Interactive science museum now at Harbourfront Centre — 86,000 sq ft of hands-on exhibits, the Space Deck planetarium, Innovation Station creative workshops, and a giant IMAX dome theatre. KidSpark is designed for ages 10 and under.
Neighbourhood: Harbourfront · Address: 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8 · Hours: Wed–Sun 10am–5pm · Price Range: $$ · Phone: (416) 696-1000 · Editorial status: Not yet verified
Watch science come alive with hands-on exhibits, giant Tesla coils, and Canada’s only IMAX dome theatre. Perfect for shaking kids (and adults) out of screen-time stupor.
Unlike smaller science spots in Toronto, the Science Centre is built for full-out exploration: the tornado you can walk inside, the recreated rainforest, and a madly interactive innovation zone for tinkering and invention. The IMAX dome shows nature documentaries on a screen bigger than your living room.
Every Torontonian over 30 has a memory of the Ontario Science Centre that involves either a Van de Graaff generator, a hair-raising electricity demonstration, or the OMNIMAX dome — the massive wraparound film screen that made science feel like cinema. Opened in 1969 in the Don Mills ravine and now located at 235 Queens Quay West at Harbourfront Centre, the Science Centre has been educating and entertaining Torontonians across multiple generations, and it remains one of the best science museums in Canada.
The original building was a Raymond Moriyama design (the same architect behind the Bata Shoe Museum and the Canadian War Museum) that descended six levels down the Wilket Creek ravine. Since relocating to Harbourfront Centre, the Science Centre brings the same hands-on, interactive spirit to a waterfront setting with lake views, easier transit access, and proximity to Toronto's most walkable neighbourhood.
The hands-on exhibit floor at the Harbourfront Centre location is where kids disappear for hours: the human body exhibit, the electricity demonstrations (the lightning machine never stops drawing crowds), the motion simulators, the chemistry experiments you actually perform, and the Innovation Station with its maker-space ethos and creative technology exhibits. The storm simulator blasts 100 km/h winds at you while you stand in a tube; it is unconditionally popular. The live science shows — featuring Tesla coil demonstrations and liquid nitrogen experiments — are scheduled throughout the day and worth timing your visit around.
Note: the Ontario Science Centre relocated to Harbourfront Centre in 2024–2025. The new waterfront location at 235 Queens Quay West is fully operational with interactive exhibits, live science demonstrations, and the IMAX dome theatre. Check the website for current hours and special exhibitions.
Adult admission is approximately $28, youth (ages 13–17) $20, children (ages 3–12) $18, and under 3 free. IMAX/OMNIMAX films are an additional charge of approximately $10. Combination tickets are available. Check ontariosciencecentre.ca for current pricing and special exhibition surcharges.
Excellent for children ages 4–14 particularly. The hands-on exhibits (electricity demonstrations, motion simulators, chemistry activities), live science shows, and KidSpark area for under 8s are all very well designed for young children. Younger children (under 4) will enjoy the sensory exhibits and open play areas but may not engage fully with the interactive science content.
The Ontario Science Centre is now at 235 Queens Quay West at Harbourfront Centre (M5J 2G8). The nearest subway is Union Station (Line 1), about a 10-minute walk south along Bay Street or a short streetcar ride on the 509 or 510. By car, paid parking is available at Harbourfront Centre. The waterfront location is far more accessible by transit than the former Don Mills site.
The live science demonstrations (Tesla coil, liquid nitrogen shows) are the highlights — check the daily schedule when you arrive and plan your visit around them. The storm simulator (100 km/h winds) and the human body exhibit are perennial favourites. The IMAX dome film is worth the additional fee for an immersive large-format experience.
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