Toronto is filled with neighborhoods and communities that stand out from the rest of the city for their character and style. But Kensington Market stands head and shoulders above them all. Officially a National Historic Site, the community is made up of vintage boutiques, fresh fruit and vegetable stands, offbeat clothing shops, bookstores and coffee houses.

You can find Kensington Market right downtown, not that far from the University of Toronto campus. The area is roughly bordered by College Street, Spadina Avenue, Dundas Street and Bathurst Street.

Kensington is very pedestrian oriented, and most of the streets are one-way or dead ends. So plan on taking the TCC (Toronto’s public transit system) and exploring Kensington on foot. There are a number of busy bus and streetcar routes that will get you there, and several subway stations are within a few blocks. You can also bike around, and you’ll find many shops have bike racks in place for their wheeled customers.

Originally, the neighborhood heavily populated by Jewish immigrants, and was known as the Jewish Market for many years back in the 1920s. As the years went by, Kensington was a magnet for immigrants of all nationalities and you can see the vibrant mix of cultures today.

It’s more than just an ethnic melting pot, but also a gathering place for political and social ideals. Vegetarian (and vegan) restaurants, fair-trade coffee shops and free-thinking bookstores are all really common in Kensington.

Not only is there shopping in Kensington, but street events too. The Festival of Lights is held every year on the winter solstice (December 21st or 22nd), and the main event of the festival is a parade of lights and lanterns to welcome back the sun. It’s free, and also filled with outside music performances.

For Toronto visitors who want to see some of the “real Toronto” away from the more commercial attractions, and afternoon in Kensington Market is well-spent.