Five nights in Toronto for less than £700? Here's how (flights included)

Times

a day ago

With its lakeside setting, walkable neighbourhoods and restaurant patios, Toronto comes alive in summer, after its icy winter with temperatures well below zero. By August you can expect sunny days with temperatures in the mid-20s that are ideal for wandering its open-air markets, kayaking around its islands or swimming at its lakefront beaches. Plus you can join the celebrations at the Canadian National Exhibition, the country's biggest annual fair, with food stalls, live events, rides and an air show (August 15 to September 1, £14; theex.com).
Go at the end of summer, when most families have returned home to prepare for the new school year, and you can grab a bargain. Five nights' room only at Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel with Expedia costs £672pp, including Air Transat flights departing from Gatwick on August 28 and an under-seat cabin bag. A 23kg luggage allowance can be added for £110 return. A taxi from the airport into the city costs about £35, but traffic can make it slow-going, so you're better off boarding a UP Express train for the 25-minute journey to Union station, from where it's a 15-minute walk to the hotel (£13 return; upexpress.com).
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The hotel is in the city's financial district, opposite City Hall and 20 minutes' walk to CN Tower, which at 1,815ft was the world's tallest freestanding structure from 1976 to 2007. Its elegant rooms are decorated in shades of brown, with dark wooden furniture and large windows that have city views. It also has a 24-hour fitness centre with Peloton bikes, a heated pool and two stylish restaurants, including one serving grab-and-go breakfast items and Starbucks coffee. The lobby is directly connected to the Path, a 19-mile underground pedestrian walkway lined with shops and restaurants.
Start with a bird's-eye view of the city from the 114th-storey observation deck at CN Tower (from £24) or brave its Edge Walk, the world's highest external, full-circle, hands-free walk on a building (from £107; cntower.ca). Afterwards, check out the 19th-century St Lawrence Market, which has stalls selling artisan food and antiques, and an outdoor farmer's market on Saturdays where you can sample the city's famed peameal bacon sandwich (stlawrencemarket.com). Mooch around the pedestrianised Distillery District, with its independent boutiques, hip restaurants and art galleries, explore areas such as Little Portugal and Koreatown, and visit the Royal Ontario Museum, which has 18 million exhibits (from £13; rom.on.ca).
• Read our full guide to Toronto
The car-free Toronto Islands, in Lake Ontario, are a 20-minute ferry ride from the Jack Layton terminal (£5 return; toronto.ca) and have walking trails, sandy beaches and kayaks to rent (£24 for two hours; torontoislandsup.com). Niagara Falls, 80 miles away, are another must-see (free) and are easily reached by train from Union (£11 return; niagaraparks.com). Before you return to the city, stop by the 130-acre Two Sisters vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake to sample its excellent wine and have lunch at its Italian restaurant Kitchen76 (mains from £20; twosistersvineyards.com).
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• Return Gatwick-Toronto flights, departing on August 28• Under-seat baggage allowance• Five nights' room only at Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel (expedia.co.uk)
Feeling flush? If you're inspired by Toronto and have more to spend, try one of these…
Spread over two towers in downtown Toronto, the Chelsea is the largest hotel in Canada, with 1,590 contemporary rooms in soothing grey, white and blue. Most have a balcony and there are studios with kitchenettes and two-bedroom suites available. On the 27th floor there is an adults-only space with a sundeck, indoor pool and whirlpool, while the second floor has a family fun zone that features a pool with a 130ft water slide, a teen lounge and a kids' club. Guests qualify for various discounts on things such as city bicycle tours, gallery entry and aquarium tickets.Details Five nights' room only from £1,203pp, including flights, departing on August 28 (virginatlantic.com)
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Overlooking Lake Ontario and the city's skyline, the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto is a ten-minute walk from the CN Tower and is linked to the Path system. Rooms have an understated luxurious feel in soft grey and silver, with heated marble bathroom floors and oversized windows. There's a 24-hour fitness centre, an indoor pool, a whirlpool and a sumptuous spa with a vitality pool and champagne nail bar. Dining options include a smart art deco-inspired lounge with a terrace, serving afternoon tea and sourdough pizzas, and a fine-dining Italian with the only hotel-based cheese cave in Canada. Details Five nights' room only from £2,004pp, including flights, departing on August 28 (ba.com)