Guelph

Guelph is a city of 132,000 people (2016) in Southwestern Ontario on the banks of the Speed River less than an hour's drive west of Toronto. Guelph is known for its beautiful limestone architecture, vibrant culture and a variety of festivals.

Understand
It is nicknamed "the Royal City", as its name comes from the imperial House of Guelph that once ruled Great Britain. It is considered one of the most liveable cities in Canada, with a low crime rates, a clean environment and a relatively high standard of living. The city is home to Sleeman Breweries Ltd.

The city is home to the University of Guelph, established in 1964. The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), the oldest part of the University of Guelph, began in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto.


 *  City of Guelph Tourism Services:.

History
Before colonization, the area was home to a First Nations (Indigenous) community called the Attawandaron who lived in longhouses surrounded by fields of corn. The majority of this nation, about 4,000 people, lived in a village near what is now the Badenoch area of Puslinch, near Morriston.

John Galt, the first Superintendent of the Canada Company, was hired to help colonize Upper Canada. He selected Guelph as the headquarters of this British development firm. Galt was a popular Scottish poet and novelist who also designed the town to attract settlers and farmers to the surrounding countryside. His design intended the town to resemble a European city centre, complete with squares, broad main streets and narrow side streets, resulting in a variety of block sizes and shapes which are still in place today. The street plan was laid out in a radial street and grid system that branches out from downtown.

The town was named to honour Britain's royal family, the Hanoverians, who were descended from the Guelfs, the ancestral family of George IV, the reigning British monarch; thus the nickname "the Royal City".

In 1827, the first houses and the first Guelph Farmers' Market were built. The population growth was very slow until the Grand Trunk Railway reached it from Toronto, en route to Sarnia, in 1856; the town was also served soon thereafter by the Great Western Railway branch from Harrisburg.

Guelph was home to a major correctional institution from 1915 until 2001, the Ontario Reformatory, after 1972, Guelph Correctional Centre.

By car
From Highway 401:
 * Take exit 295, Highway 6 North, the Hanlon Expressway; for downtown, exit at Wellington St., to Wyndham; for University of Guelph, exit at Stone Road, or College Road to Gordon St.
 * Alternately, take exit 299, Brock Rd. (also known as "old Highway 6") north through the village of Aberfoyle, becomes Gordon St at the Guelph city limits. The University of Guelph will be on your right after Stone Rd.; Gordon Street becomes Norfolk St. in downtown Guelph.  This route is more direct and more scenic; however, it's slower than taking the Hanlon.

From Highway 6, Hamilton and Niagara, alternatively continue through the village of Morriston; then, either take Highway 401 West to exit 295, or take Brock Rd. north as above.

Two other surface highways run through Guelph — Highway 7, that links Guelph with Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford in the west and Brampton and the GTA in the east, and Wellington Street/Eramosa Road (formerly Highway 24), which links Guelph with Brantford and Cambridge in the south and Erin and Caledon in the north.

By train
GO Transit customers are eligible to one free ride on Guelph Transit (GT) buses to and from Guelph Central Station. To receive the free ride, GO customers must show the GT bus driver a Presto card, a single-ride GO Transit ticket or a GO Transit day ticket. On boarding the GT bus at the railway station, ask for a transfer if you need to transfer to a second GT bus. With this one exception, Presto and GO Transit fare media are otherwise not valid for Guelph Transit.
 * Train operators stopping at this station:
 * The Kitchener route operates trips from Monday to Friday between Toronto and Kitchener including stops in Mississauga (Malton), Brampton, Georgetown, Acton, and Guelph mostly toward Toronto in the morning rush and toward Kitchener in the afternoon rush, but with a few extra round trip runs during the day and evening. Travel time to Guelph from Toronto takes about 1.75 hours, and is cheaper than by taking VIA Rail Canada. GO Transit trains from Toronto can be crowded; there is no reserved seating. GO Transit fares can be paid by credit, debit or Presto card. GO Transit refers to station as "Guelph Central GO" on both train and bus schedules.
 * Operates a route daily between Sarnia and Toronto including stops in London, St. Marys, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Brampton, and Mississauga. Trains to Guelph take about 1.25 hours from Toronto, 2 hours from London, and 3 hours from Sarnia. Windsor can be reached by transferring at London.

By bus
The following carriers operate from Guelph Central Station:
 * Operates direct buses from Bramalea GO station (Brampton), Mount Pleasant GO station (Brampton), Square One (Mississauga), and Kipling station (Etobicoke); as well as service from Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton on route 17. Route 17 also stops at Aldershot station, which has frequent train service from Toronto Union Station.  GO Transit fares can be paid by Presto card.
 * Operates a bus route between Guelph and Owen Sound. Travel time to Guelph from Owen Sound is 2.25 hours.  Operates a morning and afternoon trip daily.

By plane
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is in Waterloo , serving Vancouver, Calgary, and winter getaway destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Punta Cana, and Cancún. Additional flights are available at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport  or Toronto Pearson International Airport .
 * The Red Car Service provides car service from Guelph to each of these airports.

Get around
While Guelph is starting to experience some urban sprawl, especially in the south of the city, it is still a fairly compact city and traffic is rarely too busy. So, travelling by car is generally a fast option. There is ample parking in the downtown (city-owned lots are on Baker, Macdonell, and Wilson Streets, and there is lots of street parking) that is free on evenings and Sundays and reasonably-priced at other times (the lots charge $1.50 per hour M-F 8AM-6PM, and a flat rate of $2 on Saturday).

Walking or cycling are also reasonable options for destinations within walking or cycling distance.

By taxi
Guelph has 2 main cab companies:

Buy

 * Guelph Shops, a directory of retail businesses in Guelph
 * Guelph Shops, a directory of retail businesses in Guelph
 * Guelph Shops, a directory of retail businesses in Guelph
 * Guelph Shops, a directory of retail businesses in Guelph
 * Guelph Shops, a directory of retail businesses in Guelph
 * Guelph Shops, a directory of retail businesses in Guelph
 * Guelph Shops, a directory of retail businesses in Guelph
 * Guelph Shops, a directory of retail businesses in Guelph
 * Guelph Shops, a directory of retail businesses in Guelph

Eat
Guelph is in the heart of Southwestern Ontario's agricultural country, so many of the local restaurants and pubs emphasize cooking with local foods in season. Guelph's vibrant multicultural community is represented by several local eateries, making Guelph an excellent spot to sample ethnic foods.



Drink
The vast majority of Guelph's drinking establishments are in a compact area in the heart of downtown, meaning that it's really easy to switch venues once you get bored.

Sleep
Guelph offers a wealth of places to stay. From familiar large chain hotels to cozy bed and breakfasts you'll be able to find a comfortable place to hang your hat.

Go next
Guelph Lake rents canoes in the summer. There is also canoe and kayak rental at the Speed River, next to the boathouse. The beautiful Elora Gorge is nearby, as is the Rockwood Park. There are spectacular trails through the city, and a free summer series of concerts downtown.

The Jazz Festival takes place the first week of September.