Topped by leering gargoyles, soaring arches and a 103-metre-high clock tower, Old City Hall is an iconic Toronto landmark. It was built in the dramatic Romanesque style and was designed by Canadian architect EJ Lennox. At the time of its opening it was the biggest city hall in North America.
The historic building served as HQ for the Toronto City Council from 1899 to 1966, though today it houses legal courtrooms and is surrounded by modern glass and steel buildings. Before you enter, admire the stone gargoyles, which were supposedly inspired by the city's politicians. The clock tower houses an enormous bell known as Big Ben, which weighs more than 5,500 kilograms.
Colourful murals adorn the facade, while a huge stained-glass window filters light into the lobby. The window was designed by Robert McCausland, the architect behind the stained-glass dome at the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is housed in the old Bank of Montreal building.
Getting around Toronto City Hall
Old City Hall is in Downtown Toronto, a 20-minute walk from the Entertainment District. Local buses and streetcars stop outside the main entrance on Bay Street. Toronto Pearson International Airport is a 30-minute drive or bus ride away.