Outside one of the colourful nightclubs in the Church and Wellesley village

Church-Wellesley Village

The traditional gathering place for Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ community, Church-Wellesley Village is a pleasant residential-and-shopping neighbourhood by day and a hopping entertainment destination at night. Popularized to be known as the Toronto Gay Village, this queer neighbourhood is inclusive, safe and welcoming for all. You’ll find the 2SLGBTQ+ district of Toronto busiest during the Pride Toronto festival each June, when the whole neighbourhood transforms into one big, friendly party.

Don’t miss:

  • Paying a visit to Woody’s. Open since 1989, it’s the pre-eminent Toronto Village queer bar, and it’s as popular as ever today
  • A thought-provoking play at the queer theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
  • A drag show at Crews & Tangos on Church Street 
  • The boisterously welcoming Kinka Izakaya, where Toronto’s love of Japanese-style pub food was kindled
  • Glad Day Bookshop, which is North America’s oldest surviving queer bookstore

BOUNDARIES: Main hubs are along Church, Wellesley and Carlton streets. The area is bounded by Charles Street East to the north, Gould Street to the south, Yonge Street to the west, and Jarvis Street to the east. 

PUBLIC TRANSIT (TTC): Wellesley subway station.

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