If you’ve ever hung out on Queen Street East in the summer or walked on the boardwalk at sunrise, you may know there’s something special about The Beaches Neighbourhood. As a resident and a realtor, I often get asked, “What do you like about living here?” or “Should I move to the beaches?”
In this blog, I’m sharing my perspective—part local insight, part professional advice—on what makes The Beach one of the most sought-after places in Toronto to call home. You’ll notice the dual reference to the name. The true name of the Beach (or Beaches) is a hotly debated topic on Beaches Facebook pages.
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Where is The Beaches in Toronto?
The Beaches is located just twenty minutes east of downtown Toronto, along the shores of Lake Ontario. The proximity to downtown makes the Beaches an attractive draw to city people who want city amenities and an outdoor lifestyle.
This neighbourhood attracts a diverse range of people, including actors and entertainers, who have been known to stay here due to its proximity to the film studios in Leslieville. A few years ago, Matt Damon spotting was practically a neighbourhood recreational sport, as he was renting a local home while filming in Toronto.
There are various transit options to the Beaches, including the streetcar and subway. The Danforth GO is just one stop from Union Station in the heart of downtown. The overall map area for the Beaches is Coxwell (to the west), Victoria Park Avenue to the East, and extending from Lake Ontario to the south, to just north of Gerrard at the railway tracks.
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A Brief History of the Beaches
Before we talk about real estate, let’s talk about history. The Beaches Neighbourhood gained popularity in the early 20th century as Toronto residents fled downtown for summer cottages along Lake Ontario. Many of these cottages have been converted into homes, but the relaxed, small-town feel remains.
The Beaches Homes
There’s a wide variety of housing types in The Beaches area in Toronto. Most are traditional homes (Victorian, Edwardian, Craftsman, Tudor); there is a wide variety of detached, semi-detached, townhomes, condo apartments, and condo townhomes. We’re seeing more modern architecture in some of the new buildings constructed over the past decade.
Within “The Beaches,” there are various thresholds that determine value when it comes to real estate. Generally, the closer you are to the lake, the higher the price of a home. The good news is that the lake is within walking distance of everywhere in the neighbourhood. The eastern side of the Beaches is quieter, and homes in this area command a premium. The western side of the beach is livelier and is more pocket-friendly for buyers.
I don’t want to leave out two adjacent pockets like the “Beach Triangle, which runs from just west of Queen & Woodbine to Kingston Road, and many who live in the areas just east of Victoria Park like the Hunt Club neighbourhoods, both north and south of Kingston Road would consider themselves Beachers and some of those streets are in Beaches school catchment areas.
Due to high demand, homes in The Beaches sell quickly and tend to hold their value exceptionally well.
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Should I Move to the Beaches?
There are many reasons people love this community. Here are some of the biggest draws:
The Local Lifestyle
The neighbourhood is named The Beaches for a reason. Homes are within walking distance of the lake, and there’s plenty of things to do in The Beaches, Toronto. Including numerous trails, playgrounds, and recreation options. Having easy access to the beach means paddleboarding, kayaking, and beach volleyball are all community options, in addition to running, cycling, racquet sports like tennis and pickleball, not to mention the plethora of sports teams and clubs.
It’s Walkable
The walkability of this neighbourhood is a key perk. You can walk to just about everything you need. To buy fruits and vegetables, my wife and I head over to Carload (a really great local produce market at Queen & Lee). While we’re out, we walk The Beaches boardwalk and sometimes detour through the off-leash dog park areas by the lake on the way home to exercise the dog. In the summer, we’ll stop in at one of the many local ice cream shops (like Ed’s) to cool off.
A Small Town Within a Big City
My son is a born and raised Beacher, and I remind him how fortunate he is. My wife tells people my son has had an 80’s childhood. The safe/small town feel of this neighbourhood, the smaller schools, and being within walking distance to friends meant our son grew up much more free-range than his suburban relatives. He easily knows more people than we do, and we can’t go anywhere in the vicinity without him running into someone he knows.
Family Life in The Beaches
The area is home to some of Toronto’s most popular and highly rated public and Catholic schools. Beaches, playgrounds, and splashpads are some of the best in the city. There are various daycare options and before- and after-school care programs available. The Beaches has a Santa Claus and Easter Parade for the kids. If you are procrastinators like us, you can dash down to Mastermind Toys on Queen for a last-minute birthday party gift.
It’s Perfect For Pet Parents
I often tell people that there’s a by-law stating it’s mandatory to have kids or dogs if you want to live in the Beaches neighbourhood, preferably both. In fact, one of the best examples of the solidarity of this community is the hundreds of strangers who helped search for our puppy when she ran away from the dog walker at the beach. With one post to the local Facebook group, we had people we’d never met handing out flyers, searching for Molly, and giving us updates on where she’d been spotted.
There’s So Much To Do! (Culture, Entertainment, and Festivals)
We have the well-known Beaches Jazz Festival every July, and we have frequent festivals like the Beaches Arts and Crafts Show and food truck festivals. Beaches is home to History, a 2,500-person-capacity live-music venue, and many locals gravitate to Castro’s Lounge for a more intimate live music experience. Both Queen and Kingston Roads are lined with boutiques, cafes, and restaurants.
I could go on and on about everything that this neighbourhood has to offer. If you are considering living in the Beaches for your next chapter, please reach out to discuss whether this could be a fit for you.
Ready to find your dream home? Reach out to 647.283.2127 or email stuart@stuartnodell.com to start a conversation.
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