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Offered languages
- English
- French
Explore the dark side of Old Town Toronto in this self-guided outdoor game powered by the free Questo app.
Download, head to Nathan Phillips Square, and start anytime, no guide, no schedule, no waiting.
The city you know is not the city you'll find here. This 10-stop, ~75-minute walking game covers 3 km through Toronto's historic core, unravelling real stories hidden in plain sight: 710 public hangings beneath the King Edward Hotel, 118 lives lost on a burning cruise ship, a ghost haunting the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the shocking laws that imprisoned women for being "incorrigible."
At each landmark, a puzzle challenge unlocks the next chapter. You'll move through Old City Hall, the TD Centre, Fairmont Royal York, St. James Cathedral, and St. Lawrence Market, each one with a story that Toronto's official history skips over.
Solve the puzzles, follow the clues, and discover why Old Town Toronto is far stranger, and darker than it looks. Suitable for ages 14+, no experience needed.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Please use Google Maps or other map services to arrive at this location. When you arrive, please follow the instructions inside the Questo app closely.
You will be guided step by step to St. Lawrence Market by the Questo app. Follow the instructions closely and you'll get here.
Itinerary
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Toronto City Hall (Pass by)
Originally installed for the 2015 Pan American Games as a temporary attraction meant to be dismantled in November 2016 at the earliest, the City of Toronto decided to continue to operate the sign after it became popular with tourists and residents. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Admission ticket free -
Old City Hall (Pass by)
Toronto's Old City Hall was one of the largest buildings in Toronto and the largest civic building in North America upon completion in 1899. It was the burgeoning city's third city hall. It housed Toronto's municipal government and courts for York County and Toronto, taking over from the Adelaide Street Court House. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Admission ticket free -
Toronto-Dominion Centre (Pass by)
The Toronto-Dominion Centre, or TD Centre, is an office complex in the Financial District of downtown Toronto owned by Cadillac Fairview. It serves as the global headquarters for its anchor tenant, the Toronto-Dominion Bank, and provides office and retail space for many other businesses. The complex consists of six towers and a pavilion covered in bronze-tinted glass and black painted steel. Approximately 21,000 people work in the complex, making it the largest commercial office complex in Canada. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Admission ticket free -
The Pasture (Pass by)
Between the towers are two large expanses, collectively known as Oscar Peterson Place. The northern space contains a more formal tract of granite, while the southern space contains the lawn and features The Pasture, a sculpture by Saskatchewan artist Joe Fafard, who died in early 2019. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Admission ticket free -
Fairmont Royal York (Pass by)
Through a history of nearly 90 years, the Fairmont Royal York has played host royal guests, heads of state, celebrities, superstars of sport, and millions of others. It has been a crucial lynchpin in the history of Toronto luxury. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Admission ticket free -
Hockey Hall of Fame (Pass by)
Its first permanent building opened at Exhibition Place in 1961. The hall was relocated in 1993, and is now in Downtown Toronto, inside Brookfield Place, and a historic Bank of Montreal building. The Hockey Hall of Fame has hosted International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) exhibits and the IIHF Hall of Fame since 1998. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Admission ticket free -
The Omni King Edward Hotel (Pass by)
The King Edward Hotel was designed by Chicago architect Henry Ives Cobb and Toronto architect E.J. Lennox for developer George Gooderham's Toronto Hotel Company, and was granted its name by namesake King Edward VII. The structure opened in 1903 with 400 rooms and 300 baths, and it claimed to be entirely fireproof. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Admission ticket free -
The Cathedral Church of St. James (Pass by)
The Cathedral Church of St. James is an Anglican cathedral in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the location of the oldest congregation in the city, with the parish being established in 1797. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
St. Lawrence Hall opened in 1850 and was Toronto's first large meeting hall. Named for Canada's patron saint, it was for many years the centre of cultural and political life in Toronto, hosting many balls, receptions, concerts, exhibitions and lectures. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Admission ticket free -
St. Lawrence Market (Pass by)
The St. Lawrence Market South building is a major public market building in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the southwest corner of Front and Lower Jarvis Streets. Along with the St. Lawrence Market North and St. Lawrence Hall, it comprises the St. Lawrence Market complex. Here you will have to look around to find the answer to our challenge to advance to the new location and learn the story of this place.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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