Runnymede Village, York Neighbourhood Guide: Quietly Vibrant

Runnymede Village, York, is a small, well-established neighbourhood that serves as Toronto’s final frontier before Etobicoke. The area is quietly residential, although there is a sense of vibrancy with Bloor West Village and High Park just steps away.

 Runnymede is bounded by Dundas Street West to the north, Runnymede Road to the east, Jane Street to the west, and Annette Street to the south. It is nestled between some of Toronto’s more affluent neighbourhoods, including Baby Point, Bloor West Village, and High Park. It’s a very family-oriented community comprised of several elementary and secondary schools and has convenient access to shopping and transportation.

Early settlers of this neighbourhood date back to the early 1800s. The area’s first residents were predominantly Irish and Anglo-Saxon, followed eventually by Eastern European immigrants.

The name Runnymede originates from the early landowner John Scarlett, who named his house Runnymede when it was built in 1838 at the present-day intersection of Dundas and Runnymede Road. While the Runnymede house is no longer standing, many local churches and buildings are still named after this former landmark.

In 1856, a large swath of land bounded by St. Clair, Jane, Annette, and Clendenan Avenue was purchased by Marcus Rossin, who subdivided the grounds as the "Runnymede Estate." However, it was not until the early 1900s that this area was developed and most of the homes were built.

Runnymede’s tree-lined streets have an eclectic mix of houses. Included in the mix are Victorian mansions, English cottage- and Tudor-style houses, pre-and postwar bungalows, duplex and triplex dwellings, and a vast array of detached and semi-detached homes. These diverse architectural styles are largely due to the fact that residences were built in stages from approximately 1890 to 1950.

These charming homes boast wood, insulbrick, frame siding, stucco, brick, and stone exteriors. You’ll notice many homes with gambrel roofs with a distinctive barn-like appearance. This was a popular style in the early 1900s.

In recent years renovations have become more and more popular, and many of the traditional homes are being torn down to create larger, more modern custom homes.

There are endless opportunities for Runnymede residents to come together and support the community’s culture. The annual Toronto Ukrainian Festival in September is a great celebratory event with music, food, and crafts. The Halloween Festival on Armadale Avenue, Beresford Avenue, and Glendonwynne Road offers an array of family-friendly activities. The July Festival is a local fair of amusements and entertainment in the summertime.

The neighbourhood also has two Toronto Public Library locations, Runnymede and Annette, in addition to a nearby site in Swansea.

Runnymede residents have no shortage of shopping options available to them. The primary shopping destination is the Bloor West Village shopping district, a strip of over 400 shops, restaurants, and services. Daily errands are an enjoyable stroll along Bloor Street West, where you’ll find a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetable stands, coffee shops, banks, restaurants, and pubs. This destination has just about anything you could want.

Jane Street features a good mix of stores, including a pharmacy, a local grocer, antique stores, and variety stores. Annette Street is anchored by a large discount store and also features neighbourhood restaurants, hair salons, professional offices, and variety stores.

Dundas Street West attracts local as well as regional shoppers. This commercial strip includes two shopping plazas, fast food, bars, and restaurants, gas stations and car repair shops, fitness and self-defence schools, and beer and liquor stores. A Loblaws grocery store has recently opened on Dundas Street West at Humbercrest Boulevard.

Bloor West Village also happens to have an unlimited amount of dining and food options that residents of Runnymede love to frequent.

Local hot spots such as Mad Mexican Taco House, Sweet Flour Bake Shop, Patisserie, and Queen Margherita Pizza are among the many. Head to Sweet Flour Bake Shop for freshly baked goods and Brydens for tasty sandwiches.

Popular green spaces in Runnymede can be found at Étienne Brûlé Park and Home Smith Park, where residents can walk, jog, cycle, and explore the cross-country trails alongside the Humber River.

Runnymede Park is medium-sized and just north of the railway tracks off of Cobalt Avenue. It’s a multi-faceted park that features a children’s playground, a wading pool, and sports fields.

In addition to all the green space, Runnymede Park is also the home of the George Bell Arena, which is used extensively by local ice hockey leagues. You can see many of them practising there.

Residents of Runnymede are well-serviced by public transit. Bus routes along Annette, Jane, and Dundas connect to stations on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. Most houses in this neighbourhood are within a 20-minute walk to the Jane Street Station, while Dundas and Bloor Street provide drivers with direct access to the downtown core. For commutes out of the city, Black Creek Drive is just a few minutes north and links motorists to all major highways. 

Nestled between some of Toronto’s more affluent neighbourhoods, Runnymede is quiet and family-oriented with affordable real estate, a good selection of schools, and convenient access to public transportation. With its mature greenery and newly renovated homes, Runnymede Village is currently one of Toronto’s hottest neighbourhoods for residential real estate.

While Bloor St. West is always full of life, local roads within the neighbourhood are tranquil, as the inner community consists almost entirely of housing rather than a mix of businesses. This is an excellent advantage to the many residents who have young children.