Spadina Museum Historic House & Garden

Frommer's Review

How do you pronounce "Spadina"? In the case of the avenue, it's Spa-dye-na; for this lovely landmark, it's Spa-dee-na. Why? Who knows! But if you want to see how the leading lights of the city lived in days gone by, visit the historic home of financier James Austin. The exterior is beautiful; the interior, even more impressive. Spadina House contains a remarkable collection of art, furniture, and decorative objects. The Austin family occupied the house from 1866 to 1980, and successive generations modified and added to the house and its decor.

Tours (the only way to see the house) start on the quarter-hour. Be warned that while the guides are excellent, the video that they force you to watch before the tour is bizarre. (The narrator is the "spirit of the house," and his rambling comments -- paired with a stagy Irish brogue -- will make you wonder if the video is a joke. It isn't!) In summer, you can also tour the gorgeous gardens. One caveat: The house has been used for film shoots, for which it suspended its regular admission hours; call ahead to make sure it's open on the day you want to see it.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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