The Old City Hall of Toronto

Toronto's old city hall and its clock tower

The Toronto audio-guided tour lets you discover the old city hall, aesthetically very different from its successor and one of the most representative monuments of the city's history. Its construction, begun in 1889, lasted about ten years.

The largest municipal building in North America

At its inauguration in 1899, this Romanesque Revival building was the largest municipal building in all of North America. Its single tower, rising more than one hundred metres, has a clock and bells that only appeared in 1900. The largest of them even has an affectionate nickname. The building long served as city hall and courthouse.

What there is to see

More discreet than the oversized constructions around it, the old city hall charms with its stone, its clock tower and its warm Romanesque Revival style. Designated a national historic site, it forms a striking contrast with the neighbouring skyscrapers. It is a precious witness to late-nineteenth-century Toronto.

Practical information

The old city hall is in downtown Toronto, near the new city hall and Nathan Phillips Square. Long a courthouse, its interior access depends on its current use. The façade and the clock tower can be contemplated freely from the street.

When was the old city hall inaugurated?

Its construction began in 1889 and the building was inaugurated in 1899. It was then the largest municipal building in North America.

What architectural style does it show?

The old city hall is in Romanesque Revival style, with a clock tower over one hundred metres tall. It is designated a national historic site.