Nathan Phillips Square

Toronto's civic living room spreads out in front of two curved towers that look like an open book from above. Nathan Phillips Square lies at the foot of Toronto City Hall on Queen Street West, and it takes its name from the mayor who championed the new City Hall in the late 1950s. Nathan Phillips served as Toronto's mayor from 1955 to 1962 and was the city's first Jewish mayor. The Finnish architect Viljo Revell won an international competition to design the new building, which opened in 1965 and remains one of the most recognisable pieces of modern architecture in the country.

The square's centrepiece is a wide reflecting pool crossed by arched concrete walkways, a design that shifts with the seasons. In summer the water mirrors the towers, and children paddle at its edge. In winter it freezes over to become an outdoor skating rink, one of the best-loved in the city, with lights, music and skate rentals. Beside the pool, a large sculpture by Henry Moore called The Archer stands on the plaza. It was bought by the city in 1966 after a heated public debate over its cost, and it is now one of the best-known works of public art in Toronto.

The three-dimensional TORONTO sign at the front of the square was installed for the 2015 Pan American Games and has become the city's favourite backdrop for photographs, with people queuing to pose beside its large letters. The Spirit Garden, a space within the square dedicated to Indigenous heritage and reflection, offers a quieter counterpoint, and a peace garden and memorial elements recall other civic themes.

The calendar is full. Each year the Cavalcade of Lights opens the holiday season with a tree lighting and fireworks, and markets, concerts and festivals take over the plaza in spring and summer. Cultural celebrations and demonstrations also gather here, as the square is the main civic stage of the city. Visitors will find a farmers' market in some seasons.

Across Queen Street stands Old City Hall, the Romanesque Revival building from 1899, and the Eaton Centre is a short walk north. Osgoode and Queen subway stations are nearby, so the square is easy to reach. The space is open all day with free entry. Winter skating hours and rentals follow their own schedule, so check the city's website.