De La Salle Victorian Castle in Downtown Toronto

Description from the owner

Situated on over thirty hectares (thirteen acres) of land overlooking downtown Toronto, the "Oaklands" property is a serene and secure environment only a few steps away from fashionable Yorkville, where many North American and international actors flock for the Toronto International Film Festival each September. This well-known site is located closed to other landmarks such as Casa Loma Castle, Queen's Park, the CN Tower and Toronto Islands.

The De La Salle Heritage House, officially known as the McCormick Estate, belongs to the independent Catholic school De La Salle College "Oaklands". In 1931, the Brothers of the Christian Schools pu...rchased the property atop Avenue Road Hill and established what would be known to this day as De La Salle College "Oaklands". In the early years many classrooms, offices, dining-halls and the residence for the Brothers and boarders were situated in the stately Edwardian house on the property owned by Senator John S. MacDonald in 1860.

This beautiful property has served as the location for many movies , TV shows and commercials, such as Anne of Green Gables, Ice Princess and Aaron Stone.

There are eleven bedrooms (7 queen beds, 2 double beds and one bedroom with 2 double beds). There are also 4 extra single/twin beds and 4 double beds available.

The rate given is for 16 guests and there will a charge of $29 for each extra guest. This charge can be waved according to the number of nights booked.

The maximum number of guests is 32.

****Recent renovations have been done and the pictures still don't reflect these changes.*******

All the bedrooms come with clean towels, bed sheets, sleepers, sewing kit and bathroom kit (soap, shampoo, shaving, dental, shower cap, etc).

Playpens and bassinets for babies are available upon request.

The kitchen includes everything you need; from utensils to fine tableware (from china to wine glasses). Espresso machine, coffee maker, blender, slicer, ext.

The laundry includes washer, drier, soap, huge iron board and iron.

The terrace has a table for 10 and a BBQ (we have extra tables in case you need it).

The cleaning fee includes cleaning at the end of your stay.

If you wish to receive extra cleaning and other services during your stay (such us laundry, breakfast preparation, room cleaning, washroom cleaning, etc.); from 7 to 15% tip will apply.

Please note that to book more than one bedroom but not the entire Castle you may contact me and I can provide you with a custom rate. To book just one bedroom, please check my other listings.

All our clients love hosting their events here while being able to stay overnight. In describing the Castle, guests often use words such as warm, cozy, elegant, etc.

Please note that there are currently 4 non intrusive offices in the Castle (3 on the main floor; 1 on the second floor) and their hours of business are normally from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, this will not interfere with your privacy and you will continue to enjoy your stay.

The property is situated close to both the Yonge/St. Clair and Summer Hill subway stations. Also, it is only minutes away from many fine restaurants and attractions.

Please see Rogers documentary: (website: hidden)

The Castle and the whole Campus provide a family-oriented environment. In the summer, you may wish to enroll your children in the DEL Active Summer Camp.

There is free WI-FI internet available in the entire Castle. TV's are located in common living rooms but, nowadays you may with to stream movies from your computer.

The College’s outdoor sports court, fitness room, the gymnasium and the playing field are available in the evenings during the work week, although special arrangements can be made with the management. On weekends these facilities are open to guests at any time. The Hockey Arena is available for pleasure skating for free on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE:

******************The rate covers accommodations only. Separate contracts and arrangements are required for hosting events larger than 32 guests.******************

Proceeds are directed to scholarships and bursaries for needy students attending the College.Read more

Additional Location Information

Location Type City, Downtown

Rental fees

Additional notes from owner

The rate given is for 16 guests and there will a charge of $29 for each extra guest. This charge can be waved according to the number of nights booked.

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• Steve and Jane
  Waterloo, Ontario

  Old-world charm with facilities and accommodations that suited o

  Left on 06/13/2013 for a stay in May 2013
  
  

  We utilized the facilities of De La Salle for our daughter's wedding in May 2013, and had a wonderful experience, both in the beauty and historic grandeur of the setting and buildings, as well as the great service we received from the staff. Domenic was very helpful to work with, and did his best to accommodate all our requests and needs.
  We used the main "great room" for our wedding ceremony, and the large music room in the adjoining building for our cocktail reception following. Both worked out very well.
  We also had a number of family and the wedding party stay over on the Friday night, and some on the Saturday night. We very much enjoyed the beautiful bedrooms in the old Victorian mansion, and felt like we'd stepped back in time, in many ways.
  The grounds are well looked after, and a great backdrop for photos.
  We are grateful for the part De La Salle played in making a dream come true for our daughter and her new husband.
  Steve and Jane

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• Gonsalves
  Ottawa

  What a unique experience -we loved it!

  Left on 06/06/2013 for a stay in March 2013
  
  

  From beginning to end the experience was easy, unique and excellent. Domenic was patient and repsonded to the many emails and questions promptly. His instructions were specific and accurate.
  My colleague and I were in town for one night for business and stumbled upon this property and thought we would give it a go. Needless to say we were very excited at the prospect of staying in a castle. It was clean and as grandios as the photo and the cost was reasonable. There were various rooms for lounging,reading or for sitting and chatting. I found a nice touch was the quality of the soap and hand cream in the bathrooms. My colleagues room had a turett with a lovely area for reading by the natural sunlight and was quite spacious. We enjoyed going up and down the different stair wells and discovering new common areas and the nooks and crannies of the house. The history here is evident. Although we didn't use the dining areas ourselves - the tables were large enough to hold an extended family dinner - real royalness about it. We both thought that it would be a wonderful spot to bring our friends and our families simply for the experince of spending a night in a castle.
  Restaurants were within walking distance. We walked down the nearest street and at the end of it found a great Italian restaurant with great food. I would reccommend this spot for anyone wanting to stay in the Toronto area. A far cry from the typcial same old of a hotel.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic, Families, Rugged

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• Diliana
  Toronto

  Amazing Experience

  Left on 06/04/2013 for a stay in June 2013
  
  

  My husband and I just hosted our wedding at De La Salle and we had a great experience. The space is absolutely beautiful, great for photos. The staff were very accommodating and helpful. We had a huge kitchen for the caterers to use, beautiful bedrooms for guests and we truly felt like we had the castle to ourselves for the day. We would highly recommend this venue for any family function- it was magical!

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

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• Vivian
  Toronto

  Perfection

  Left on 05/13/2013 for a stay in December 2012
  
  

  Been here a couple of times and every time it has been a great experience. Beautiful castle, great furnishings and all rooms are equipped with everything, including a great kitchen and beautiful hall- not to mention perfect location downtown.
  You can do anything here from a wedding, baby shower, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
  

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• TorontoParty
  Toronto

  Value and Elegance all Wrapped in One

  Left on 05/09/2013 for a stay in August 2012
  
  

  My family hosted a birthday party at this venue. The party room is gorgeous, the kitchen is fully equipped for caterers and the staff are accommodating. I would recommend this venue to anyone looking to host a small wedding or other important special occasion. It is the perfect place to feel like royalty without paying exorbitant rates. De La Salle is a hidden gem in downtown Toronto. My only reservation about the service was that the venue manager seemed inexperienced. He could have had a rental package with all information ready rather than answering questions on the fly.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Families

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• Dan
  Jerusalem

  Highly recommend

  Left on 05/09/2013 for a stay in April 2013
  
  

  Excellent place
  a children friendly
  Very big kitchen

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• Caolan
  Charlottetown

  Excellent experience - perfect for the entire family

  Left on 05/09/2013 for a stay in September 2012
  
  

  My entire family stayed here the weekend of our wedding. The staff were excellent, the rates were very reasonable, and the building beautiful and clean. It was a wonderful to have us all together in one place. It is a unique experience in Toronto - close to downtown yet in a lovely green space. I highly recommend this place to anyone.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Disabilities, Families, Rugged

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• Cosmo
  Thunder Bay

  Great place for a function

  Left on 05/06/2013 for a stay in October 2012
  
  

  I really enjoyed my experience at the castle. This place has a lot of character, and both functions that I attended were very enjoyable. Easily accessible location, great parking and outstanding scenery for photos. I had a chance to two or the castle and I must say that all the rooms are very well kept. I would definitely consider spending a weekend at the castle when visiting Toronto.

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• Julie
  Thunder Bay

  Great Experience

  Left on 05/06/2013 for a stay in October 2012
  
  

  I attended two events at De La Salle and both were held in the ballroom. This is both a charming and elegant room for any special occasion. The service was excellent and location is ideal. Highly recommended!

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• Jem
  Toronto

  Outstanding customer service and wedding!

  Left on 05/04/2013 for a stay in September 2012
  
  

  My husband and I got married at De La Salle in 2012. Our wedding party stayed over from the night before (we rented 10 rooms)and it was a blast. The victorian home gave our wedding pictures a really unique, yet classic look.There are many photo ops in De la Salle, no need to go to a park for pictures. Domenic was always there when we needed him, he would even check in periodically to see how wedding planning was going!

  

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• Diane
  Oakville

  Fantastic location with a historical touch.

  Left on 05/04/2013 for a stay in April 2013
  
  

  Fantastic location in a historical castle. The service is excellent, extremely easy to book and very affordable. Walk to great shops and restaurants.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Romantic, Families

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• Judy Ceron
  Miami, Florida

  Why Stay anywhere else in Downtown Toronto

  Left on 05/04/2013 for a stay in April 2013
  
  

  We stayed here for the first time recently and were very impressed. The location is hard to beat - right in the centre of downtown Toronto - and is very well decorated and furnished. The rooms are cozy and comfortable. We had a room facing Downtown Toronto, at night it was a beautiful sight.This will definitely be my first choice next time in Toronto. Every staff member we met was equally friendly and helpful.
  
  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic, Luxury, Families

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• Downton Abbey
  Markham, On

  Downton abbey in the heart of Toronto

  Left on 05/03/2013 for a stay in October 2011
  
  

  De La Salle provided the perfect venue for our Scottish themed wedding reception. The main floor reception rooms were clean,bright and airy with and the Victorian era home providing our guests with a unique opportunity to wander the mansion at their leisure. Although,we had our reception catered by a private catering company, they commented on how complete the kitchens were and how well laid out the cooking area was configured. Actually, he said it's the best kitchen he had ever worked in as far as efficiency. The grounds and the grand staircase rewarded us with some great pictures. Several guests commented on how they felt they were in Downton abbey, hence the title to this review. All in all, a very unique, enjoyable and economical reception. A truly unique experience

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic

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• SandraM
  Toronto

  Wonderful party venue

  Left on 05/03/2013 for a stay in August 2012
  
  

  We had an extended family gathering for a 99th Birthday. It worked so well and the room was so lovely that we are booked to go back to celebrate the 100th. Everything was clean and provided as promised. Tables, chairs, linen, dishware and glasses. Thanks to Domenic and his staff for making it such a lovely day.

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• Helen P
  Toronto

  Charming with lots of atmosphere

  Left on 05/02/2013 for a stay in September 2012
  
  

  My son was married at this venue and a few of us stayed. The interiors of the common rooms are beautiful. The bedrooms are different and bathrooms while not in the room are close by and very clean. Our guests played pool and relaxed in one of the many common lounges. If you are looking for ultra modern, this is not for you, but if you want something different, romantic and absolutely beautiful...this is the place to go. You would never guess you are in the middle of a very large, very busy city.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Romantic

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• Juan
  Mississauga

  Baptism

  Left on 05/02/2013 for a stay in August 2012
  
  

  We had our sons baptism at "the castle" and it was a great experience. The place has a big hall, big kitchen and great view of the city!!!

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• Maya
  Toronto

  Amazing Experience

  Left on 05/02/2013 for a stay in December 2012
  
  

  My stay at De La Salle was absolutely amazing. The rooms are sooo clean, and they have everything you need. I felt like I was at home! The staff are soo nice, they made me feel so welcome. If your looking for a different experience you have to stay here!!! Thumbs up!!!

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Romantic, Luxury, Families

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