Removals from the UK to Toronto with The Moving Partnership
Toronto is one of the most attractive places in the world to move to, particularly if you are emigrating from the UK. There’s no language barrier to worry about (English is the main language), the economy is thriving, and the city has scored highly in recent international Quality of Life surveys. Here The Moving Partnership, who can help if you are interested in removals from the UK to Toronto, take a closer look at the city.
The History and Heritage
Toronto is the biggest city in Canada (with its population nearing 3 million) and the capital of the province of Ontario. It’s quite close, relatively speaking, to the USA – the city lies on the shores of Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes which straddle the two countries.
Toronto wasn’t always this big – it was originally occupied by indigenous First Nations tribes; over the subsequent years (mainly during the 17-19th centuries) it came under the control of first the French, then the English.
In1834 that control passed to the Americans; the indigenous name Toronto, meaning ‘where there are trees standing in the water’, replaced the British name York. In 1867 the city officially became a part of the country of Canada. Toronto was always an important trading post historically (initially for the fur trade) and was also a popular centre for immigration – initially the Irish, fleeing the potato famine, followed by other European nations and later the Chinese from the West.
These days, the city is an international centre of business, finance, arts and other culture and sports and is still one of the most diverse places in the world.
Getting There and Getting Around
Toronto Pearson is the main international airport, named after a Canadia Prime Minister in the 1960s, and is about 25 miles west of the city centre.
Trains (either the Union Pearson Express or the Terminal Link) will get you into the city itself – all go to Union Station, the major city terminus. Once in the city you have the choice of underground/subway, streetcar, or by bike or on foot.
There are 11 streetcar (light rail) routes concentrated mainly in the downtown area and the Waterfront. There are currently three underground lines, with three more under construction.
As with most town and city centres, if you are going to drive yourself it’s best to avoid the rush hours – 7-9am, and 4-6pm.
The Main Attractions
The CN Tower – this landmark is 553metres tall and at one time was the tallest building in the world (CN stands for Canadian National, the rail company which built it). Although it’s not for the faint-hearted, it’s the only place to go for spectacular views across the city. The Tower, pictured above, also hosts a revolving restaurant and an entertainment complex.
The Royal Ontario Museum – this downtown museum has around six million objects in its collection, dating as far back as the time of the dinosaurs and ancient Egypt. One of the main objects is a totem pole – although at 25m tall it’s not quite as big as the CN Tower!
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada – close to the CN Tower, this attraction is for those who like live exhibits and marine biology. It has more than 20,000 creatures from more than 450 species, including sharks and stingrays and less dangerous species such as crabs and sea turtles.
The Hockey Hall of Fame - Quite close to the Harbourfront, this is dedicated to Canada’s national sport of ice hockey. It’s not just dedicated to past greats of the game – current teams and players are highlighted too, and there’s a chance to emulate the stars with an interactive zone as well.
The city is also home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the six founding teams of the National Hockey League (NHL) and one of the most historically successful teams (although less so in the last few decades). However, be aware that game tickets are often very expensive and hard to come by.
Shopping Around and Eating Out
Bloor-Yorkville Village, where downtown Toronto meets midtown, is synonymous with high end shopping and dining.
If you are thinking big (and convenient) then the Eaton Centre Mall is one of the largest in Canada – and it’s in Yonge Street in the city centre. For something more off-beat, try either the Kensington Market (bohemian, vintage and retro goods are a speciality) in the heart of the city, or the St Lawrence Market in the Old Town district. Food and drink are key features here; it also includes a farmer’s market.
At St Lawrence Market, you should also be able to try a peameal bacon sandwich, one of the city’s most famous foods, unsmoked back bacon rolled in cornmeal and served in a bun, with a variety of toppings. Toronto’s residents are also partial to ketchup chips – not chips with tomato sauce, but crisps with a ketchup flavour.
However, Toronto is such a cosmopolitan city you should be able to find whatever style of cuisine you want from anywhere in the world.
Removals from the UK to Toronto with The Moving Partnership
If you are interested in removals from the UK to Toronto, then call us at The Moving Partnership on 0800 772 3709.
We can help with international removals to all the provinces of Canada, including Quebec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, as well as Ontario. For more information about the types of packages we can offer, and the help we can give you in areas such as customs regulations, follow this link.
