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Allan Gardens Conservatory
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Botanical Gardens Shopping Home & Garden Nurseries & Gardening Botanical Gardens, Nurseries & Gardening [Edit]
19 Horticultural AveToronto, ON M5A 2P2
(416) 392-1111
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
16 reviews for Allan Gardens Conservatory
Review Highlights
"Lots of Palms, Hibiscus, Cactus among other plants/flowers."
(in 6 reviews)
"Warm, full of flowers, and FREE."
(in 7 reviews)
"...love Allan Gardens, a Victorian-era greenhouse in a down-at..."
(in 5 reviews)
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16 reviews in English
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Review from Tong J.
Picture this! Toronto, it was super cold outside, right in the middle of the winter. There I was walking around in a garden without wearing a down jacket. No, I'm not describing a scene from a future global warming effect. I'm talking about a little gem right here in Toronto.
Allan Gardens Conservatory took me by surprise from the moment I stepped inside. Greeted by bamboo, palm and banana trees (and a rush of warm air), I was wowed by the collection of plants from different climate.
The cactus house will make you feel as if you are in a desert paradise. The tropical house is filled with colorful warm climate plants and flowers such as hibiscus and orchids. One of my favorite green houses is the seasonal house. Right now, it is filled with spring flowers.
I also love the quietness within the conservatory. For about an hour, I forgot that I was in the middle of a city. It's open all year round, and best of all, it's Free! -
Review from Dishan W.
11/6/2011 7 photos
After my morning coffee at Mylk Uncookies I walked around Allan Gardens since I'm hardly in this area and with an hour to kill I decided it was a great time to sight-see for a while.
There are no signs that indicate where it is you're walking in to and the glass dome you're walking towards looks mendaciously devoid of life until you're just a few feet from it. Being a weekday morning there was no huge crowd and I had no idea what to expect and in what scope.
You walk in and you're in the outer layer of the circular area beneath the dome whose centre is occupied by a small empty space with a bench and flowers to it's backdrop, this area is filled with taller plants/trees including banana and palm trees. Stemming on both side from this central area is a large area filled with intimate walkways that bring you up close to a surfeit of plants, many of which reminded me of plants found back in Sri Lanka. I might have gone a little overboard taking pictures since the morning sun was at a great angle for some of the plants and just gave some great photo ops. Very good diversity of flora even including a cacti Some highlights for me were the small ponds in the labyrinth of walkways including a couple of goldfish ponds and a mini watermill! There was also a pathway that ended at a wooden door which I thought was very "Secret Garden" esque (got a picture of it).
If you want to see some colour in your life especially in the winter I would highly recommend checking this place out, it would also prove to be a great shelter from the cold.
The only bone to pick I have with them is that they are only open till 5, but they are open weekends so that does help compensate.
Thing to note: While walking around crazy lady approached me asking me if I thought this earth of ours was going to survive. I said I hoped so.Listed in: My November 30
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Review from Peter L.
10/25/2011 20 photos
Free to the public!
Glad we came by to checkout the Conservatory!
It's Awesomely Beautiful! Stunningly Gorgeous! Jawdropping Spectacular!
There are five different greenhouses that are viewable. The Children's Garden is not open. Lots of Palms, Hibiscus, Cactus among other plants/flowers. My favorite was the balloon plant!
Great place to take a quiet stroll.
Enjoy my photos! -
Review from Peeter L.
Toronto, ON
1/22/2012
Hidden gem in Toronto. Very few people, just an oasis during winter. Like going to the tropics for free for an hour.
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Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
10/20/2011
Allan Gardens is one of the most surprising hidden gems in Toronto! Most people never or seldom have heard of it and chances are if they had, they never visited.
While places like the Art Gallery of Ontario have 49 reviews, this oasis of multiple climates in a city like Toronto only has 12 as of this writing; and the last one was 6 months ago! Why?
Decreed into being free for perpetuity after Allan donated the land back in 1857 the park/land was almost rejected as it was considered way too far in the 'burbs' back then. (Ha!) Now the thing is smack downtown and for the most part it is run by volunteers and it is generally always empty. So...
The Conservatory is a great place to go and just sit. Or if you never been, walk around an just take in that delicious greenery smell. Remember to bring your camera.
Word for the wise, the park surrounding the conservatory has a dog park where you can let your dog run free free-reign. The grounds are also home to Toronto's largest flock of pigeons and a decent number of loitering homeless people. Not so keen on that last one though.
As for the actual conservatory/gardens, they are divided in 6 sections. One being a teaching area. The other five are full of glorious plants from desert cacti, tropical banana, bamboo to orchids and a few endangered species (as if orchids themselves are growing everywhere) like Jade Vines!
This is one of those places that really makes you feel proud to be a Torontonian and I enjoy visiting often.
Fun Fact: Crazy yet lovable Oscar Wilde gave a lecture here back in May 1882.Listed in: My Reviews, 30-Day Oct '11 Challenge &…
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Review from Andrea S.
Toronto, ON
4/11/2011
This is a great place to go when you just need a little space.
I was skeptical since my aunt had always talked about this as being my great grandmother's favorite place in the city - I mean really, gardens aren't usually on the top of my list of places to visit during exam season.
BUT - I was proven wrong - this is a great place to take a break and I will definitely be back - perhaps next winter when Toronto is enveloped in snow and I am craving some warmth and green space.
Since it is right downtown, and close to Cabbagetown, it has the potential to be a part of a relaxed afternoon of wandering. -
Review from Denise S.
6/8/2011
One of the city's hidden gems. Allan Gardens is a great place to visit any time of year and it's free! I've been a couple times and it's always a very quiet and peaceful environment. During the holidays, they have these elaborate displays of poinsettias (different colours, arranged into reindeer shapes...) that are definitely worth checking out. I am always surprised that a lot of Torontonians have never been here/didn't know this existed... perhaps that changed after its appearance in Atom Egoyan's movie "Chloe"? (Horrible movie, but nice to see Toronto playing itself and not pretending to be another city).
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Review from kelly h.
Toronto, ON
5/12/2011
Everyone always laughs when they ask where I live and I say, "Near Allan Gardens, and it is AWESOME." I don't know why they laugh, because living near Allan Gardens is like having your own greenhouse and gardening staff. Yeah, okay, old men shout at you while you cross the surrounding grounds, but I promise they shout only the most flattering things.
It's worth visiting the conservatory on a regular basis because the gardeners plant new stuff depending on the season. The place is a total hydrangea party at the moment. -
Review from Jennifer P.
6/17/2010
I live in San Francisco where we have the Conservatory of Flowers for $6 entry. Allan Gardens rivals our conservatory in quality and it's FREE! If you are in the area and love gardening and/or nature this should definitely be on your to do list.
I wish more plants had name plates so we could know what our favorites are called. Seems like they are in the process of working on that feature.
There is also a dog park located just outside of the gardens, should you wish to bring your furry friends :) -
Review from Carmen M.
4/11/2010
There's only one word to describe Allan Gardens Conservatory - STUNNING. I cannot believe I'd never been before this weekend and am actually sad about it!
At the corners of Carlton and Sherbourne, Allan Gardens Conservatory is a City of Toronto-run greenhouse that was absolutely bursting at the seams with gorgeous, and in some cases rare, flowers, plants and trees. It smelled delicious and everything was in full bloom. What a glorious place this would be to go in the winter, as it's warm and cozy inside.
Look up when you go in and you'll see the sky through the beautiful glass dome. Then, wander through the two offshoots with all kinds of flowers, and even a little pond with koi.
The best part is that it's free. This means that there are more than a few interesting characters milling about, but I think they were enjoying the beauty of the Conservatory just like everyone else. This is a must-see! -
Review from Julianna B.
Toronto, ON
5/3/2009
I love Allan Gardens, a Victorian-era greenhouse in a down-at-heels area of Toronto. It's warm and humid in January, and full of tropical flowers and little fountains.
Fellow-visitors usually include photographers, wedding parties, homeless people, and anyone who wants an hour-long vacation from the realities of Toronto life. It's free and it's beautiful.
Christmas displays (poinsettias and seasonal topiary-ish things) are up in December and early January; from then until March the place is packed with spring bulbs: tulips, muscari, daffodils, and sweet narcissus.
Allan Gardens is the place I take people to show off my Toronto savvy. It's a lovely thing to pair with a breakfast trip to the village in February, when the soul cries out for greenery, flowers, and eggs benedict with brunch cocktails. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
1/12/2009
It took me a long time to finally visit the Conservatory. Maybe because whenever I walk by Allen Gardens park, I feel I'm in a rush for work, school, or just be on the opposite side of the street from that crazy screaming man.
It's not the most well maintained conservatory or greenhouse space (note the rotting leaves sprinkled throughout), but it's freaking FREE, and gives you an opportunity to feel like I'm in the tropics for a while -- nice in the winter. Though I find it difficult to breathe sometimes, it's a nice break away from the downtown core and great for a meditative stroll if your mind is immersed in yappy internal dialogue. -
Review from Anon O.
Toronto, ON
8/19/2011
the conservatory is wonderful! it's quiet, clean, inspiring and a plant enthusiast's dream come true. i've been here multiple times - for a drawing class, for a science class and by myself when i needed some privacy. it's really calming to be surrounded by a variety of plants and having the freedom to stay for as long as you please. no one rushes you and you don't have to pay to enjoy yourself. allan gardens is never crowded, partially because it has a bad rep so it's a hidden gem that i enjoy visiting whenever i am in the east end. just don't attempt to hang out in the park, you might find yourself surrounded by needles and junkies asking you for money.
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Review from Peter D.
Toronto, ON
6/17/2011
I had a great time there. There are always new flowers every season and it's just amazing that they can get banana and pine trees into the conservatory!
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Review from Chris E.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2010
I live across the street from the Gardens, but so rarely visit! I finally popped in last week, and it was a zen-like, out-of-body experience. Why don't I go more often?????? The southern-most greenhouse is especially nice, with the little trickling rill. Warm, full of flowers, and FREE!!!! It's a tad run-down, as you'd expect from a city-run garden. But it's still a treat. Mind the odd bum at the entrance. Seriously, a wee stroll through here (and it won't be more than 15 mins) is a little bit of paradise in the middle of winter. I vow to go more often!
Listed in: Parks
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Review from Keidi K.
5/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place is wonderful especially during the winter time. Especially when it comes to dealing with wedding photography. If you love the outdoors but cant afford to pay the prices during the wedding season then you can just shoot inside Allan Gardens and it will look just the same if not better.
