Cathy MerrittOne of my favorite things to do whenever I feel stressed or I’m just bored is to head to the nearest park and bask in the warmth of the sun. The closest park to my house is the Allan Gardens, and thank goodness for it.
It’s a sprawling urban park with lots of plants to see. It also has a rich history—especially the Conservatory on-site—and I always love learning more about it whenever I can.
If you’re planning to visit this park, here are some things you need to know first.
Things to Know
Address: 160 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 5 pm
Admission Fee: Free
Contact Number: +14163927288
Background
– From: foallangardens
Boasting an area of 16,000 square feet, the Allan Gardens used to be part of Park Lot V, one of the properties that were subdivided by authorities in the 1790s. In 1819, the property was acquired by William Allan, who then built his Moss Park estate there.
When William Allan died, the estate was passed down to his son, George William Allan, who served as a mayor of Toronto and as president of the Toronto Horticultural Society. He gifted 2 hectares of the property to the society so that they could develop a garden.
This garden included a conservatory and a pavilion, and by 1860, it became open to the public. This makes the Allan Gardens one of the oldest parks in Toronto.
In 1864, the garden was acquired by the municipal government of Toronto and underwent several renovations throughout the decades. In recent years, it has been maintained by the Toronto Parks, Forestry, and Recreation Division.
How to Get to Allan Gardens
By subway and bus: The Allan Gardens is easily accessible via public transportation. The ideal route is to take the subway to the College St. University Avenue station, then take bus 506 and alight at Carlton St. at Jarvis St. The park is just a short walk from there.
By car: If you choose to drive, keep in mind that there’s only street parking available here.
Rules to Remember
– From: foallangardens
Before visiting the Allan Gardens, please remember the following rules:
- Pets aren’t allowed inside the Conservatory. That said, they’re free to roam the garden’s green space.
- Outside food and drink are also not allowed inside the Conservatory.
- Photography and videography are only allowed for personal use. If you’re planning an extended photoshoot, wedding photography, or commercial filming, you need to secure a permit first.
- Speaking of photography and videography, you can only use phones or cameras. Drones are strictly prohibited both in the Conservatory and the park’s grounds.
Other things you need to keep in mind are the following:
- There are only portable washroom facilities here.
- There are no lockers or coat checks at the Conservatory.
What to Do
Wander around the Conservatory
– From: taya_faith
The Conservatory is arguably the crown jewel of the Allan Gardens. This indoor botanical garden has several greenhouses, each having its own theme and array of plants. These greenhouses are as follows:
- The Arid House is home to an extensive array of unusual cacti and succulents, such as agave, opuntia, and aloe. This place really feels like a desert!
- The Tropical House features plants you can typically find in equatorial areas, especially the Amazon rainforest. Examples include hibiscus, gingers, Brugmansia, and green jade vine.
- The Palm House, as the name suggests, contains palms, bananas, and other tall specimens. Also known as “The Dome,” this section is arguably the oldest in the conservatory.
- The Orchid and Bromeliad House features two connected greenhouses. This has a beautiful display of orchids, bromeliads, air plants, and gesneriads. It also has a waterwheel, a wooden bridge, and a pond!
- The Temperate House is dedicated to luscious greenery and plants only found in temperate areas, such as citrus and olive trees, camellias, and jasmine. This one definitely smells the most fragrant of all the greenhouses.
Visiting each greenhouse at the Conservatory feels like stepping into a paradise. All sections also have a gorgeous architectural design—most use neo-Classical and Edwardian styles—and this adds to the whimsical atmosphere.
Check out the edible plants at the Children’s Conservatory and Teaching Garden
– From: foallangardens
Aside from the Conservatory, there’s also the Children’s Conservatory and Teaching Garden with the park’s grounds. As the name suggests, this garden is more educational since its main purpose is to help children learn more about gardening and horticulture.
Even if you’re not a child, you can still appreciate this place, especially if you’re interested in having your own garden at home. You can see what edible plants you can grow, and you can ask for tips and tricks on maintaining a garden.
Additionally, this garden sometimes hosts fun events as well. Some of these events are concerts, while others are mini-markets where you can buy your own seedlings. It’s so fun!
Play with your little ones in the Children’s Playground
– From: grittsy81
If you’re traveling with your child, then be sure to check out the playground near the Conservatory. This small area is a haven for active kids; there are many play features available, including swings and a slide!
Even adults are free to join in the fun! I’ve definitely played here more times than I can count (granted, it’s always with my little nieces and nephews), but it’s so fun that I refuse to feel ashamed.
Bring your dog into the off-leash areas
– From: wendylimbertie
Because I’m so busy at work, I rarely have time to hang out with my dog. And when I do have the time to spare, one of our favorite things to do together is take a walk around the Allan Gardens.
This park has two off-leash areas, and I always go there. These areas have a nice shade, so I can enjoy a cool walk with my furry friend. There’s also a water feature in both areas, so your dog can refresh anytime during the walk.
Enjoy a picnic on the open green space
– From: spectrumsoundbath
If you just want a relaxing time in the park, I recommend having a picnic in the open green space. This green space is sprawling and has a lot of trees for shade, so it’s the perfect spot for a picnic.
Personally, I love lying down on my picnic blanket with my eyes closed and earbuds in as I listen to an album or podcast. Sometimes I also bring a book with me, and I’ll just get lost in the story right then and there.
Don’t forget to bring snacks as well! I usually stick to sandwiches because they’re portable and easy to eat.
Attend a seasonal floral show
– From: foallangardens
Every spring, fall, and winter, the Allan Gardens hosts a gorgeous floral show, and it’s definitely worth checking out—even if you’re not into flowers!
The theme changes depending on the season. The spring show focuses on hydrangeas and the fall show on chrysanthemums. The winter show is the only one that highlights different kinds of flowering plants, such as poinsettia and topiary.
No matter what show you choose to attend, you can expect to find marvelous flower arrangements everywhere. Every time I come to a floral show here, I always snap my camera because everything is so vibrant and pretty!
