Limestone campus and National Historic Site on the Lake Ontario waterfront.
What to Expect
Queen's University, founded in 1841, is one of Canada's most picturesque campuses — a district of limestone buildings set on the Lake Ontario shoreline. The core is a designated National Historic Site.
Highlights include the Victorian Douglas Library, Grant Hall and the lakeside Summerhill, the oldest building on campus. A self-guided walk through the grounds and along the waterfront is a pleasant hour any season.
Best Time to Visit
September–April for campus life; summer offers quiet, leafy grounds and waterfront walks.
Practical Tips
The campus is open to the public; start at the intersection of Union Street and University Avenue. Free self-guided walking-tour maps are available from the visitor information centre downtown.
Where to Stay
Downtown waterfront hotels sit within walking distance of Springer Market Square, boutiques and the ferry docks.
Book this experience
Tickets, tours and stays for your Kingston trip — all in one place.
1–2 hours · Free
History lovers, sailors & families
More things to do in Kingston
Fort Henry National Historic Site
19th-century British fortress with guard drills and panoramic lake views.
Thousand Islands Cruise
Boat tour past island castles and cottages on the St. Lawrence.
Kingston Waterfront & Market Square
Lakeside boardwalk and a lively historic market square downtown.
Bellevue House
Italianate villa home of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.
Kingston Penitentiary Tours
Guided tours of Canada's oldest maximum-security prison, decommissioned in 2013.
Murney Tower National Historic Site
1846 Martello tower museum of 19th-century military life on the lakefront.
Kingston Trolley Tour
Hop-on trolley tour past Kingston's historic sites and waterfront landmarks.