Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood, home to Canada’s upper crust designer department store, Holt Renfrew

If retro style is more your thing then look to the cool Kensington Market district to browse vintage fashions and newbie designers, while admiring the mural art which the area is known for, perhaps stopping to fuel up on the hood’s funky fusion cuisine. How about an Italian-Jamaican blend at Rasta Pasta, or try a First Nations take on tacos served on Ojibway-style frybread at the Pow Wow Cafe.

Make it a WOW moment

Cultural Toronto has a wealth of fascinating museums to discover. Soak up Canadian culture at the Art Gallery of Ontario, one of North America’s finest galleries, where you could dance to hip hop legend DMC, of ‘Run DMC’ fame at a ‘First Thursday’ party, explore the beauty of Inuit and First Nations art, or check out cool visiting exhibitions such as the monstrous art and artefacts of filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.

Then head to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) where you can spot dinosaurs and an ultra-rare dodo skeleton. The perfect rainy day activity, delve into its 40-plus galleries shining a spotlight around the globe on everything from Chinese architecture and sculptures, to ceremonial masks from Africa and even a spooky recreation of the St. Clair Bat Cave from Jamaica. And for anyone with a thing for footwear, a visit to the quirky Bata Shoe Museum is a must. Where else will you see Queen Victoria's ballroom slippers alongside Elton John's silver platform boots?

Keep soaking up Canadian culture at the Art Gallery of Ontario, one of North America¿s finest galleries

Keep soaking up Canadian culture at the Art Gallery of Ontario, one of North America’s finest galleries

At the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)  you can spot dinosaurs and an ultra-rare dodo skeleton

At the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) you can spot dinosaurs and an ultra-rare dodo skeleton

Taste the world

That international flavour permeates every inch of the city. This year the BBC named Toronto the most diverse city in the world and you’ll get a taste of that as you explore its distinct neighbourhoods. 

Visit the buzzing St Lawrence Market and explore  its two floors of local treats

Visit the buzzing St Lawrence Market and explore  its two floors of local treats

Join locals and snack on a fragrant East Indian Roti at Ghandi Roti on Queen Street West, try a sweet Hungarian Chimney Cone, stuffed with soft serve ice cream and piled high with maple pralines and torched marshmallows from Eva’s on Bloor Street West, or visit the buzzing St Lawrence Market and carb up on a signature peameal bacon roll from the Carousel Bakery before exploring its two floors of local treats. Just make sure you grab a few jars of Kozlik mustard to take home too, made with spicy mustard seed grown in the Sakatchewan province!

Play Hard

When the sun goes down, the nightlife heats up. See if you can spot local celebs The Weeknd or Shawn Mendes at Drake’s ultra-hot bar and restaurant Fring's, or maybe sample the magic of molecular gastronomy cocktails at BarChef; try a Night Blossom, which looks for all the world like a bowl of noodles (you even eat it with a spoon and chopsticks) but the ‘noodles’ are chartreuse-infused cacao and the ‘soup’ is a heady blend of ingredients including bourbon, Scotch, patchouli and Balsam Fir. 

Sample the magic of molecular gastronomy cocktails at Barchef; try a Night Blossom, which looks for all the world like a bowl of noodles

Sample the magic of molecular gastronomy cocktails at Barchef; try a Night Blossom, which looks for all the world like a bowl of noodles

Prince Harry hits town in September for the Invictus Games with more than 550 competitors from 17 nations battling it out over eight days

Prince Harry hits town in September for the Invictus Games with more than 550 competitors from 17 nations battling it out over eight days

Away from the bar scene, you can jump into the city’s top sporting action and catch an exciting game of hockey with the Toronto Maple Leafs, or baseball with the Blue Jays. Prince Harry hits town in September for the Invictus Games with more than 550 competitors from 17 nations battling it out over eight days of fierce competition in 12 sports.

But no matter when you’re in the city, year-round you’ll find Toronto to be a celebratory spot, from its Hollywood star-packed annual TIFF event, the biggest public film festival in the world, to its joyful summer Pride festival, Summerlicious dining festival or glittering Christmas Market in the historic Distillery District.

Natural Wonders

Natural wonder: No trip to Toronto would be complete without a visit to Niagara Falls

Natural wonder: No trip to Toronto would be complete without a visit to Niagara Falls

Tick off a bucket list dream and take a day trip to see one of the world’s most amazing natural wonders, the Niagara Falls. 

Combine it with a stop in wine country in Niagara-on-the-Lake to try some of Ontario’s crisp aromatic whites or delicious sparkling wines, and of course, their famous ice wine. 

Take a ride on the Hornblower Cruises Voyage to the Falls boat trip which takes you on a full mist trip into the heart of the Falls for the ultimate Canadian selfie.

 

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