A Comprehensive Guide for Moving to Leslieville
Leslieville is a cozy residential area just east of the Don River that has been labelled as one of Toronto’s up-and-coming neighbourhoods.
After several years of growth and with a young vibrant diverse population, Leslieville is no longer an up-and-coming neighbourhood, it has arrived.
Leslieville is one of the few neighbourhoods in the city that is minutes away from both the downtown core and The Beaches.
Where is Leslieville?
Leslieville is quite a large neighbourhood, spanning from the Don Valley Parkway to Coxwell Avenue, with Lakeshore Boulevard serving as its southern boundary and Gerrard Street East acting as its northern boundary. One of the many advantages to living in Leslieville is its easy access to the highway. You can hop on the Don Valley Park way north and be in North York or Scarborough in under twenty minutes. On a nice summer day, you can ride your bike to the heart of the downtown Toronto in under a half hour.
A brief history of Leslieville
Leslieville started as a small village in the 1850s built around Toronto nurseries owned by George Leslie, which is where the neighbourhood got its name. Leslie’s original storefront still stands at the corner of Queen Street East and Jones Avenue. By the late 1800s the residents of the neighbourhood were mainly gardeners and factory workers who worked in the lighting industry that had spouted in the surrounding area. In the last few decades, the industrial work moved elsewhere, and the factories closed, greatly improving the air quality and drawing in many new residents to Leslieville.
One of the most famous people to come out of Leslieville is Alexander Muir. Muir was the first principal of Leslieville Public School that was originally constructed in 1873. He is better known for being the composer of the song “The Maple Leaf Forever”, that served as the unofficial Canadian national anthem for many years. It is said that Muir was inspired to write the song after admiring a large maple tree in front of Maple Cottage, where Muir allegedly lived. You can still visit Maple Cottage at 62 Laing Street next to Maple Leaf Forever Park on the south side of Leslieville.
The types of homes in Leslieville
Leslieville has a large residential area that is comprised primarily of houses. The houses on and around Queen Street were built mainly in the mid to late 1800s and include Ontario Cottages, Second Empire row houses, and Victorian style houses. The houses north of Queen street were developed in the early 1900s and are comprised mainly of detached and semi-detached bungalows of varying sizes, some of the smallest houses in Toronto are in this neighbourhood. Other than houses, Leslieville also has several low-rise apartment buildings that provide affordable options for renters looking for spacious apartment units or lofts.
Moving to Leslieville
Leslieville is an appealing destination for young families looking to buy a house, or professionals that want to live in a more relaxed area while maintaining proximity to the downtown core.
The Leslieville area is one of the most popular neighbourhoods in all of Toronto and property prices have been going up every year for the last decade, but it is still a much more affordable option than moving to the downtown core.
If you own a home in Leslieville and are looking to sell, this would be a great time to take advantage of an incredibly competitive market.
Whether you are planning a move, looking to downsize, or just need to declutter your house, self storage can be a great solution.
Currently, there is an exclusive offer from Storwell Self Storage for our clients to receive 4 weeks of free self storage at any of their facilities.
You can rent out a storage unit to help you move or organize your home.
Storwell has three locations in Mississauga, Etobicoke, and one in Scarborough that is just a short drive north of Leslieville on Markham Road and the 401.
You can call or visit a facility in person to demo a unit.
Storwell Self Storage
85 Executive Ct, Scarborough, ON M1S 5W9
Phone: (416) 534-5555
Transportation in Leslieville
Leslieville is a perfect neighbourhood for people that want to explore Toronto.
The area has a plethora of different transportation options that can take you wherever you would like to go.
You have access to the Don Valley Parkway that can take you up north towards North York and Scarborough.
You also have access to the Gardiner Express Way that can take you west towards downtown and Etobicoke.
There are also many public transportation routes that run through Leslieville. Bus and streetcar routes run along Carlaw, Jones, Greenwood, Coxwell, Queen, and Gerrard Streets.
Things to do in Leslieville
Leslieville is an extremely lively neighbourhood with plenty of events and activities to keep you busy all year long.
The area is home to many people who work in creative fields and so there is a tremendous amount of support for the arts among Leslieville residents.
The Red Castle Theatre is located on Queen Street East and Logan Avenue and is an intimate venue putting on a variety of different plays and live performances.
Fitness Facilities in Leslieville
Leslieville has a younger population than many other neighbourhoods in Toronto, and many of Leslieville residents take fitness extremely seriously.
On the west side of the neighbourhood, there are several gyms and fitness facilities to choose from.
Primal Gym is located on Carlaw Avenue and offers a variety of classes and bootcamps for all skill levels.
If you are a fan of combat sports, this gym would be a great option as Primal also runs a Mixed Martial Arts academy.
Just up the street you will find Toronto Newsgirls Boxing Club, which provides a safe and supportive space for women and trans people to explore the sport of boxing.
If you are looking for a more peaceful form of exercise, you can go to the Sprint Loft Movement Centre that focuses on movement, stillness, and tranquillity.
Parks and Recreation in Leslieville
Although Leslieville is basically in the centre of Toronto, it still has plenty of open spaces and greenery to give you a stronger connection with nature.
Jimmie Simpson Park, located on Queen Street East and Booth Avenue, is one of the largest parks in the area with a baseball diamond, outdoor hockey rink, and two tennis courts.
The park is also home to Jimmie Simpson Recreation Center, which has a full sized gymnasium and hosts many after school programs for the youth of the area.
Greenwood Park, located on Greenwood Avenue and Dundas Street East, is another popular park in the area with two baseball diamonds, a playground, and outdoor pool.
Greenwood also has a dog park where you can take your dog to play around with other dogs in a fenced off area.
Living right next to the beach
Leslieville is uniquely located and is just minutes away from Woodbine beach.
In the summer months, when the weather becomes unbearably hot, you can walk out your front door and be in the water in under fifteen minutes.
The beach has outdoor sand volleyball courts that are public to everyone. The adjacent Woodbine Park has walking paths and areas where you can sit on the grass and have a picnic while enjoying the sunshine.
The Beach Skateboard Park is located nearby, just north of Lakeshore Boulevard, with a bowl and obstacles to fit a variety of skill levels.
Schools in Leslieville
Leslieville is an attractive destination for many young families because of its excellent selection of schools.
The main high school in the area is Riverdale Collegiate Institute located on Gerrard Street East and Jones Avenue.
As for elementary schools, there is a wide variety of elementary schools in the area that are highly ranted, including:
- Duke of Connaught Public School
- Pape Avenue Junior Public School
- Leslieville Junior Public School
- Morse Street Junior Public School
The best places to eat in Leslieville
In recent years, Leslieville has been a hotbed for new restaurants with a wide scope of culinary interests.
Leslieville Pumps, located on Queen Street East and Morse Street, is an old school gas station that also doubles as a rustic sandwich shop specializing in barbeque and poutine.
Limon is another must try restaurant, serving up delicious Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine made with all local ingredients.
Anglr is a critically acclaimed restaurant that focuses on pescatarian cuisine located on Gerrard Street East.
Craft beer aficionados must visit Avling Brewery serving up robust pilsners and I.P.As. And for dessert you can stop by Ed’s Real Scoop for artisanal ice cream and gelato.
What's your favourite thing about Leslieville?
Let me know in the comments section below!
Rylie C. (written in partnership w/ Storwell Self Storage)