As we leave downtown Toronto, we pass the Fairmont Royal York, a historic hotel located directly across from Union Station.
The hotel first opened on June 11, 1929, built by the Canadian Pacific Railway during the golden age of rail travel. Designed in a château-style, the 28-storey building was the tallest in Toronto at the time. It even held the title of tallest building in the British Empire until 1945.
Over the years, the Royal York expanded to become one of the largest hotels in Canada, with more than 1,300 rooms. It has long been known as a preferred place to stay for visiting dignitaries, including Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family.
Today, the hotel blends historic elegance with modern features. Its rooftop terrace garden supplies fresh herbs, vegetables, and flowers to its restaurants, while a collection of beehives, home to tens of thousands of bees, produces hundreds of pounds of honey each year for use in the hotel’s kitchens.
Connected to Union Station and downtown office towers through Toronto’s underground PATH system, the Royal York remains an important part of the city’s landscape, both above and below ground.
As we depart Toronto and begin the drive toward Niagara Falls, the Fairmont Royal York stands as a reminder of the city’s railway history and its role as a gateway for travelers. Located beside Union Station, it reflects an earlier era of travel.
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