The Kingsway is a visionary neighbourhood first planned by Robert Home Smith in the early 1900s. Many of the homes in this idyllic setting provide an excellent architectural style of the era including stone exteriors, and half-timber designs on streets lined with majestic trees. Home Smith was truly successful in his lofty ideal to establish an English style garden suburb of the highest integrity and beauty: “a little bit of England far from England”.

Today The Kingsway is the premier neighbourhood in Toronto's west end, nestled in the idyllic forest setting of the Humber River Valley. This well planned community was designed for families. The houses and properties are a good size, the streets are pedestrian friendly, and the schools, shopping, churches, and recreation are all within walking distance. The Kingsway streets are lined with majestic oak and maple trees that provide the perfect backdrop for the stately homes that grace this neighbourhood.

The centre medians along Bloor Street in the Kingsway are truly unique with lighted trees, distinctive flags and beautiful flowers. Wrought iron benches, waste receptacles and coach lanterns add a decorative flair to the area, as do the distinct flags and banners and graceful flower gardens. The Coach Lantern Logos adorning the hydro poles help light the night sky and provide a warm ambiance, welcoming visitors to the Kingsway.

 
Lambton Church

The annual Taste of The Kingsway Festival, held in September along Bloor Street West (from Prince Edward Drive to Montgomery Road), is a food and entertainment extravaganza with plenty of fun activities for everybody. Over 30 Kingsway restaurants serve delicious samples of International cuisines, beer and wine. There is a fashion show, a dog show, a boxing ring, Harvest Market, artisans and crafters pavilions, clowns, a midway and face painters for the children, merchant demonstrations, community exhibits, featured performers, and much more. The very active Business Improvement Area is committed to bringing these types of events to the community, and its latest program provides matching funds towards the redesign, renovation or restoration of commercial building facades to improve their appearance and the streetscapes – hence, a more welcoming environment to work, shop and live.

The Kingsway houses located between Kingsway Crescent and Royal York Road, and from Bloor Street north to Kings Garden Road were developed as part of a separate plan of subdivision called “Kingsway Park”. These houses include some of the finest examples of Old English classical and vernacular architecture in Toronto. Many homes in The Kingway feature handsome stone exteriors, intricate tapestry brick patterns, and elaborate stucco and half timbering designs. These homes also feature solid oak doors, leaded glass windows, fanciful bay and oriel windows, and decorative wrought iron railings and porch lamps. Th