Toronto's most beautiful and oldest cemetery. Gothic chapel, Victorian monuments, and a peaceful garden where some of the city's most notable historical figures are buried. A genuine hidden park.
Neighbourhood: Cabbagetown · Address: 200 Winchester St, Toronto, ON · Hours: Mon–Sun 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM · Phone: (416) 923-7911
Why Visit
Necropolis Cemetery is a serene Victorian graveyard featuring ornate monuments, a striking Gothic receiving chapel, and winding, tree-lined pathways. It's a peaceful escape for reflection, photos, and uncovering Toronto’s stranger side of history.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike Mount Pleasant or St. James, Necropolis is much smaller and feels more like a secret park than a formal cemetery. The mix of elaborate 19th-century gravestones, wild gardens, and the rare Gothic Revival architecture make it stand out—plus, you’ll find the graves of rebels, abolitionists, and the city’s first Black mayor.
The Necropolis Cemetery on Winchester Street in Cabbagetown is the most beautiful two acres of ground in Toronto — a formal Victorian garden cemetery founded in 1850 as the city's first non-denominational burial ground, now operating as a serene public green space that most of the city has never visited. The Gothic Revival chapel at its centre, designed by Henry Langley and completed in 1872, is one of the finest small ecclesiastical buildings in Ontario: pointed arches, decorative brickwork, an asymmetrical plan that somehow feels exactly right in the landscape. It is photographed more than any other single building in Cabbagetown.
The cemetery holds some of the most consequential figures in Toronto and Canadian history. William Lyon Mackenzie — rebel, journalist, first mayor of Toronto, and leader of the failed 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion — is buried here, as are Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews, the two rebels who were hanged for their role in the uprising. George Brown, the founder of the Globe newspaper and a Father of Confederation, is buried here as well. Walking through the Necropolis is a survey course in 19th-century Toronto, available without a ticket or a guided tour.
The cemetery is also simply one of the most pleasant walking spaces in the inner city. The mature tree canopy — elm, maple, beech, and horse chestnut — covers most of the grounds, and in summer the dappled light and birdsong create an atmosphere of complete quiet even though the Don Valley and Cabbagetown's busy streets are immediately adjacent. The gardening is impeccable: the groundskeepers maintain the paths, trim the hedges, and preserve the Victorian-era plantings with a care that most public parks don't receive. In autumn the colour is extraordinary.
There is a mild provocation embedded in the name. The Greek nekropolis means "city of the dead," and using a pagan-origin name for a Christian-era cemetery was itself a gesture in 1850. The cemetery was founded specifically to offer burial to those who could not be accommodated by the established Anglican and Catholic churchyard tradition — a gesture of civic pluralism that was genuinely unusual for the time. The Necropolis is open to visitors every day and has never charged admission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Necropolis Cemetery in Toronto open to the public?
Yes — the Necropolis Cemetery at 200 Winchester Street in Cabbagetown is open every day from 8am to dusk and has never charged admission. It is a working cemetery that continues to hold interments, so visitors are asked to be respectful. Self-guided walking tours are possible using the cemetery's own published maps and historical guides.
Who is buried at the Necropolis Cemetery in Toronto?
Notable figures buried at the Necropolis include William Lyon Mackenzie (rebel leader and first mayor of Toronto), Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews (hanged rebels from the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion), George Brown (founder of the Globe newspaper and Father of Confederation), and Goldwin Smith (Victorian-era intellectual and journalist). The cemetery holds many significant 19th and early 20th century Toronto figures.
What is the Gothic chapel at the Necropolis?
The chapel at the Necropolis Cemetery was designed by architect Henry Langley and completed in 1872. It is a superb example of Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture — pointed arches, decorative brick detailing, and an asymmetrical massing that suits the naturalistic cemetery landscape. The chapel is one of the finest small buildings in Toronto and a favourite subject for architectural photographers.
Is the Necropolis Cemetery in Cabbagetown worth visiting?
Yes — the Necropolis is considered one of Toronto's most beautiful and undervisited spaces. The Gothic Revival chapel, the Victorian monuments, the mature tree canopy, and the historical significance of the burials make it genuinely interesting for architecture enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone looking for a quiet beautiful green space in the inner city. It neighbours Riverdale Farm and is an easy walk from Cabbagetown's Victorian streetscapes.