Sight guide · Toronto · Canada
Visiting Kensington Market
A tangle of streets west of Spadina Avenue, Kensington Market mixes vintage clothing shops, cheese and spice stores and food counters from Jamaica, El Salvador, Portugal and beyond, in Victorian houses painted every colour.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Arild Vågen, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Kensington Market is a neighbourhood in Kensington Market, Toronto. Allow 2 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Neighbourhood
- Area
- Kensington Market
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, food, shopping and photo spot
- Best months
- April–May and November
About Kensington Market
A tangle of streets west of Spadina Avenue, Kensington Market mixes vintage clothing shops, cheese and spice stores and food counters from Jamaica, El Salvador, Portugal and beyond, in Victorian houses painted every colour. On some summer Sundays the streets close to traffic for Pedestrian Sundays.
Tip: Graze rather than sit down: patties, empanadas, tacos and churros from different counters make a cheap lunch.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Kensington Market, independent shops, galleries and bars along Queen Street West.
Best time to visit Kensington Market
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- November: 8°C (46°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- April: 12°C (54°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- May: 18°C (64°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Toronto has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Toronto itinerary visits Kensington Market on day 3, together with Toronto Islands and Casa Loma.
- No. 8 of the 19 sights in our Toronto things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 3 of the 4-day plan.
- Day 3 of the 5-day plan.
- Day 5 of the 7-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Toronto.
If you like Kensington Market
- St. Lawrence Market — Old Town, 1–2 hours
- Distillery District — Distillery District, 1.5–2 hours
- Nathan Phillips Square — Downtown, 30 minutes
- Evergreen Brick Works — Don Valley, 2 hours
Staying near Kensington Market
Stay in Queen West and Ossington ($$$) to walk here: independent shops, galleries and bars along Queen Street West. All areas to stay in Toronto.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Kensington Market?
Plan 2 hours.
+Is Kensington Market free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Kensington Market?
April–May and November, the quietest of the good months. Graze rather than sit down: patties, empanadas, tacos and churros from different counters make a cheap lunch.
+Do I need to book Kensington Market in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.